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The One- Pager: The most important 8x10 you'll ever send
It's a balancing act ladies and gentlemen, a balancing act.
Creating a One-Pager for your Screenplay or TV Series: The one-page pitch document or “one-pager” as it is lovingly referred to, is an encapsulation of the vital elements, the selling points, of what your screenplay or TV series is, all in one 8 x 10 piece of paper or electronic document. An amazing marketing tool and calling card that is easily accessible and takes two minutes read.
One key to having an effective one-pager is the specificity of them. I’ve discovered that the one-pagers for a TV series and those for a screenplay should differ some. For a screenplay, it should include the logline, a 2 or 3 paragraph of the synopsis/summary, and, a pitch paragraph where you also talk about your vision, how your take is unique and different yet relevant and identifiable and why you wrote it. Close the page with a sentence or two that lights a fire under their asses. Talk about why this script will succeed, who it will appeal to, the hook, perhaps budget—and end on a button that you want them to hit…on their I-phone.
The one-pager for the TV series is a bit more detailed in its inception as we are talking about a project that is open-ended and could go ten seasons. This means we have to show, in this one page, that it has legs. The purpose of a great one pager is to be asked for your pilot, your written show bible and to bring you in to pitch this series you created. The enticement begins here folks so it had better be concise, to the point, as inclusive as you can, reflective of the genre, written in language that not only exemplifies your voice, but reads easy--like you wrote it on the back of your grocery list while watching your kids at soccer practice.
The one pager for your TV Series should include the following: The Title of show and what it is (sitcom, 1-hour drama, procedural). The Logline. The Tagline. The Theme (s) – the overall ones that drive the series and will be demonstrated in every episode. The Series Summary – a premise paragraph about what the show is, the world of the story, how it came about to the point of episode one and an idea of how these people interrelate in this world. Brief Character Descriptions for the main characters. A one paragraph synopsis of the pilot episode. And, a paragraph on why this concept has legs—staying power: The form, kinds of stories told, where they come from and how this Story Engine is endless and will easily generate consistent episodes week after week.
I truly feel and have seen that a great one-pager can be a game changer. Potential producers will know right off if your concept is fresh or can fly and this can quicken things. Another plus with the one-pager is that it is only one page. This too can be a door opener to production companies who do not read or accept unsolicited works. No gatekeeper worth their salt is going to take the time to read an unreferred 110 pages, but they just might look at one—rock it.
One key to having an effective one-pager is the specificity of them. I’ve discovered that the one-pagers for a TV series and those for a screenplay should differ some. For a screenplay, it should include the logline, a 2 or 3 paragraph of the synopsis/summary, and, a pitch paragraph where you also talk about your vision, how your take is unique and different yet relevant and identifiable and why you wrote it. Close the page with a sentence or two that lights a fire under their asses. Talk about why this script will succeed, who it will appeal to, the hook, perhaps budget—and end on a button that you want them to hit…on their I-phone.
The one-pager for the TV series is a bit more detailed in its inception as we are talking about a project that is open-ended and could go ten seasons. This means we have to show, in this one page, that it has legs. The purpose of a great one pager is to be asked for your pilot, your written show bible and to bring you in to pitch this series you created. The enticement begins here folks so it had better be concise, to the point, as inclusive as you can, reflective of the genre, written in language that not only exemplifies your voice, but reads easy--like you wrote it on the back of your grocery list while watching your kids at soccer practice.
The one pager for your TV Series should include the following: The Title of show and what it is (sitcom, 1-hour drama, procedural). The Logline. The Tagline. The Theme (s) – the overall ones that drive the series and will be demonstrated in every episode. The Series Summary – a premise paragraph about what the show is, the world of the story, how it came about to the point of episode one and an idea of how these people interrelate in this world. Brief Character Descriptions for the main characters. A one paragraph synopsis of the pilot episode. And, a paragraph on why this concept has legs—staying power: The form, kinds of stories told, where they come from and how this Story Engine is endless and will easily generate consistent episodes week after week.
I truly feel and have seen that a great one-pager can be a game changer. Potential producers will know right off if your concept is fresh or can fly and this can quicken things. Another plus with the one-pager is that it is only one page. This too can be a door opener to production companies who do not read or accept unsolicited works. No gatekeeper worth their salt is going to take the time to read an unreferred 110 pages, but they just might look at one—rock it.