ABSTRACT

Development is a large and central part of the American TV industry, and yet the details of how it works – who makes development decisions and why, where ideas for new shows come from, even basics like the differences between what TV studios and TV networks do – remain elusive to many.

In this book, lecturer and acclaimed television producer Bob Levy offers a detailed introduction to television development, the process by which the Hollywood TV industry creates new scripted series. Written both for students and industry professionals, Television Development serves as a comprehensive introduction to all facets of the development process: the terminology, timelines, personnel and industrial processes that take a new TV project from idea to pitch to script to pilot to series. In addition to describing these processes, Levy also examines creative strategies for successful development, and teaches readers how to apply these strategies to their own careers and speak the language of development across all forms of visual storytelling.

Written by the renowned producer responsible for developing and executive producing Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars, Television Development is an essential starting point for students, executives, agents, producers, directors and writers to learn how new series are created. Accompanying online material includes sample pitches, pilot scripts, and other development documents.

A companion website for the book is available here: https://www.tvboblevy.com/

chapter |4 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|38 pages

The Industrial Process of TV Development

chapter 3|26 pages

Format, Genre and Concept

chapter 4|9 pages

What Make Series Go

“Story Engines,” “Franchises” and “Series Drives”

chapter 6|18 pages

Assessing the Marketplace

chapter 7|38 pages

Pitching New Pilots and Series

chapter 8|23 pages

Developing the Pilot Script

chapter 9|15 pages

Packaging and Politics

The Role of Agents in TV Development

chapter 10|15 pages

Other Development Strategies

chapter 11|16 pages

Case Study

The Tortuous Five-Year Development of One Hit Show

chapter 12|9 pages

The Culture of TV Development

chapter 13|26 pages

Preparing for Careers in TV Development

chapter 15|7 pages

What’s Next

TV Development in the Age of Media Disruption