How to Create Great TV Bibles & Treatments
TV bibles, treatments, pitch decks, lookbooks… oh my! A hot script isn’t the only piece of writing you need to sell your show.
But figuring out what to include in these documents, and how to put them together in the most dynamic way, can be confusing. There’s no specific ‘industry standard’ for how to lay them out, and a lot of writers (and frankly, execs) mix up “pitch deck” and “lookbook” as well as “synopsis” and “treatment”.
Here are 7 tips to help you make sure your additional documents live up to your blazing hot pilot script (including tips on how to pitch them over Zoom):
1. Pitch-Deck, treatment, bible, or lookbook?
Let me preface this point by saying the definition of each of these documents can differ depending on who you’re talking to in Hollywood. But here are some good general guidelines to go by:
Treatment: A treatment is a document (usually 2-3 pages) that outlines the story of your pilot script or feature. Executives don’t always have the time to read a 30 - 120 page script, this document helps them get a quick idea of your story, tone, and characters (or provides a refresher if they’ve already read your script and want a reminder).
Lookbook: It’s called a LOOK book for a reason - this is a visual document used to communicate the tone and feel of a show. Usually this includes a lot of ‘comparable’ images from other movies or shows, or, if your screenplay is animated, illustrations of the characters and world.
Bible: A TV bible is like a “North Star” for a show - it should communicate the critical elements of your show: story, tone, characters, arcs, and episodes as succinctly as possible.
Pitch–Deck: A pitch-deck is like a bible, treatment, and lookbook rolled into one document. Often the terms ‘bible’ and ‘pitch-deck’ are used interchangeably, but the key difference is that a pitch-deck is usually more visual.
2. Your logline, the first thing to make or break your project
One key element included in all of these documents is the logline, and it’s usually the first thing anyone reading your pages is going to see. Which means it’s the first thing that can excite an executive/producer or the first thing they can say no to. Make sure your logline is concise, dynamic and intriguing. For more tips on this, check out my post on crafting a powerful logline.
3. Give your TV bible compelling structure
There are a million and one ways to structure a TV bible, but whatever you do, start with a bang. If you’ve never created a bible before, a great way to start is to begin with a teaser - then lead us through from there. The best bibles tell their own dynamic story. For example if you do start with a teaser, you could bridge the teaser into a breakdown of the world of the show, then introduce the characters which can lead us into what those characters do in the pilot, then the season, and finally what future season arcs might look like. Make sure your bible conveys all the info about your show in a way that’s exciting to read.
4. Take a few tips from the pros
There are dozens of TV bibles from successful shows available online. Do yourself a favor and check them out. They will show you how creative you can be with this type of document. Are you selling a murder mystery series? How can you weave your show’s sense of intrigue into your bible? Did you write a colorful animated kids series? What if your bible was presented like a colorful comic strip? Your bible needs to clearly communicate the ‘nuts and bolts’ of your show, while also getting the reader to imagine and invest in your dynamic vision.
5. It’s all about the ‘looks’ in lookbooks
Creating a lookbook that’s a visual knock-out is key. If you’re not ‘graphically savvy’ consider hiring a graphic designer or illustrator. It might be a bit of an investment, but it could be the thing that makes your document undeniably unique, professional, and gets your show noticed.
6. Zoom has changed the game
These ‘show documents’ used to be presented to execs in hardcopy, or a Powerpoint presentation in face-to-face meetings. Now, it’s all done over Zoom, and no one has any idea when things will go back to the way they used to be. This isn’t a reason to get discouraged, it’s a reason to get creative: figure out how to make the most of the video-chat platform and use it to your advantage. Some writers have created pitch videos in place of a traditional TV bible; others have done slideshow presentations with dozens of images to help visually tell their story. Use your imagination to serve up your pitch documents in a new way - it can have huge payoff. Inside tip: I know it sounds obvious, but I know writers who didn’t do this and regretted it: be sure to practice sharing your screen before your meeting so there’s no technical gaffs.
7. What would excite you?
When a writer tries to do these documents the “right way” it shows. Follow your enthusiasm, your passion for your story, and get creative. Yes, executives and producers want a bible or pitch deck to have all the necessary info they need about your show, but they want it from YOU. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, and present your story in a way no one’s seen before.
What do you think makes a bible, treatment or lookbook blazing hot? Let me know @CaroleKirsh!