6.1 Teaser as a standalone story

The teaser is the opening sequence of a TV pilot that hooks viewers and sets the stage for the series. It functions as a mini-story, introducing key characters, establishing the tone, and raising the central dramatic question that will drive the narrative forward.

A well-crafted teaser captures the audience's attention with a compelling scenario, creates an emotional connection to the characters, and generates curiosity about the story world. It often ends with a cliffhanger, leaving viewers eager to continue watching the pilot and series.

Teaser as standalone story

• The teaser is the opening scene or sequence of a television pilot that serves to capture the audience's attention and draw them into the story world
• It functions as a self-contained mini-story that sets the tone, introduces key characters, and establishes the central dramatic question that will drive the pilot episode
• The teaser is crucial in hooking the audience and persuading them to continue watching the pilot and the series as a whole

Role in capturing audience

Top images from around the web for Role in capturing audience

• 

  5 consejos para hacer un storytelling efectivo View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Review: Sense8, season 1 - Old Ain't Dead View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Telling the Coaches Story | The Common Ratio View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  5 consejos para hacer un storytelling efectivo View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Review: Sense8, season 1 - Old Ain't Dead View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Role in capturing audience

• 

  5 consejos para hacer un storytelling efectivo View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Review: Sense8, season 1 - Old Ain't Dead View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Telling the Coaches Story | The Common Ratio View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  5 consejos para hacer un storytelling efectivo View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Review: Sense8, season 1 - Old Ain't Dead View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Engages the audience immediately by presenting a compelling and intriguing scenario
• Creates a strong first impression that sets the tone and genre expectations for the series
• Generates curiosity and anticipation, making the audience want to know more about the characters and their circumstances
• Establishes an emotional connection between the audience and the main characters, fostering investment in their journey

Key elements of teaser

• A strong opening image or scene that grabs the audience's attention (a shocking event, a mysterious situation, or a character in a predicament)
• Introduces the main characters and provides a glimpse into their personalities, goals, and conflicts
• Sets up the story world, establishing the time period, location, and relevant social or cultural context
• Presents the inciting incident that disrupts the status quo and sets the story in motion
• Raises the central dramatic question that the pilot episode and the series as a whole will seek to answer

Establishing story world

• The teaser provides a concise introduction to the unique setting and atmosphere of the series
• It conveys the genre, whether it's a gritty crime drama (The Wire), a fantastical realm (Game of Thrones), or a specific time period (Mad Men)
• The teaser showcases the visual style, cinematography, and production design that define the story world
• It may introduce key locations, such as a bustling city, a small town with secrets, or a futuristic spacecraft

Introducing main characters

• The teaser introduces the protagonist(s) and provides a glimpse into their ordinary world before the inciting incident occurs
• It showcases the main characters' personalities, quirks, and defining traits through their actions, dialogue, and interactions with others
• The teaser may also introduce supporting characters and their relationships to the protagonist(s)
• It can hint at the characters' backstories, motivations, and internal conflicts that will be explored throughout the series

Inciting incident

• The inciting incident is the event or decision that disrupts the protagonist's status quo and sets the story in motion
• It creates a problem, challenge, or opportunity that the protagonist must face and sets up the central dramatic question
• The inciting incident often occurs near the end of the teaser, propelling the characters into the main story
• Examples of inciting incidents include a murder mystery (True Detective), a supernatural occurrence (Stranger Things), or a character receiving life-changing news (Breaking Bad)

Central dramatic question

• The teaser raises the central dramatic question that the pilot episode and the series will seek to answer
• It creates tension and anticipation by making the audience wonder how the protagonist will navigate the challenges and conflicts introduced in the teaser
• The central dramatic question often revolves around the protagonist's goals, obstacles, and personal journey
• Examples of central dramatic questions include "Will the detective solve the crime and confront their own demons?" (True Detective) or "How far will a terminally ill teacher go to secure his family's future?" (Breaking Bad)

Pacing and tension

• The teaser maintains a brisk pace to keep the audience engaged and create a sense of momentum
• It balances moments of intrigue, action, and character development to maintain viewer interest
• The teaser gradually builds tension through the introduction of conflicts, mysteries, or high-stakes situations
• It may employ techniques such as cliffhangers, plot twists, or unexpected revelations to heighten suspense

Cliffhanger ending

• Many teasers end with a cliffhanger—a dramatic or suspenseful moment that leaves the audience eager to know what happens next
• Cliffhangers can take various forms, such as a character in peril, a shocking revelation, or an unexpected turn of events
• The cliffhanger ending creates a strong incentive for the audience to continue watching the pilot and the series
• Examples of cliffhanger endings include a character being shot (The Walking Dead), a surprising betrayal (Homeland), or a mysterious figure appearing (Lost)

Teaser vs cold open

• A teaser is a self-contained opening sequence that sets up the story and hooks the audience, while a cold open is a brief scene or sequence that precedes the main story and may not be directly related to the plot
• Cold opens are more common in sitcoms and often feature a humorous or standalone scene before the main story begins (The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
• Teasers are more prevalent in dramas and are designed to be an integral part of the story, setting up the central conflict and characters

Teaser length considerations

• The length of a teaser can vary depending on the genre, network, and storytelling style of the series
• Teasers typically range from 2 to 6 minutes, with most falling in the 3-5 minute range
• The teaser should be long enough to effectively introduce the story world, characters, and central dramatic question, but not so long that it loses the audience's attention
• In some cases, shorter teasers can be effective in quickly establishing the premise and creating a sense of intrigue (Lost, Breaking Bad)

Teaser in overall pilot structure

• The teaser is the first act of the pilot episode and sets the stage for the rest of the story
• It is followed by the main body of the pilot, which further develops the characters, expands on the story world, and escalates the conflicts introduced in the teaser
• The teaser's central dramatic question and the conflicts it introduces are typically resolved or addressed in the pilot's climax and resolution
• The teaser's effectiveness in hooking the audience and establishing the story world can be crucial in determining whether the pilot is picked up for a full series order

Effective teaser examples

• Breaking Bad: The teaser introduces Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer, as he records a mysterious video confession in an RV in the desert, wearing only his underwear. This teaser raises questions about Walter's circumstances and sets up his transformation into a criminal mastermind.
• Lost: The teaser opens with a close-up of Jack Shephard's eye opening in a jungle, followed by him discovering the chaotic aftermath of a plane crash on a mysterious island. This teaser immediately thrusts the audience into a suspenseful and intriguing scenario, setting up the central mystery of the series.
• Game of Thrones: The teaser introduces the fantasy world of Westeros and the looming threat of the White Walkers through a chilling opening sequence involving the discovery of dismembered bodies arranged in a mysterious pattern. This teaser establishes the dark tone and high stakes of the series.
• The Walking Dead: The teaser follows Rick Grimes, a sheriff's deputy, as he searches for gas in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. It introduces the main character, establishes the dire circumstances of the story world, and ends with a cliffhanger as Rick is trapped inside a tank surrounded by zombies.