9 Questions Television Writers Must Answer When Developing A Television Show by Peter Russell
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ค. 2024
- In this Film Courage video interview, screenwriter and script doctor Peter Russell shares 9 questions television writers must answer when developing a TV show.
MORE VIDEOS WITH PETER RUSSELL
bit.ly/28NzKaG
CONNECT WITH PETER RUSSELL
peterrussellscriptdoctor.com
/ peterrussellscriptdoctor
/ lastorydoc
/ peterrussellmovietvscr...
CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE
www.FilmCourage.com
#!/FilmCourage
/ filmcourage
/ filmcourage
/ filmcourage
BUSINESS INQUIRIES
bit.ly/22M0Va2
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FILM COURAGE TH-cam CHANNEL
bit.ly/18DPN37
PROMOTE YOUR WORK ON FILM COURAGE
bit.ly/1U89VzY
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE
/ filmcourage
Stuff we use:
CAMERA - This is the camera we have used to film 90+% of our interviews (over 200 interviews and counting) It continues to be our workhorse - amzn.to/2u66V1J
LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - amzn.to/2tbtmOq
AUDIO
Rode VideoMic Pro - The Rode mic helps us capture our backup audio. It also helps us sync up our audio in post amzn.to/2t1n2hx
Audio Recorder - If we had to do it all over again, this is probably the first item we would have bought - amzn.to/2tbFlM9
LIGHTS - Although we like to use as much natural light as we can, we often enhance the lighting with this small portable light. We have two of them and they have saved us a number of times - amzn.to/2u5UnHv
COMPUTER - Our favorite computer, we each have one and have used various models since 2010 - amzn.to/2t1M67Z
EDITING - We upgraded our editing suite this year and we’re glad we did! This has improved our workflow and the quality of our work. Having new software also helps when we have a problem, it’s easy to search and find a solution - goo.gl/56LnpM
*These are affiliate links, by using them you can help support this channel.
#tvwriting #Screenwriting #Screenwriting101 - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
Q 1: What is the Great World your show is set in?
Q 2: What is the Theme of your show?
Q 3: What are you passionate about?
Q 4: What do you believe in?
Q 5: Why Watch Every Week?
Q 6: Genre?
Q 7: What are the Parents of your show?
Q 8: What's the Unsolvable Question for the Hero?
Q 9: What's the Core Wound of the Hero?
These are the 9 questions Peter Russell states in the video. Q 3, Q 4 & Q 6 were quickly overlooked compared to the rest in the video.
Thank you! I didn't want to watch the video over to get all the questions lol
@@everythingmxfia Right! I as well
God Bless you for the breakdown
TOF inc. thanks :)
Thank you thank you thank you
I'm spending time for searching all those questions to thank you noblest man of all human beings!!!
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
00:10 - What's a great world? (World Building)
02:25 - What is your theme? What do you want to say about the world?
05:16 - What do you believe in? What's your passion?
05:28 - What's the Great Question of the Show? What's the hook every week?
06:40 - What are the parents of the show? What shows are similar to this one?
07:20 - What is the unsolvable dilemma for the hero?
09:45 - What's the big core wound in your hero? How does it work in your show?
Housewives of Atlanta script for hometown
Thank you ❤️‼️‼️🥰
Cl, I ain't got that one Great Question. My show is just an ensemble of kids navigating life through this London school they go to in the 2010s. Really I got loads of questions for them to figure out an answer to every episode.
Also, my main protagonist for the first three episodes only has one dilemma, and that's "why does that kid pick on me?" His dilemma only grow in the next season onwards.
This is the BEST VIDEO I have ever watched in a looong time! I can't express how excited it made me to just listen to him and realized ''YES! This is what I want to do for a living.'' I am an animation student in Turkey and my biggest dream is to be a screenwritter on day and pitch my own animatied show to Netflix. Although I have been strugling with university a lot lately. I have all theese animation homeworks - which I am very happy with, so no problem there cuz I WANT to learn everything I can about animation making - but I am in love with ''storytelling'' and this video just rekindled my love for writing and now, I'm back on track. Thank you so much for such a powerful video.
I wish you nothing but the best. I found your Instagram account, your content is really cool. i pray you get that Netflix gig
Shut up if you’re dumb as fuck than what you took from this won’t help you
I just started my spec script for a TV show, and the one question I got stuck on was the core wound that my hero faces. I went through certains shows such as "Legion," "Sons of Anarchy," "The Assassination of Gianni Versace," "Ozark," and countless others to study what makes those key characters hurt, and once I got it, I found something for my protagonist. Any time Peter Russell speaks, my ears are wide open.
AJ Taylor oh dude... search your inner-self for your characters core wound. I dunno if that technique is for everyone, but it works for me. Might help.
The Ennyagram could be helpful for this. Each of the 8 numbers has 2 core wounds.Take number 6. It's anxiety and ambiguity. We run on fear. This is,I think, in joke, an interesting number because, unlike the other numbers, there's two types of 6, Phobic and counter phobic The latter who actually seek out danger to prove to themselves they R in control.l
Mr. Russell didn't have to take the time to share his knowledge and experiences. I am grateful for his willingness to share and inspire. I do not often get the opportunity to be in the same room and/or speak with someone as successful as Mr. Russell, and yet I got an hour and a half with him. And I can come back and experience it numerous times, now. Thank you.
I thought he was still on the first question, so I thought there’s a part A, B , & C. This could be 5 part question. 45 questions…wow my math is better than I thought. He did however point out some interesting things.
Peter Russell was an incredible scriptdoctor and teacher.
He really missed theme of Orange is the New Black... Piper's sexuality is just a facet of her grappling with the box society put her in as an upper-class white woman. The whole show centers around the figurative boxes (societal expectations) and the literal boxes (prison cells) society placed these women across race, class, gender, and sexual orientation.
cringed everytime he said "does she like girls or boys?!?!?!?!111?!?!"
@@almc3748 …..yes, agreed on that one. I watched OITNB for about 3 seasons then lost interest, I’m not sure exactly what it was, possibly a break in the season which lead me to watching other things, it was after Pussey was killed by the prison guard; I knew it would get very political after that & felt I may know how it would play out. Piper had a lot of other things going on & it wasn’t which she preferred sexually, it was a matter of who he fell in love with, their gender was after the fact. They had different & unique characters which were every bit of interesting as Piper if not more.
This guy has so much love for this! It’s inspiring
That's amazing. Haven't heard such great insights put so succinctly.
this is so helpful, I'm writing a comic book and this will help a lot, tnx.
hey literally the same here! Do you plan to publish yours anytime soon for someone like me to read??
How's your comic book doing?
Hello. I know it’s been a full year since you mentioned writing your comic but check out “How to self publish your own comic book”, “Stan Lee’s How to write comics” and look for some sample comic book scripts online. I don’t work for them they’re just REALLY good.
This guy is kinda just saying what’s popular. As if we’re expecting him to say “These kids these days with their color TVs and stuff...”. 😂
Hey how's it going?
I love the way he verbalizes "Themes", "Premise" and "Hooks". "The great question". All of that. Perfect. More with Peter, please.
Thanks for the feedback. Our next video with Peter where he discusses how he got involved with selling a tv show will be published next Monday 8/20. We also have a full playlist from our previous interviews with Peter - bit.ly/28NzKaG
1:01 he meant altered carbon right?
TheLPRnetwork i think he mixed up orphan black and altered carbon haha
No, he meant Mirror Zone.
TheLPRnetwork Carbon Black is a hidden show on Netflix. 🤣
Thinks so but I didn't like it
@@RossMacHattie this ain't about you.
Love what Film Courage is doing. Your content is *always* an encouraging source of inspiration.
Not sure everyone always finds us encouraging, but we do our best to provide different perspectives. Our intent is certainly to encourage and inspire. Our best to you.
Thanks Mr. Peter Russell and Film Courage. I've been having trouble putting the theme of my script of about 8 years into words. But I think I've just figured it out 4 seconds ago!
i'm working on a show that i'm ready to pitch and i think i can answer all 9 questions
Amazingly helpful insight! Thank you!
The way he didn’t even let her finish the question
This was so helpful and great advice!
This is actually really helpful in getting the whole thing to come together.
This man is great. Thank you
i really appreciate these videos - keep them coming thanks
Thank you for watching, Austin!
I like when he said, Ya?!! His list is amazing!!! Thanks film courage this is the best film school ever during this crazy time!!!
Some really great insights. Thank you for sharing.
"the 80s is nostalgic for kids who are twenty or thirty right now" we weren't born dude
Out of all your videos this helped the most.
Oh what an amazing video. I learned more in 11 minutes than I have in a long time. THANK YOU! Where can I learn more?
Thank you that was really helpful
LOVE THIS! SO MANY GREAT NUGGETS!
Altered Carbon…
*But Carbon Black sounds cool too*
I’m writing a television show at the moment and I’ve just started writing the series bible.This video is amazing as it’s helped me describe my characters
Did you finish the series?
@@jeniferyoung2048 Are you an actress from the Uk?
Done a Bible and redrafting my pilot myself.
Thanks for sharing. You're the best.
I love love Peter's passion, makes me want go write ❤️💋
This was very helpful, for me. Thank you 🙏
This is such great information
I just marathoned 3 film courage videos and RIGHT as I stop watching this episode airs. Perfect timing XD
Thanks for watching Ryan!
Wonderful and insightful video
This video made me miss film school 😭 great info!
Why is it that many old people in the industry seem to hate fiction? Is it because they cant get their head around theoretical scenarios which involves watching the worlds development? Does tech confuse them?
AHHH! THIS IS SO IMPORTANT THANK YOU!!!!!
wow!!! amazing list
Amazing advice and great insight! But I have read over and over that unless you are already working in TV or have a hook up no studio or network wants pilots from new writers. What do you guys think?
It's weirdly refreshing to hear him mention things like Deadpool and Jessica Jones among the "more exalted" company.
Someone mentioned “Orange is the new Black” … Fans of that show are really missing out on “Wentworth” ..
This makes me happy :)
Really great!
Top level briefing on how to create addictive television. I guess being toxic is also a craft. But really we're just re-inventing the soap opera in more grandiose fashion. Still, all due props to Peter Russel who is clearly a master in the game.
Prospective student hands Peter Russell a pilot spec script that absolutely delights him. Conversation the next day would probably go like this:
P. Student: I know it needs quite a bit of polishing up. I --
Peter: shhh. You've got a great nucleus here. A lot to build on.
P. Student: Sooo... your class, eh, how much?
Peter: For you. It's free.
Lol. I've never seen anyone so passionate about TV shows, it's almost contagious. I actually have a pilot 1st draft for a show. Once I touch it up a few drafts, Peter's the script doc I really wanna work with on it.
Fun comment Meg, thanks for sharing. We will be sharing more soon with Peter and how he has teamed up with two writers and gotten two shows sold. Pretty wild.
Thank you
I love these informal vids
Thanks for watching!
I don't think he really understood the Theme of Orange is the New Black.
Right? She's clearly bisexual, and that's not a theme. It's a character trait.
He understood. There has to be a conflict.
He doesn't mean that she is trying to figure out her sexuality, she is trying to figure out WHO IS SHE
Middle upper class girl gets mixed up in the drug business and gets put in the slammer and she has to figure out how she's going to survive in that environment. pretty much seems like the plot to me
@@JayInDecent And her boss in jail used to pilot a starship, got it.
I like the guy in the beginning, he acknowledged Atlanta
Little correction; the name of the body-swapping scifi show actually is ALTERED CARBON (not "carbon black")
i was thinking that he possibly combined orphan black with altered carbon and misspoke. both are current (and successful ish) running series.
Zack Bell is this Zack from Zack Bell Games? Big fan, I’m a screenwriter and game developer. Just saying hello!
Been watching film courage for years -> thanks for the great content, especially guest Peter Russell!
We are happy to share this latest interview with Peter Russell. Thanks for your long lasting support. What are we doing right that keeps you coming back?
Film Courage I'd say 1) you ask good questions, 2) you allow the guests to speak, 3) good guests, and you often bring back the really good/informative ones.
I think your channel is a bit niche by definition, so if your intention is 1 million+ subscribers it may be really tough. But keep bringing/bringing back good guests is the key.
Btw I may have missed it, but have you ever interviewed any Agents?
Great Video
Tbh this helped me alot
much appreciated
Cheers!
This man is the guy to learn from
Thanks!
We love this one!
Thank you, Film Courage! There are so many good tidbits of information here but I really hope that Peter Russell finally watches OITNB to realize that Piper's sexuality and sexual identity are not THE plot of the show at all.
Thank you for brilliantly sharing about the core of what makes shows draw an audience!Magnificently stated-you are AWESOME in your field of knowledge,and in all other aspects of the arts!!!!!
think he meant altered carbon
Imagine thinking Orange is the New Black is about whether or not Piper is going to end up with boys or girls...
Brilliant
The show where people change bodies is called Altered Carbon, not Carbon Black...great one!
These videos are awesome, and Peter Russell is great here. But sometimes I feel like the advice prefers a particular kind of story form and I wonder about some of the unseen limitations it puts on story telling, or dictates that may actually miss really important dramatic elements.
I like how he explained Atlanta
He has some really incredible points and he's definitely got an incredible knack for understanding stories.
That being said, his explanation of Orange is the New Black's theme perfectly represents why we need more LBTQ+ folk of influence in the industry.
As far Orange Is The New Black goes, I think he was just beating around the bush subconsciously. Im sure he understands the actual conflicts in the show. It was just a mistake of words, we should not judge people too harshly for things like that, we're only human.
I actually became more interested in writing after watching Peaky Blinders. It’s not for everyone but it was so interesting to see a series about gangsters but from a different country & era. Starting out as bookmakers & soaring to where they did.
@@MsKatkittylow-key based on a real gang.
Thanks shifting from writing features to a series.
Series finale of Orange Is The New Black: Piper learns that bisexuality exists.
UltimatekyuubiFox That´s not even what the show is about though.
At around 3:08 , did he say "Whedon-speak"? lol
The theme
What about the world of say The Office (the original series), which is only 12 episodes long (plus the christmas special)? It's made to be unsexy, uninspiring and down right boring. Is that wrong?
Ricky and Stephen made it funny and entertaining though. And his performance as David Brent is genius. It's deceptive - it's like Seinfeld being called a show about nothing. It wasn't about nothing, was it?
@@moaningpheromones Sort of stepping on my by point there... it's exactly what I mean.
It's just that I object to this "network" sort of thinking, "it must be sexy, it must be 150 episodes". It's icky to me.
What's the theme that matters in Cheers, Brooklyn 99 or Rick and Monty? I wanna create a cartoon comedy web series.
Don’t really care for how his words used for Atlanta were “slacker”..
Also personally think his opinion on GoT and OITNB are incorrect..
All movies are Predictable and its all because of the midpoint. The all hope is lost moment. I know whatever the hero wants will appear to be lost in the middle of the film. In pixar its always 2 character fight then seperate then 5 minutes later they come back together. They should get rid of the midpoint.
That is the most old, white guy explanation of Orange Is The New Black. Pretty positive that Piper's sexuality is not the A plot...ever.
Pretty sure he means “Orange is the new black” cause he has just seen color tv. 🤔 “Hmmmm.. I’ll tell ya.. Orange & white TV is the future! Get on the ham radio and get a hold of Walt Disney!!!”
@@carl8mysquirrel274 Carl, we're best friends now....just letting you know. 😂😂🤣🤣
Honestly
Shea D Hellz yeah!
Hahaha
Please give us back the old shows that were just plain fun without being psychologically baggaged.
Question though. Would this all apply to cartoon shows as well, like Avatar: The Last Airbender or Samurai Jack?
Yes
What happens if you have successfully answered all of these questions, your pilot is almost done and you feel you have something worth looking at? Then what? Write more episodes? Or pitch it to someone?
You can never go wrong with pitching, pitching, pitching. Most often either someone will ask a question or give feedback that sparks the "aha" moment that fills in what you feel was missing all along.
Judging the past before you have experienced the future that's what Game of Thrones power core of telling its story
What’s the story BibleStories he is mentioning in this video?
What book is he talking about in this video?
I feel like my problem is kinda the opposite of this. I get so caught up in "I need a theme" and I forget to let the moments just happen.
I keep looking at moments and going "But why" and if I can't answer that immediately, I always feel like it's a dumb, unlikable moment.
I stop writing so many things going "no that idea isn't good ENOUGH" or I feel like the theme isn't there or strong enough or whatever.
Anyone else have this kinda issue? How do yall get over it?
This is real!!! Honestly to get out of it I remember that conflicts are usually both internal and external so if you think too much about theme in each individual moment; focus on what external conflict or influence is driving the scene so that's a balance!
Jeff kitchen brings this up.Being a perfectionist when he first started out, he'd scrap what he'd just written, not good enough, then scap that. Perhaps you should switch to right brain panzter mode. Trust your instincts. Does it move and groove you? Then and only then, structurally speaking anyway( the outer) see how it matches up with save the cat, story circle, hero's journey, John trubys story structure etc. Write the story you wish some other writer had written.
Branden McNaulty would say your fallling Into one of 5 beginners mistakes. Peer review. Get critical feedbk. Hollywood does it.
Is it just me or has he misunderstood the "theme" of a bunch of shows? Son's of anarchy is about how people need good parents? Maybe, in an overly reductive stretched out sense. Orange is the new black is about piper not knowing if she likes girls or boys? Ummmm. No. No, I don't think that it is?
@Corpsefoot Gaming the theme of Hamlet isn't "you need to have good parents." The theme is depression, guilt, justice and useless violence caused by humanity's greed.
@Corpsefoot Gaming My comment was aimed at the writer saying that soa is about "how people need good parents" and your respons that the writer definitely understood soa. When you mentioned Hamlet, it seemed like you claimed that Hamlet was also about "people need good parents". You gotta be mindful of how you phrase yourself if you don't want people to misunderstand you.
The thing about art is that many different themes and ideas can be taken from it. It took me many years to accept that but I believe that's what separates true art from propaganda.
Altered Carbon not Carbon Black. :)
What is Carbon Black? Is he talking about Altered Carbon?
Could someone Answer these questions about Frasier?
What questions do you have, loved that show!
Trying to apply this to Seinfeld.
I came to this channel asking question about the job as a question writer I'm not getting that from this presentation. I'm here in all the different themes and ideas and what they represent but not as a job what am I missing here
Peter Russell aka Saul Goodman
title - you hire pastor top 🎤👋🏼
And 9 TV shows spoiled but great video :)
i have realty show Concept how can i get investor to help me or how can start it
He meant altered carbon
The theme of OITNB is not if Piper likes boys or girls. That was a very homophobic statement, insinuating she has to "choose."
Was that... 7 questions...? I mean, some of them were super chewy, so not really a complaint at all!
I only noticed five questions!
I got 7 -
1. What is a great world - don’t just say NY City/be spscific - (Billions example) -
2. Do you have a theme that matters - what do you want to say about the world in your show. Theme answers the question what it’s about- “You need a good parent” “You better know yourself” - “The lower class is rising” - Wire - “This story is about the human condition - how we’ve jailed the underclass in our drug war” What do you believe in? That will be explored in theme.
3. Why do we want to watch the show every week? Why do we return? Breaking Bad: How bad is Hank gonna get this week? Mr Robot -Can Elliot take down the big corporation? Making a murderer- did he do it? This question, this hook has to be there- Game of Thrones - which family will win?
4. Genre - stay in your genre
5. What shows are like this?
6. What is the Question That Torments the Hero Forever --- Unsolveable dilemma
7. What is the big core wound in your hero? - this is nuclear reactor of the show
@@CroTube5000 question #5 was: "what are the parents of the show"? What are they like?
I only got 6. But 3, he rephrased and so I've got 9.
1. What's your great story world?
2. Do you have a them that matters?
2.1 What are you trying to say with your show?
3. Why are we choosing to tune in every week?
3.1 What is the hook question?
4. What are the parents of the show?
5. What is the question that torments the hero forever?
5.1 What is the unsolvable dilemma for the hero?
6. What is the big core wound of the hero?
@@CroTube5000 I'd say 4 isn't a question, but it is a statement he makes.
I want to be in a comdey tv show 😫😩😭
Caborn body reminds a lot about Linux desktops 😂