Writing the Second Episode - Description Query

My writing partner and I have just begun work on episode 2 of our sitcom and a question has already raised it's head. In episode 1 we set the scene for our main room set and gave brief descriptions of each character ie
'late 20s, well groomed etc...'

Episode two is on the same set and with the same characters. Do we need to describe the room exactly as we did in episode 1 and do we again need to introduce our characters with the brief description of 'late 20s, well groomed etc?

I'm not sure if this is a silly question or not. Initially I thought we don't need to do any of that as the scene and characters are established in episode 1. But then we thought that perhaps the script for episode 2 is a seperate entity in its own right, so perhaps we do need to repeat these points?

I hope this query makes sense. Can anyone clarify?

Thanks!

Def.

Unless you've got commissioned, why are you writing a second episode? If the first one was good, just go with that. And if it wasn't, and it was just a run through of the characters and relationships, then the second episode should be treated like a pilot, where everything and everybody is introduced afresh.

Because Production companies prefer 2nd episodes, apparently, so I've been told. All the fun, none of the introductory dullness.

But why not just write that second episode first? If that's what you're going to send the production company, that's the only one you should write.

That's a pretty good idea, and one I never do.

Thanks for the concerns. Lets assume that episode 1 is a go'er, a real episode 1 as opposed to a an experiment draft to put in a draw, and now we're writing episode 2...

...does that mean that episode 2 does or doesn't need the same description as episode 1? My assumption was 'no' as all that's been done in episode 1. But I'm not certain.

Thanks for everyones help so far.

Def.

Quote: sootyj @ March 20, 2008, 11:50 AM

Because Production companies prefer 2nd episodes, apparently, so I've been told. All the fun, none of the introductory dullness.

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Not true.

Go with the first episode every time.

They've got to see it's potential in where things can go, and in which directions. A pilot is easily to change.

The likelihood is a pilot will get changed, so although a second episode is fun to do, don't get your heart set on it.

Quote: chipolata @ March 20, 2008, 11:47 AM

Unless you've got commissioned, why are you writing a second episode? If the first one was good, just go with that. And if it wasn't, and it was just a run through of the characters and relationships, then the second episode should be treated like a pilot, where everything and everybody is introduced afresh.

View original

It's an enjoyable exercise writing episode 2.

I've never write more than 2 of something that wasn't commissioned though.

Quote: Deferenz @ March 20, 2008, 11:42 AM

My writing partner and I have just begun work on episode 2 of our sitcom and a question has already raised it's head. In episode 1 we set the scene for our main room set and gave brief descriptions of each character ie
'late 20s, well groomed etc...'

Episode two is on the same set and with the same characters. Do we need to describe the room exactly as we did in episode 1 and do we again need to introduce our characters with the brief description of 'late 20s, well groomed etc?

I'm not sure if this is a silly question or not. Initially I thought we don't need to do any of that as the scene and characters are established in episode 1. But then we thought that perhaps the script for episode 2 is a seperate entity in its own right, so perhaps we do need to repeat these points?

I hope this query makes sense. Can anyone clarify?

Thanks!

Def.

View original

No, just write it as if you know the characters. Just go straight into it.

The first episode should be the one the producers see. But as I said, don't get too attached as it'll alllllllllllll be changed!

Quote: Griff @ March 20, 2008, 12:01 PM

The idea is (supposedly - I haven't done this) that it's a lot easier to write a second episode to send out to someone else, once you've already written that first episode which you don't send to anyone.

You get to know your characters and setting really well when writing the first one, so that your second script will be that much stronger.

My view is that first episodes shouldn't be full of setup and introduction anyway, no more than a few lines. How long does it take to understand who the characters and setting are in any given episode of Fawlty Towers ? You could watch them in any order without having seen any previous ones. Obviously some great sitcoms have ongoing story arcs (like Mark and Sophie's relationship in Peep Show) but I wouldn't include anything that needed backstory, or which is setting up for future episodes, in a script I was submitting to a prodco, as I think most of them want to see self-contained stories. (I might mention the ongoing story arc suggestion in an outline/treatment/cover letter if it was likely to be a strong selling point.)

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But it must be clear who is who and why they are in the friendships/relationships they are.

We have to see conflict or love or whatever. You have to set up a future for these characters, and a pilot is the best episode to do that in.

In episode 2 you're assuming everyone knows who is who and why they like/dislike whoever - but they don't, they go in cold.

Agree with Seefacts...

Your first episode should obviously set your premise and characters, but it shouldn't dominate the plot. Credit your audience with some intelligence. If your script is strong enough then the first episode should feel like part of a series which has already hit the ground running.

And if you feel that you're not confident where your show is going (or has got legs for a series of plots) after reading your first episode, then you probably need to reconsider your premise/characters. I think you should know you can write five more episodes when you submit a first episode. I don't think you need to write them. That's why spending so much time on a pilot episode is important. IMHO.

Quote: Griff @ March 20, 2008, 1:37 PM

But it must be clear who is who and why they are in the friendships/relationships they are...We have to see conflict or love or whatever. You have to set up a future for these characters, and a pilot is the best episode to do that in.

That should all be made clear in the writing and characterisation for each episode, not info-dumped in the pilot so that you need the viewers of episode 2 to have seen the show last week so they know what's what. I prefer series where the pilot episodes are no different from any other. Nobody needed a Fawlty Towers pilot episode where Manuel and Polly arrive at the hotel for the first time and get interviewed and so on.

In media res every time for me, please.

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Well, no but it depends how much is relevant.

Why Manuel is there isn't, but his relationship with Basil is.

Look at Spaced - the whole first episode is introductory.

I personally like to mix it up a bit, and disguise the intros within the plot a little.

Well, not tediously spelt out but the traits should be on show.

Within about 2 seconds of the Red Dwarf pilot you can see Rimmer's irritation with Lister. That kind of thing is evident first off, then he gives a speech - totally in character - that explains who's who. It's a great opening that's not at all clunky.

In my opinion, don't shy away from explaining who's who. it gives potential producers a clear idea of what you're trying to put forward.

To Seefacts - Thanks, that answers my question.

To Tim - My question was a formatting one rather than a question of the sitcom concept or characters. Basically, is it correct script etiquette to always give the brief character details at the start of every episode or is that all sorted with episode 1.

Def.

I think in terms of formatting it's not necessary.

I’d just like to stick my oar in at this point and say that when a BBC producer was inviting me and somebody else to pitch half-hour radio sitcoms to him he explicitly asked for one of the middle episodes – not the first and not the last.

Clearly not all producers are the same, but that was my experience if it’s of any help.

Well, I don't go through extensive work on what the next five plots will be. I have a list of possible one or two line ideas about possibles. But, you'll never know if your outlines are going to work until you start writing.

Again, if your premise is strong enough, you should be able to write a series.

Quote: Deferenz @ March 20, 2008, 1:04 PM

Thanks for the concerns. Lets assume that episode 1 is a go'er, a real episode 1 as opposed to a an experiment draft to put in a draw, and now we're writing episode 2...

...does that mean that episode 2 does or doesn't need the same description as episode 1? My assumption was 'no' as all that's been done in episode 1. But I'm not certain.

Thanks for everyones help so far.

Def.

View original

In my opinion:
Put it IN. In the stage directions only. Minimise 'introductory' dialogue.

=====================================

People around here need to READ more scripts, to SEE what successful writers do.

It's quite hard to actually find full scripts on the internet as it seems most authors want to publish them as books for sale.
but I found a few for people to read:

http://www.televisionwriting.com/pdf/GirlfriendsScript1.pdf http://www.televisionwriting.com/pdf/NikolaScript3.pdf

And the incomplete scripts that were the Last Laugh competion are still on-line.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/tv/lastlaugh/dl/last_laugh_book.pdf

Note that the formatting of the Last Laugh book scripts is unusual, not the normal Film format (1-camera) nor the 3-camera studio format. The BBC just chose to use a compact stage type format to make the book physically smaller.