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Alex and Nick discuss how to start researching your TV spec script and the show you selected.
Which episodes and scripts should you watch and read to prepare? Where should your spec script fit within a show? How do you research the structure, characters and stories? What should you look for in scripts of the show you want to spec?
Plus, we answer more voicemails.
The Paper Team does some reverse-engineering…
Paper Scraps: Spec script headers (01:11)
1 – Preparing the research (03:51)
2 – Researching the show on a macro level: structure, character, story and theme (13:40)
3 – Researching the show on a micro and macro level: prose, formatting and added sources (34:31)
Takeaways and Resources (43:10)
Send a voicemail to TV Calling & Paper Team
Roadmap Writers
“TV Spec Script 101” (PT34)
“When should your TV spec script be placed?” – TV Calling
“Weaving Storylines: A/B/C Stories” (PT53)
“Act Breaks” (PT15)
WGF Library
KCRW’s “The Business”
WGAW’s “3rd & Fairfax”
Barry Katz’s “Industry Standard”
Tracking Board’s Launch Pad Writing Competitions
Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode.
If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :)
You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex – @TVCalling
Nick – @_njwatson
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co
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