📖Storytelling for Film and Television Unit 10 – Series Structure & Long-Form Narratives

What's This Unit All About?

• Explores the unique storytelling techniques used in television series and long-form narratives
• Focuses on how to structure and develop compelling stories that span multiple episodes or seasons
• Examines the challenges and opportunities presented by the episodic format
• Discusses the importance of creating overarching storylines and character arcs that maintain audience engagement over time
• Provides insights into the creative process behind successful TV series (Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones)
• Emphasizes the need for careful planning and collaboration among writers, producers, and other creative team members
• Highlights the role of cliffhangers, plot twists, and other narrative devices in keeping viewers hooked

Key Concepts in Series Structure

• Episodic structure: self-contained stories within each episode that contribute to larger narrative arcs
• Serialized storytelling: ongoing storylines that develop over multiple episodes or seasons
• A-plot and B-plot: primary and secondary storylines within an episode that often intersect or parallel each other
  • A-plot typically focuses on the main characters and central conflict
  • B-plot explores subplots or supporting characters' storylines
• Mythology: overarching narrative elements, backstories, and mysteries that span the entire series (Lost)
• Act breaks: key moments or cliffhangers that divide an episode into distinct sections, often coinciding with commercial breaks
• Season arcs: larger storylines that unfold over the course of a single season, building towards a climactic finale
• Series bible: a comprehensive document that outlines the characters, settings, themes, and overall vision for a TV series

Developing Long-Form Narratives

• Establishing a compelling premise and central conflict that can sustain multiple episodes or seasons
• Creating a rich, immersive world with well-defined rules, history, and culture (Westworld)
• Developing multi-dimensional characters with clear goals, motivations, and flaws
  • Ensuring characters have room for growth and development over time
• Mapping out key story beats and plot points across the entire series
• Balancing episodic and serialized elements to create a satisfying viewing experience
  • Providing a sense of resolution within each episode while advancing larger storylines
• Planting seeds for future plot developments and revelations
• Incorporating themes and motifs that resonate throughout the series

Character Arcs Across Multiple Episodes

• Crafting long-term character arcs that showcase growth, change, and development over time
• Establishing characters' starting points, goals, and obstacles at the beginning of the series
• Creating pivotal moments or turning points that shift characters' trajectories (Walter White's transformation in Breaking Bad)
• Developing complex relationships and dynamics between characters that evolve throughout the series
  • Exploring how characters' actions and decisions impact one another
• Revealing characters' backstories and motivations gradually, adding depth and nuance to their personalities
• Incorporating character-specific subplots that contribute to their overall development
• Building towards satisfying payoffs or resolutions for characters' arcs by the end of the series

Plotting Techniques for TV Series

• Utilizing the four-act structure within each episode (teaser, two main acts, and tag)
• Employing cliffhangers and plot twists to create suspense and anticipation between episodes
• Developing multiple, interconnected storylines that converge or diverge throughout the series
• Using flashbacks, flash-forwards, or non-linear storytelling to reveal key information or create mystery (Westworld, This Is Us)
• Incorporating standalone episodes that deviate from the main storyline but provide character insights or world-building
• Creating narrative parallels or contrasts between different characters or storylines
• Building towards major turning points or game-changing events that alter the course of the series (Red Wedding in Game of Thrones)

Maintaining Audience Engagement

• Crafting compelling hooks and teasers that entice viewers to keep watching
• Balancing the release of information and revelations to maintain a sense of mystery and intrigue
• Creating emotional connections between the audience and characters through relatable struggles and triumphs
• Incorporating unexpected twists or subversions of audience expectations to keep viewers on their toes
• Developing ongoing conflicts and obstacles that challenge characters and drive the narrative forward
• Utilizing cliffhangers and plot twists judiciously to avoid frustrating or alienating viewers
  • Ensuring payoffs are satisfying and justify the buildup
• Maintaining consistency in character development, world-building, and tone across episodes and seasons

Industry Insights and Examples

• Examining the success of groundbreaking series that have redefined the television landscape (The Sopranos, The Wire)
• Analyzing the storytelling techniques employed by critically acclaimed shows across various genres (Mad Men, Stranger Things, The Crown)
• Discussing the impact of streaming platforms on the development and consumption of long-form narratives (Netflix, Amazon Prime)
• Exploring the role of showrunners in guiding the creative vision and maintaining consistency throughout a series
• Studying the adaptation process for series based on existing source material (novels, comics, etc.)
• Investigating the challenges and opportunities presented by anthology series or limited series formats (True Detective, American Horror Story)
• Considering the influence of audience feedback and fan theories on the development of ongoing series

Practical Applications

• Developing a series bible that outlines the key elements of your long-form narrative
  • Including character profiles, world-building details, and overarching storylines
• Creating a season-long outline that maps out the major plot points and character arcs
• Writing episodic outlines that break down the specific beats and scenes within each episode
• Crafting compelling loglines and pitches that effectively communicate the premise and hook of your series
• Collaborating with a writers' room to generate ideas, troubleshoot problems, and maintain consistency across episodes
• Revising and refining scripts based on feedback from producers, directors, and actors
• Adapting your storytelling approach based on budget, production constraints, or network notes