Anatomy of a TV Screenplay: Key Differences and Formatting

Introduction

• The importance of a good script for narrative TV shows
• Differences between TV scripts and feature screenplays
• Overview of television script formatting and best practices

Single-Camera vs. Multi-Camera Productions

Single-Camera

• Resembles film production with one camera
• Scripts have similar layouts to feature films
• Follow an act structure, clearly marking act breaks for commercial breaks
• Act breaks: Bold, underlined, and centered on the page

Multi-Camera

• Shot with multiple cameras in front of a live audience
• More akin to theater formatting
• Acts and scenes often demarcated by letters; written in uppercase and underlined
• Scene headings include story day numbers in parentheses
• Action written in all caps; dialogue double-spaced

Teaser, Cold Open, and Tags

• Teaser/Cold Open: Short sequence at the beginning of an episode
  • Teaser for dramas, cold open for comedies
  • Marked like an act in the script
• Tag: Short sequence at the end, often for last joke or cliffhanger
  • Marked similarly; ends with "end of show"

Script Length

• Half-hour episodes: Typically 25-35 pages (can vary)
  • Example: "Last Man on Earth" 2 pages; "Vep" 45 pages
• Hour-long episodes: Usually 45-65 pages
• Multi-camera scripts: Longer, ~50-60 pages for half-hour episodes

Structure: Serialized and Episodic

Serialized Dramas

• Tell a larger overarching story
• Typical four-act structure:
  • Act 1: Introduce normal world/characters, shake-up
  • Act 2: New normal
  • Act 3: Crucial decision
  • Act 4: Resolution and cliffhanger
• Examples: Mad Men, Pose, The Wire

Episodic Dramas

• Self-contained storylines each episode
• Five-act structure plus a teaser:
  • Act 1: Introduce problem
  • Act 2: Problem becomes personal
  • Act 3: Raise stakes, difficult decisions
  • Act 4: Major setbacks
  • Act 5: Solution found
• Examples: Law & Order, House, NCIS

Sitcoms

Multi-Cam Sitcoms

• Similar structure to single-cam, but formatted differently

Single-Cam Sitcoms

• Typically 2-4 acts depending on commercial breaks
• Example: Parks and Recreation uses three acts
  • Act 1: Introduce world and problem
  • Act 2: Attempt to solve problem
  • Act 3: Find resolution

Conclusion

• TV script formatting and structure are evolving
• Clarity remains paramount in any type of screenplay
• StudioBinder screenwriting software can help

Additional Remarks

• Acts should end on a note that maintains audience interest
• Episode endings should entice viewers to watch the next one