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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This review first appeared in the launch issue of Moviescope magazine, July 30, 2006
There have been quite a few screenwriting manuals focussing on the sitcom, but drama series haven't yet been singled out for an in-depth examination. And about time too, because much of the best audiovisual work today is done on television. Pamela Douglas, a highly experienced writer for television, attempts to fill the gap with the current volume.
Douglas starts out by listing the specific qualities of television drama (episodic characterization, long narrative and collaboration) and dispelling some myths about the medium. She then goes into an extensive description of the (American) writing system, and then delves into writing specifics. Douglas provides a four-act grid to fill in with the beats of your story, and also explains how to layer A, B and C stories. She analyzes two hefty script excerpts from NYPD Blue in great detail, an excellent teaching method which makes the practical application of the theory very clear. Subsequent chapters focus on writing your own episode and breaking in. Each chapter is followed by an interview with top writers (Steven Bochco, David Milch etc.), and Douglas rounds off by interviewing a group of her students twice, first after graduation and then several years later, to see how their careers turned out. It's not all good news.
This is a well-written, serious look at television drama, and it provides a lot of necessary insider information for the writer looking to break in.
The second edition of the book updates the info to early 2007, and covers series like Lost, Heroes, Battlstar Galactica and the like. Ms. Douglas also reveals new 'tricks of the trade' such as ABC's mandatory six-act structure. If you don't have the book yet and you're serious about writing for television - get it NOW. If you already have the first edition, the new material is definitely good enough to warrant a new purchase.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stop Here, May 6, 2006
This is the best book on TV writing period. Throw away all your other books...well keep the Syd Field ones for screenwriting, but as far as TV writing goes..this is the last book you'll ever need.
Everything is layed out for you from conception of the idea, all the way to getting it aired and so on. She helps you lay out your idea and break it down in easy to understand steps. Scene construction, Dialogue, and Format are covered heavily. There are even guest writers here from your favorite shows and they tell it like it is. They even share some of their personal scripts from their shows, and break em down to show how beats are set and structure of a one hour drama series is layed out. NYPD Blue, West Wing, ER, are all covered here.
It's got everything you'll need to make your own show or even how to get on a writing staff...she covers it all.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Book Is A Must Have! , September 30, 2006
If you are seriously thinking about a career as a television writer buy this book. Pamela Douglass delivers a very insightful book not only does she cover the actual process of creating a TV script but also she gives you an inside view of the business of TV writing. Ms. Douglass takes you from the beginning stages of a TV show starting with the idea that leads to the creation of a TV show and ending with the actual airing of the a TV show. This is a two-year process that Ms. Douglass takes you through elegantly in Writing the TV Drama Series.
For the nuts and bolts side of actual writing Ms. Douglass delivers the core secrets of creating the four-act grid that is necessary for writing the hour-long drama. She also covers the essence of creating A, B, C etc story lines in your script as well.
The real keeper in here however is when Ms. Douglass takes you inside of the world of being a TV writer as she explains each step in the TV writer career starting from the beginning stages of being a freelance writer all the way up to being an Exec. Producer / Show-Runner. As Ms. Douglass explains the overall career development of a TV writer she gives keen insight on the do's and don'ts of working with a staff writers as well.
Ms. Douglass ends her book with a high dose of reality by interviewing some of her former students a little after their graduation, then those same students are interviewed three years and finally seven years later after
their graduation.
Again if you are seriously thinking about becoming a writer for TV and you want to write for or create a drama series this book is a MUST HAVE. Actually you may want two copies one for home and one for the road....
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