Six Pilots To Pitch aka You Wanna Watch This?

In the last year I’ve worked on finalizing half a dozen pilot scripts for competitions, pitch packages and as projects with other creatives.

Details about the shows are below. Feel free to let me know what appeals the most. The goal, of course, is to sell them all!

Each is a one-hour scripted drama with a written pilot and a planned season of storylines including multiple subplots. The end of every pilot episode has a great set-up or plot twist for the series.

Why do I think I have the ability to script a popular drama, you ask?

On the writing front I’ve written three novels, have a short story collection coming out soon, covered television for newsprint and websites, had my TV blog links liked and reposted by cast and crew of US shows I’ve discussed, written scripts and production schedules for music videos, and work as a features and content writer. (Oh, and took scriptwriting units at university.)

And of course I’ve watched thousands of one-hour TV dramas. I’ve counted scenes, subplots, noted trends, and compared small screen storytelling styles from around the globe. From the technical to the entertaining, structural to visual, I’m certain I can create material that will appeal to the current market.

Before you check out these six TV shows, please note the scripts are copyrighted for those feeling slight-ly too inspired by the concepts.

...We all know how this meme ends.

Saving Beauty

Interpretation of Sleeping Beauty by painter Thomas
Ralph Spence. My version has less flowers, more sword fighting. 

Logline: Sleeping Beauty is considered a disempowered female character. But what if falling asleep makes her powerful? And what if she’s the one saving the kingdom?

The concept: On her 17^th birthday Princess Ava discovers she’s a Dreamer. The ability to manipulate the dreamscape threatens the power of the High Queen, and all Dreamers are sentenced to death.

Friends and family manage to save Ava’s life, but at a terrible cost. Now the Robin, commander of the rebels, wants to enlist and control her. Only a powerful Dreamer can defeat the High Family.

Whoever controls the dreamscape, controls the world. Ava’s only choice is to become a leader, and control her own destiny.

Elements that stand out: The Sleepers. In each kingdom, once an heir is born, a member of the royal couple is put into an enchanted sleep by the mages. This way the High Queen and High King control the other royals. Once a year they wake up. The rest of the time their consciousness is locked in the dreamscape.

The High Princes. Four brothers make up the High Family. The mysterious mage Alex, identical twins Marcus and Jerome, and the beautiful prince Alex. Their history is complicated, as is their struggle for power.

What I like most about the series: The people who love Princess Ava are as dangerous to her as her enemies. Most of the characters want to protect, manipulate, kill, or use her.

This is a tale of a teenage girl’s empowerment in a ruthless world where everyone has an agenda.

Key sells: Fantasy, Teen, Dream State, Female Empowerment, Action, Adventure.

*Read a sample here.

The Guardians

Logline: Guardian angels have been released from their duty of care but are still bound to a soul. They fight for control of this reality by manipulating their assigned human. The story moves between the present day where people begin to hear a single voice and a future where mankind is at war on behalf of the angel factions.

The concept: People begin to hear one voice, and see an “imaginary friend”. Most think they’re going crazy. Slowly they accept the apparitions are telling the truth: guardian angels are no longer silent, or forced to protect us—and they’re not going away.

Guardians know every memory and desire. Some want to be friends, others want to break people and use them like puppets. Control of this reality through humans is the end game.

In the future timeline set a few years forward, the characters lead very different lives, fighting for various angel factions.

Elements that stand out: Complex Characters. The leads range from an elderly businesswoman mourning the recent death of her wife to a young male veteran dealing with PTSD and life as a stay at home dad.

Guardians appearing/disappearing. In some scenes the audience sees what the characters see which is a person standing beside them. In others, the angels aren’t visible; reminding us it’s all happening in people’s heads.

A split timeline. War rages in the near future. Just a few years have passed yet the leads have changed immensely.

What I like most about the series: The friendship between a young Mexican American teenage girl who is a cutter as a result of bullying, and a young Japanese-Korean teen guy living in America who doesn’t seem to have a guardian.

Key sells: Supernatural, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Science Fiction.

Insta-Dead

Logline: America’s favorite teen social media star Sally is murdered. The prime suspects are Sally’s six famous Instagram “besties”. Her sister Amy takes Sally’s place in the social media crew to unearth the killer.

The concept: When Sally is murdered at a party, her quiet sister Amy decides to find the killer. The only way into Sally’s famous crew is to become an Instagram icon—but Amy doesn’t use social media.

Signing with Sally’s agency, she learns online fame is big business. The number one rule: protect your persona at all costs. Endless parties, fake relationships, online stalkers and the politics of endorsement make it clear Amy is in over her head.

The six teens at the party with Sally claim they want to clear their names but one has to be the murderer. As she learns more about their lives (and lies), Amy discovers the murder was meticulously planned. Instagram posts hold the clues—she just needs to figure out what to look for…

Elements that stand out: If you grew up on a diet of Buffy, Veronica Mars and Pretty Little Liars, you’ll know how great it is to watch teenage girls find their strengths and navigate risky waters.

At first Amy doesn’t have the social skills to tackle the case. And the more she learns about Sally, the more she realizes she hardly knew her sister.

What I like most about the series: The teen leads are ambitious but also insecure, and will do anything to keep their secrets hidden. The mean girls (and boys) have millions—in money, and followers.

When everybody is so good at being fake it’s hard to tell whom to trust.

Key sells: Teen, Murder Mystery, Social Media, Female Lead.

Sound

Logline: Residents of the quarantined city of Sound live off performances by the world’s best musicians. The groundbreaking experiment sees the body source energy from sound waves—but with unexpected side effects. Facing a food-deprived future, how far will those in power go to hide the truth?

The concept: Based off my novel, the plot follows the arrival of a young woman, Cecilia (Ces) in the city of Sound. Live performances are amplified through special speakers, with citizens surviving on a mix of food and sound waves.

Ces moves into Hotel Vigoroso, owned by the famous musician Jesse. His previous band mate Michael no longer speaks to him, having been changed by the music. Turns out, making tunes has as many side effects as feeding on them.

Regular visits to the Clinic are meant to help the people of Sound. Yet those detained are often never seen again. And with patrollers observing more than they police and protect, the streets are not safe.

The experiment calls for minimal tech, and the city has no contact with the outside world. Resident artist Brad teaches Ces about life in the city, along with Daisy, a veteran and survivor of a terrorist attack whose fractured mind may be the key to keeping the citizens of Sound alive.

Elements that stand out: A love of music. Sound amplifies the idea you can become addicted to a musician’s output.

The cultists. Ceruleans wear blue robes and animal masks. They live in an abandoned theatre, and many work in city’s red light district. Now and again the officials collect them in “sweeps”. Many never return.

The children. The side effects of Sound are most obvious in babies born in the city, a fact hidden from the world.

What I like most about the series: As the story progresses the audience wonders if Ces may be an unreliable narrator. How much of her experiences can be trusted? Visual symbols that act as clues and moments of delusion show Ces’ perspective might not be one hundred per cent trustworthy.

Key sells: Science fiction, music, dystopia, psychological thriller.

Jedi AF

 

If you haven't seen the EXO Lightsaber
clip go and watch it right this minute.

Logline: In an alternate version of the present day Jedi and Sith are members of society. Identified by a special gene, many work in law enforcement or for the underworld, while others are rogues or loners. When a powerful teenager emerges from the city’s slums, the fight is on to secure his services and gain control of his power over the Force.

The concept: Disney owns Star Wars so this is almost impossible to pitch but since I was a child, writing Jedi’s into the real world has been my dream. Lightsaber fights on the streets after dark… How cool would that be? Teen angst meets the Force in neon-soaked settings. Young Jedi are prone to becoming vigilantes and young Sith are prone to running in packs

Certain Jedi and Sith bloodlines have become surrogate royal families, ruling the corporate world—or the Underworld. And after a century of relative peace, Jedi and Sith are on the verge of outright war.

With, Anti-Force sentiment is high among ordinary humans, a special task force, made up of Jedi and Sith exists to monitor Force users. Powerful Force users are considered dangerous and must choose an affiliation: Jedi or Sith.

For a poor teen with no allies it’s a dangerous time to discover you can control the Force.  

Elements that stand out: Blurring the line between the Jedi and the Sith. In this reality some Sith are kind, some Jedi ruthless. Good and evil are less distinct.

The visuals. Kpop group EXO released Lightsaber in 2015 in conjunction with Disney, a collaborative MV/film that captures the visual aesthetic of a modern Jedi/Sith drama.

What I like most about the series: The Jedi/Sith conflict being transplanted to a gritty, urban setting. The series draws from but is not limited to existing mythology.

Jedi, Sith and Social Media. The idea of young people posting about and stanning famous Jedi (or Sith) is a surreal side note.

Key sells: Teen, Star Wars, Jedi, Action, Adventure.

Gateway

Logline: In near-future New York the drug Gateway is the darling of the party scene, but users don’t realize the dahlia-printed paper slips open the door to more than the subconscious. Taking the petal lets you see into the Otherworld. And sometimes, gods and spirits hitch a ride back.

The concept: The pilot establishes Gateway is a supernatural drug that opens the mind to the  Otherworld, allowing creatures banished from Earth millennia ago to possess a human while the drug lasts.

Most consider Gateway a hallucinogenic. Only a few know the Otherworld is real, short-term possession happens, and the gods have a plan to stay on Earth permanently.

Mysterious Gateway dealer Col sells mostly to rich kids on the clubbing scene. One night he reluctantly gives Gateway to some friends, setting off an unexpected chain of events.

Now Col and Brianna have to find the secret government agency that took their friends, deal with a possession and a vengeful god’s agenda, all while avoiding the two cops closing in on Col.

The story follows a mix of characters caught up in an Otherworld conspiracy. They’re knowingly, or unknowingly connected. And every one of them has secrets they want to protect, even the gods.

Elements that stand out: Futuristic Graffiti. A fusion of tech and street art hides messages on walls that only phone filters and programmed eyewear can find.

Vigilante Parkour Crew. Female lead Briana is a member of The 88, who uses holos to hide their profiles. “Faceless protecting the faceless. Justice for areas cops won’t cover.”

Visions. Those on Gateway see things from the past, as well as looking into the Otherworld. More than one doorway in the mind opens.

What I like most about the series: Love triangle. The musician Sara relies on Gateway to see her muse in the Otherworld, the fae Tristan. She also lives with Agent Barnes, who tracks Gateway dealers.

Halfies. Alex and Simon are known as halfies because one parent was on Gateway and possessed by a God during conception. Halfies have special talents, including the ability to sense when a possessed person is near, but are prone to emotional issues.

The atmosphere. Mostly shot at night, Gateway is dark and fast paced and has an eerie, tense vibe. The visual style could be called “dystopian tech”.

Key sells: Supernatural, Drama, Nightlife, Psychological Thriller, Procedural, Action.

Thanks for reading. My email is gilliano@iinet.net.au if you have any queries.

Teen Wolf Times One Hundred

In today's saturated TV market Teen Wolf deserves kudos for keeping fans engaged across six seasons. Holding viewer interest for one hundred episodes? Epic achievement. 

Below are fifty reasons I watched and enjoyed every instalment of the series, in no real order except for first place, of course!

50. Modern Gothic Aesthetic

People often argue that it is not sustainable to produce music video level visuals in a TV series. Teen Wolf took that challenge and created stunning moody, gorgeous footage: lots of shadows and cold blue feel. The lighting was regularly outstanding and the cinematography more adventurous than most US television shows.

49. Power Is Addictive

The show was big on reminding viewers how dangerous it is to crave, and rely on, power. From the messed up Alpha Pack, to Jackson, Leo, and the Desert Wolf, a lust for power—whether social or supernatural—eventually destroyed lives.

48. Everyone Became A Victim

In a refreshing twist, at some point all series regulars were powerless. No matter how strong or brave, they faced outer or inner struggles they couldn’t (in the moment) overcome. It seemed like Scott was powerless on more occasions than most series leads.

47. An Actual Successful Adaptation

Remember the horror of terrible TV remakes? (Looking at you 90210). Teen Wolf was inspired by an iconic movie, but clawed its way (pun intended) to a fresh, modern take on the concept.

46. People Die

Life was a battlefield for supes, especially in Beacon Hills. The show didn’t sugarcoat the downside of life or death conflicts. Alison, Aiden, Boyd, Erica, and Brett’s deaths were the tip of the iceberg. No character (except maybe Scott) proved safe.

45. Parents Who Aren’t Morons

Teen shows regularly portray parents as idiots. I really dislike this trope, and I loved how the parents here, on varying levels, engaged with their children’s battles. On occasion a mom or dad even saved the day. To me, that’s realistic.

44. Coach

Wow. This guy. The coach of the school’s lacrosse team and all-round politically incorrect individual, somehow Coach was deeply lovable. Possibly because he cared about the kids on the team? (Well, everyone except Greenberg.) Coach’s dialogue was hilariously outrageous—and he saved Jackson in the finale too.

43. Wild Editing Pace

I used to count cuts per episode when practicing scriptwriting and pacing. During adrenalized sequences the editing would speed up, but also became less paced, so the audience (probably unconsciously) picked up the erratic vibe. Loved the infusion of energy.

42.  How To Lead

What constitutes good leadership is a question addressed both in high school (most noticeably on the lacrosse field) and in the supernatural realm. On the alpha front, Derek does an awful job with his pack, Peter is worse, and don’t get me started on Deucalion. Scott, however, becomes a True Alpha through character alone.

41. Lydia’s Screams And Scott’s Howls Are Spooky AF

My fave of the sound effects. (Teen Wolf made wonderful use of amplifying or muting audio elements to create atmosphere.) Scott’s alpha howling to subdue another creature was chilling. Lydia’s banshee wails were off the freakin’ charts. Loved the creepy energy.

40. Carefully Crafted Sense of Style

Lydia’s wardrobe was an example of great costuming. While growing as a person, her style evolved but certain elements recurred in her wardrobe. Alternately I kind of love how Stiles never figured out how to dress well. A total disregard for fashion matched his personality!

39. Lack of Male Entitlement

The women of Teen Wolf set their own personal and sexual boundaries, and when they laid down the law the male characters listened. Those who didn’t paid for that attitude. Entitlement was not okay in this version of reality. Female characters weren't judged for their sexuality, and the women were often dominant in their relationships. Side note: Alison is a year older than Scott, and more experienced in terms of dating and relationships. Often the main couple in teen TV shows includes a super-innocent female lead, younger than the male lead; this was a great turn-around.

38. Disastrous Parties

The black light Halloween party at Derek’s place was crashed by Oni demons, the party at Scott’s crashed by The Wild Hunt’s Ghost Riders. Lydia’s weird birthday had everyone hallucinating, and OMG the lake house parties (those never end well on any teen show). Despite the lack of success, these kids kept throwing parties. Fighting!

37. Chris Argent

Love this guy. A hunter of supernatural killers, after his wife and daughter died he turned on his sister and father when they lost their moral compass, helping the supernaturals because at heart he’s a protector of the innocent. Plus, he had a droll sense of humor. So cool.

36. Supernatural Teens Making Idiotic Decisions

The teens of Teen Wolf weren’t an all-knowing, super-hip crew. This lot had me facepalming (and laughing) with their stupid but authentic choices and awkward moments. The secondhand embarrassment was real.

35. The Nogitsune Plot

Kira’s family’s addition to the cast brought the Nogitsune plot into play, an epic storyline, entwining myth and discrimination at an American internment camp. And woah the Nogitsune/Stiles twist.

34. Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees

Financial troubles hit the single parents of Beacon Hills hard: hospital bills from supe attacks and time spent in the supernatural psych ward added up. Pre peak GoFundMe, this was a cold, hard dose of realism.

33. Visions

Dreams, visions, hallucinations, repressed memories, sleepwaking, psychic manipulation, and fugue states: the show constantly crossed back and forward between what was real and what was not. Cue mind-bending scenes.

32.  The Opening Credits

Simple, sleek, dramatic and beautiful; always on a black drop, getting darker and creepier each season.

31. The Cops Don’t Suck

Sheriff Stilinski ran the Beacon Hills police, and dealt with dodgy officers harshly. While this isn’t always true in real life, I liked the positive portrayal. Deputy Parrish was also a Hell Hound and having supes—and the supe-aware—on the force made for well-rounded characters.

30. Gritty Sets

Much of the series took place in tunnels, warehouses, and abandoned buildings: think exposed beam, peeling paint, and worn out surfaces. A lot of texture. The baddies also had wild lairs (shout out to the Dread Doctors). The eye was never bored.

29. Things That Grow

Many plants were symbolic, or physically/psychologically/magically transformative. From mountain ash to wolfsbane, nature had power in this world. The Nemeton (a magic tree stump bought into the story by the wonderful mentor Deaton) was used to great effect in the story.

28. Bianca Lawson Appeared

From a slayer on Buffy The Vampire Slayer to roles in Pretty Little Liars, Secret Life of an American Teenager, and The Vampire Diaries, Bianca Lawson in the credits is a sure sign a teen series is approaching cult status. (Here she plays a druid.)

27. Vulnerability Is Lit

They faced a fear, or acknowledge unhealthy behavior to move forward. The series focused on personal growth, whether issues were supernatural or everyday. Characters admitted they needed help, showing it’s not just okay but kind of awesome to express vulnerability, no matter how tough, clever or cool you are.

26. References To Literature

Everything from Sun Tzu to Heart of Darkness scored a mention, whether in school classes or casual conversation. Teen Wolf promoted the idea it’s cool to be a well-read teen.

25. Shifting Alliances

Shows where people play double agent, or cross sides are the best. Werewolves rebelled against their packs, and hunters like Argent changed sides for ethical reasons. Enemies made short-term alliances to battle villains. Good times.

24. Prejudice Is Presented As Ludicrous

Teen Wolf reall-y didn’t like prejudice in any form. Prejudiced characters were shown as somehow broken. And the plot usually showcased the idea prejudiced people not only damage others, but damage themselves as well.

23. Genocide and Hit Lists

Any plotline that strayed into supernatural cleansing was sobering because it explored the sensation of being hated, judged, labeled, and punished for who you are. A somber metaphoric way to make young people understand the horror and atrocities of history.

22. Fire And Energy Powers

Most notably, Kira and Parrish’s supercool supe identities. Watching them burn it up onscreen (pun intended) was epic: Parrish as a hellhound, and Kira as a Thunder Kitsune.

21. Amplified Angst

Nothing like a teen werewolf to bring the angst to the party. Isaac was a prime example of awkward and clueless, angry and traumatized—and he wasn’t the only one. Cora had some rage goin' on too.

20. Empathy Over Intellect

Confession: Not Scott McCall fan, since he was never the sharpest tool in the shed. But the show played on the premise heart matters more than intelligence, and the other alphas highlighted why McCall was so popular. To quote Baron Acton, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

19. The Power of Grief

Alison’s guilt allowed her to be manipulated. The power of grief, especially partnered with guilt, regularly propelled the story. Heightened emotion skews judgment, and Teen Wolf used that anomaly to push the story in certain directions.

18. Excellently Adrenalized

From fight scenes—verbal or physical— to chases, this series kept the blood pumping. The suspense was also high, and never once did the pace bore the audience.

17. The Diverging Mom Opinions

Teen Wolf broke the clueless mom mold. Melissa, Noshiko, Mrs. Argent, and Mrs. Martin are highly capable—in different ways. And despite holding opposing philosophies as to the right path, they always acted in what they believed was their kid’s best interests.

16. Being A Werewolf Sucks

Instead of portraying the supe life as hella cool, the show took a dark path: cons of lycanthropy were up there with the pros. The pack structure left less powerful wolves open to abuse. Hunters were a problem. And loss of self-control on full moon threatened a body count.

15. Recognizing Boundaries

A recurring theme: how to know when to respect them, when to question them, and when to cross them. (Includes the setting of boundaries between the children and parents. A lot of the show is about the transition to adulthood and how that impacts the family dynamic.)

14. We Got A Mantra

“Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” Thanks Satomi.

13. Don’t Protect People From Life

Many plot points arose from trying to protect friends, family, lovers or strangers. It’s implied repeatedly that making decisions for others is a way of underestimating them, and rarely ends well in the context of the story.

12. Always A Price

When Scott’s pack breaks the laws of the supernatural world, there is a price. Nothing is for free in this created reality. Acts of mercy and acts of persecution have both short-term and long-term repercussions: expected, or unexpected, deserved or undeserved. I like that balance.

 11. Violence And Revenge Are Addictive

The Darach lost herself in the quest for revenge, as did Monroe. Many characters—human and supe—developed a taste for violence, offering justifications from skewed perspectives, moving from defenders to persecutors.

10. Sense of Humor

Amidst all the intensity and drama, Teen Wolf infused comedy to balance out heavier material. Shows like Veronica Mars and Buffy The Vampire Slayer had previously made it clear how well this style of emotional cocktail worked with teen audiences, and Teen Wolf took that lesson to heart.

9. From Funny To Whacky

The best whacky moments came from Stiles and Coach but everyone—Liam, Lydia, Malia, even Derek—got to deliver real zingers. Ex-villains, like Peter, really upped the whacky factor when they joined Team Pack Scott.

8. You’re Gay? No Big Deal

Because it shouldn’t be: onscreen or off. Girl on girl wasn’t a focus for the show, but guy-on-guy got a lot of screen time. (Side note: So wish Kira had come back dating one of the Skinwalkers in the finale.) Jackson was the star athlete and school bully—with a gay best friend. Likewise, Mason being gay was a non-issue with his best friend Liam. When the twins enroll at school and one of them is gay, no big deal. Gay couples on the show (like the lovely Mason and Corey) were treated the same as hetero couples: just people in relationships. Love is love in Beacon Hills.

7. Mental Health

Not so much the local psychiatric care facility—which was like something out of the Dickensian era of fiction, combined with discrimination against supernaturals—but portrayals of depression, anxiety and PTSD. Liam had Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Stiles and Scott experienced panic attacks, and many characters displayed symptoms resulting from trauma.

6. Modernizing Myths

Teen Wolf took a series of fabulous old tales, creatures from historical myths, and gave them modern, creative spins. The greatest was the re-interpretation of a banshee. Lydia’s sound-based psychic visions, attraction to scenes of impending tragedy, and sonic warrior skills were an eerie, creative take on an old tale. A close second was the interpretation of The Wild Hunt.

5. The Ships

Oh, the ships. My faves were Stiles and Lydia, Melissa and Argent, and for some reason Malia and Theo—if he went on a redemptive path in a ten year flash forward. Plus I want a Jackson and Ethan spin-off that’s like James Bond meets Supernatural if the Winchesters were hubbies instead of brothers.

4. Teamwork

Teen Wolf is about working together to survive. Usually beating a big baddie takes a few tries, culminating in a plan that requires a number of the pack to succeed. Along the way various members (or almost members) of Scott's pack piece together clues, and keep moving forward.

3. It’s Legit Okay To Be Afraid

via GIPHY

At some point many characters admit they are deeply afraid. I love that almost everyone is presented as a relatable person. Sometimes they hide, or run from potential conflict. Other times they face what’s happening, but screw up, overwhelmed by fear—and that’s okay.

2. Stiles

Or should I say, Mieczyslaw Stilinski. The best friend sidekick, he’s introduced as bumbling and kindhearted, clever but erratic in terms of focus. Unlike most of the cast, he stays human (well, aside from a possessed period). Over the seasons he proves an integral part of the pack, ending the series in training for the FBI.

1. Lydia

Her transition from vicious Queen Bee to formidable leader is a riveting journey. She stops pretending to be stupid, and starts taking care of people, even risking her life, and tackles the discovery she’s a banshee head-on. Lydia is indomitable, and one of my fave female characters to grace the small screen.

Thanks for the good times, Teen Wolf Team! x