Where can I find TV Shows Templates?

[André]

Thanks. it's of course already something I am doing, but I hope to get a basic structure that I can easy apply when I have an interestting idea that I would like to see in the script. I have to admit that I'm a formula junkie... I am working in Filemaker Pro (database prg) building my own movie script/tv show script story builder that I can use to layout quikly an idea. I use this only for myself because I included the most populair story development systems already and now are adding my favorite tv shows as well. Doing this really gives me a lot of insight in how movies and tv shows are build. At the end though, I am using my prog to write books... I did 2 complete ones and are working on a 3th, so it's no9t only structure gathering what I do, I do use it as well.

[rnbrewer]

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST:

Maybe you would like your characters to meet at a coffee shop every day and discuss the whimsickle events that made up their day.

These things are up to you, the writer, and no format or template is really going to help you with that. My suggestion to you is to just keep watching television. If you watch long enough you can actually SEE the formula. You can see the concepts and elements that make the show good and then apply that to your own writing. Try watching older episodes that you've already seen, but this time watch them not for entertainment, but for study. Try to pick out those elements and piece the formula together.

[rnbrewer]

Television shows do go by formulas just as much as movies do. Despite these basic formulas the real focus of your script should be to come up with comeplling characters and a concept that will keep an audience coming back each week to find out what happens next.

It sounds to me like you're shooting for an hour long dram sitcom. In which case the format, believe it or not, really isn't much different from that of a movie. Think of it like this: hour long sitcoms are more like short films except they have characters and a story arc that is continuous through out the series. I've often heard of many writers not bothering with switching the actual script format. Some writers just write them in what ever program they happen to use and keep them in film format.

The real focus here should be the characters and the concept.

When comes to stylish details like the one you described from Ghost Whisperer... well that's entirely up to you. That's part of the concept. Do YOU want each episode to start off with the main character sitting in her living room and having an abrupt meeting with a ghost or would you rather it start off with a witty voice-over from the main character?  CONTINUED...

[André]

Nice to hear you bought Contour as well! I have a good feeling about it, I hope they will make aniPhone version that can sync with the desktop version. At the moment i am using Notes on my iPhone in which I made a template of the Contoour system. I works good, but better would a reall app.

It's something like Contour I am looking for in my tv show structure:
How many acts are there in a tv show like Ghost Whisperer? What is supposed to happen where? I know there is a system because I can feel it, but it's hard to pinpoint it. Every episode for example starts with Melinda in her shop or home, talking innocent stuff, then a ghost appears. Melinda makes contact and finds out what he wants. Mostly during there is a moment that people don't believe what she is doing  and at the end the problem is solved and the ghost goes into the light.
Like I said, it's how programs like Contour work but than for tv shows. This must excist somewhere, I'm sure that tv show writers are not inventing the show structure every time again.

André

[ScriptNurse]

I added Contour ... I should've done it earlier since I bought a copy.

Sounds like what you're after is a show bible. An episodic taped television show often uses it's own, unique format.

Are you looking for the script format or how the stories for a show are laid out ... i.e. a show's story "formula?"

[André]

Google is your friend ...

Yes, but even he can't help me. I searched  for many hours and find nothing. I am looking for story development, plot points, and I tried Final Draft and some other screenwriting to have a look at the templates inside. Indeed, FD has TV shows templates, but not very usable. It's nothing else than an episode of TV shows, that doesn't say anything a bout a story structure.

(btw. I see that you didn't include the Story Developments software from  Mariner Software yet in this board, called Contour:
http://www.marinersoftware.com/sitepage.php?page=138

André

[ScriptNurse]

Google is your friend ...

[André]

I am looking for tv shows templates like for example Ghost Whisperer. And my long time favorite, Columbo. Does someone know where to find these kind of things or maybe has them here on the forum?

André