Need Help for a Tentative Spec Script

[Joel_Kirk]

Excuse me for my vague post. As the title states, this is just a tentative project for me, and just starting this thread is sort of a brainstorm for me.

So, on my current list of projects is a spec teleplay. I was pretty surprised when I saw one writer who won for her "Doctor Who" teleplay one year with the Austin Film Festival. Also, it answered a question of whether or not an American can write for a BBC show, even if it is just a spec.

The timing is good since we are just getting a new Doctor Who. However, I've been out of the loop: I don't really remember David Tennent's episodes since he really didn't catch on with me, and I've missed a few of Matt Smith's episodes (which had varying quality, even though I liked him better than Tennant).

Can anyone recommend any standalone episodes from the classic series as well as the continuing modern series?

Can anyone recommend any script books - for any episodes throughout the franchise - that feature standalone episodes?

(My last question would have been 'Can anyone recommend any good standalone episodes to watch?'...yet, I'm recalling a few from the continuing series - maybe not good, but definitely standalone episodes to at least start with).

Thank you....!

 

[Squiggy]

Why don't you write a script for a show you've actually watched?

 

[USS KG5]

Doctor Who does not accept spec scripts, I take on board it might just be a project, but it's unlikely to be read.

They actually seem to have trouble squeezing in all the pros scripts each year.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

On my current list of projects is a spec teleplay. I was pretty surprised when I saw one writer who won for her "Doctor Who" teleplay one year with the Austin Film Festival. Also, it answered a question of whether or not an American can write for a BBC show, even if it is just a spec.

As USS KG5 said, Doctor Who doesn't accept spec scripts. I don't know of any television program now that does accept spec scripts for the series. That's not what a spec script is for. A spec script isn't meant to be produced. A spec script is to show that you know how to handle the format.

Let's say you wanted to write for The Big Bang Theory. You would write a spec script for an entirely different series, say Two and a Half Men, and your agent would submit that to the producers to show that you can write a script and you can capture the characters on the page. If the producers of The Big Bang Theory liked what you wrote (assuming they even read it), then they might call you in to pitch ideas. And if they liked your ideas, then they might commission a script from you.

Can anyone recommend any standalone episodes from the classic series as well as the continuing modern series?

Can anyone recommend any script books - for any episodes throughout the franchise - that feature standalone episodes?

I'd recommend the BBC's Writers Room website, which has a number of resources, including scripts, for study and use. They used to have a number of RTD's Doctor Who scripts up for download there, but now there's only "Smith and Jones."

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Why don't you write a script for a show you've actually watched?

Thank you for your reply.

I've been watching classic Who since I was little; Tom Baker in the late 70s to early 80s on PBS up until the Sylvestor McCoy era. I've caught a few of the new ones but kind of fell off when the David Tennant era arrived. I casually caught a few episodes in the Matt Smith era.

So, yeah...I've 'actually watched' "Doctor Who." However, there are probably some who can provide some answers to my questions before I do my Google searches. Not too mention, talking about the project gets my brain going on tentative ideas.

Too, there are shows that have yet to be released in America that I would like to write a spec script for (e.g. "Fresh Off the Boat"..."Gotham") and 'watching' those shows may prove difficult. However, according to J. Michael Straczynski, there is a way to get the series bible - which is contacting the production studio for the show. (Of course, whether or not a production studio wants to let go of that information is another thing).

Doctor Who does not accept spec scripts, I take on board it might just be a project, but it's unlikely to be read.

They actually seem to have trouble squeezing in all the pros scripts each year.

I should have clarified in my initial post. True, the BBC may not accept spec scripts, but certain film festivals do.

In my initial post I mentioned a woman won for her "Doctor Who" spec script with the Austin Film Festival a couple of years back. Now, I wasn't able to see what show she is currently working for or what she's doing now...but, point being, her submission was a spec based on "Doctor Who." (She received exposure for her writing).

I don't doubt that they - the BBC - have trouble squeezing in the pros. "Doctor Who" is pretty popular right now... However, my goal is not to write for the show, but write a spec script based on the show in order to get exposure for my writing.

On my current list of projects is a spec teleplay. I was pretty surprised when I saw one writer who won for her "Doctor Who" teleplay one year with the Austin Film Festival. Also, it answered a question of whether or not an American can write for a BBC show, even if it is just a spec.

As USS KG5 said, Doctor Who doesn't accept spec scripts. I don't know of any television program now that does accept spec scripts for the series. That's not what a spec script is for. A spec script isn't meant to be produced. A spec script is to show that you know how to handle the format.

Let's say you wanted to write for The Big Bang Theory. You would write a spec script for an entirely different series, say Two and a Half Men, and your agent would submit that to the producers to show that you can write a script and you can capture the characters on the page. If the producers of The Big Bang Theory liked what you wrote (assuming they even read it), then they might call you in to pitch ideas. And if they liked your ideas, then they might commission a script from you.

Can anyone recommend any standalone episodes from the classic series as well as the continuing modern series?

Can anyone recommend any script books - for any episodes throughout the franchise - that feature standalone episodes?

I'd recommend the BBC's Writers Room website, which has a number of resources, including scripts, for study and use. They used to have a number of RTD's Doctor Who scripts up for download there, but now there's only "Smith and Jones."

You're correct. A spec script is supposed to be written for an entirely different show if one plans on submitting to - to use your example - "Big Bang Theory." Also, a spec script is supposed to show that a person can handle the format...and that a person (most importantly) can tell a story.

As stated above, I don't plan to submit this tentative script to the BBC. However, I do plan on submitting it to a film festival where I can get exposure on my writing. (A short film script which I would like to produce one day - to show not only my writing but acting skills - is also going to possibly be submitted to a film festival such as Sundance or Slamdance once I finally tighten and straighten it out). However, the question I posed to myself was: Do American film festivals accept a spec for a show that is produced in the UK, by those who should be UK citizens or required to reside in UK? Answer: They do!

Looking at past winners with the Austin Film Festival - to use them as an example yet again - people have submitted and won spec scripts for "Grey's Anatomy," "The Walking Dead," and "Scrubs" as well as "Doctor Who."

With that said, thank you so much for the links...

 

[Australis]

You can submit spec script to some competitions, like Scriptapalooza. That said, once you enter it, that idea is burned.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

You can submit spec script to some competitions, like Scriptapalooza. That said, once you enter it, that idea is burned.

Yeah, Scriptapalooza is another I saw that takes teleplays. (I also understand that is one of the popular venues).

I agree with you about the loss of the idea once it's submitted. However - at least for me, in regard to the feature film script ideas I want to work on - I'm trying to have some additional ideas ready if that question of 'what else have you got?' ever comes up.

 

[Rarewolf]

Doctor Who does not accept spec scripts, I take on board it might just be a project, but it's unlikely to be read.

They actually seem to have trouble squeezing in all the pros scripts each year.

Moffat's basic rule (rules are made to be broken) is you pretty much have to have created your own show before you'll be invited to write for who.

 

[Candlelight]

Just use a pseudonym.

Once I started writing as 'Aaron Sorkin' my career really took off.

 

[diankra]

As far as I know, since the series came back every script has been written by
a) An established TV writer (often the lead writer on another series) who was asked to contribute by the showrunner (who often already knew them). (Paul Cornell and Gareth Roberts had pretty much started out by writing New Adventures, but they'd done lengthy writing stints on Emmerdale and Coronation Street, and Paul also had a short BBC2 play on before his first New Adventure, and two seasons of an ITV children's show along the lines of Press Gang under his belt).
b) An established TV writer who lets them know [sometimes via his agent] that they'd like to do a Who.
c) An established member of the script-editing team, or the script-editing team on the last series the producer worked on.

And it wasn't so different on the old show; the script editor would find new writers from their friends on their old job (hence Terrance Dicks bringing in Malcolm Hulke and Peter Ling, though Hulke had been on-off for years already), or from people represented by their agent (hence David Whitaker and Dennis Spooner hiring half of ALS's writers), by calling someone suggested by the script editor on another series in the office next door or (in Andrew Cartmel's case) by recruiting new talent direct from the BBC Script Unit's course for new writers (so these people already had a foot in the door at the BBC).
Even near-spec writers like Douglas Adams, Chris Boucher and Andrew Smith had been nurtured with 'No, but try another one on me' rejections for some years before succeeding, and has some sort of track record in sketch writing or sitcom scripts.

 

[Candlelight]

a) An established TV writer (often the lead writer on another series) who was asked to contribute by the showrunner (who often already knew them). (Paul Cornell and Gareth Roberts had pretty much started out by writing New Adventures, but they'd done lengthy writing stints on Emmerdale and Coronation Street, and Paul also had a short BBC2 play on before his first New Adventure, and two seasons of an ITV children's show along the lines of Press Gang under his belt).
b) An established TV writer who lets them know [sometimes via his agent] that they'd like to do a Who.
c) An established member of the script-editing team, or the script-editing team on the last series the producer worked on.

So where does Stephen Fry or Neil Gaiman come in? 'A'?

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I'd class Fry and Gaiman both under A.

Fry isn't predominantly a television writer, but he has done some television writing, notably four series of A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Gaiman had Neverwhere.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

^^

I have (or had) a Starlog clipping featuring Russell T. Davies that talked about how he got his writers together for the show. If I recall, I was particularly interested in it - the article - because it talked about being a showrunner for a series and getting writers for a series.

(Davies' way of working, as described in the article, very possibly fell under the 'a' category as described in the the previous post).

 

[Professor Zoom]

Why don't you write a script for a show you've actually watched?

Thank you for your reply.

I've been watching classic Who since I was little; Tom Baker in the late 70s to early 80s on PBS up until the Sylvestor McCoy era. I've caught a few of the new ones but kind of fell off when the David Tennant era arrived. I casually caught a few episodes in the Matt Smith era.

NuWho is totally different from the classic era. While it might be good that you have watched stuff from almost 40 years ago, you should sit down and watch all of Matt Smith's stuff. If it's honestly what you want to write, you need to know how the new stuff works.

But, then, you would also have to write for THAT Doctor. It seems Doctor Number 12 will be different tonally.

But, more to Squiggy's point, write something that you really are a fan of. Just because someone else won with her spec of Doctor Who, doesn't mean she won because it was Doctor Who.

Passion for a story and for characters shows through in a script. And if you stopped watched Doctor Who, that doesn't really scream, I'm passionate about this character!

I would chose something else.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Why don't you write a script for a show you've actually watched?

Thank you for your reply.

I've been watching classic Who since I was little; Tom Baker in the late 70s to early 80s on PBS up until the Sylvestor McCoy era. I've caught a few of the new ones but kind of fell off when the David Tennant era arrived. I casually caught a few episodes in the Matt Smith era.

NuWho is totally different from the classic era. While it might be good that you have watched stuff from almost 40 years ago, you should sit down and watch all of Matt Smith's stuff. If it's honestly what you want to write, you need to know how the new stuff works.

But, then, you would also have to write for THAT Doctor. It seems Doctor Number 12 will be different tonally.

But, more to Squiggy's point, write something that you really are a fan of. Just because someone else won with her spec of Doctor Who, doesn't mean she won because it was Doctor Who.

Passion for a story and for characters shows through in a script. And if you stopped watched Doctor Who, that doesn't really scream, I'm passionate about this character!

I would chose something else.

Well, I am a fan of 'Doctor Who.' Hence, the reason I'm thinking of writing a spec script for it....

No doubt, Number 12 looks to be different in tone. If I choose to go ahead with the project, I'm sure it - the passion - will show since said passion left during the David Tennant era and somewhat resurfaced with the Matt Smith era. (The fact that I like Clara adds to that reinvigorated passion...)

I think the fun (and some pain, since checking plot points and continuity on any story is work) will be going back on classic and current episodes for research on my tentative idea.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

If you haven't seen it you might want to check out the recent 50th anniversary special, Day of the Doctor (as well as it's 'webisode' prelude, Night of the Doctor). Both feature elements that tie the new series to the old (Well, at least to the 90's TV movie which is pretty much considered part of the classic series.) and explain certain continuity elements that were kind of left in the air when "Rose" premiered (It also elaborates on Tennant's finale "The End Of Time"). At the same time, it also changes some aspects of the series's plot direction at this point.

Plus it's good fun, even if you don't like Tennant.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Well, I am a fan of 'Doctor Who.' Hence, the reason I'm thinking of writing a spec script for it....

It sounds more like you are a fan of classic Doctor Who. Which is completely different than the current run of Who, in shape, tone, depth, everything. You might as well write a spec of MASH.

You're gonna do what you're gonna do, but, I think it's a mistake. If you are really interested in showing off your writing, and you want to do a spec of an existing show, I would do one that you didn't stop watching. One that was appointment television. One that you know backwards and forwards. (And no, Tom Baker episodes don't count.)

Good luck.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Why not just write a script using the Doctor you know? If its about showing off your writing, rather than getting it produced, why should it matter which Doctor is used?

 

[Joel_Kirk]

If you haven't seen it you might want to check out the recent 50th anniversary special, Day of the Doctor (as well as it's 'webisode' prelude, Night of the Doctor). Both feature elements that tie the new series to the old (Well, at least to the 90's TV movie which is pretty much considered part of the classic series.) and explain certain continuity elements that were kind of left in the air when "Rose" premiered (It also elaborates on Tennant's finale "The End Of Time"). At the same time, it also changes some aspects of the series's plot direction at this point.

Plus it's good fun, even if you don't like Tennant.

I'll definitely check it out.

Well, I am a fan of 'Doctor Who.' Hence, the reason I'm thinking of writing a spec script for it....

It sounds more like you are a fan of classic Doctor Who. Which is completely different than the current run of Who, in shape, tone, depth, everything. You might as well write a spec of MASH.

You're gonna do what you're gonna do, but, I think it's a mistake. If you are really interested in showing off your writing, and you want to do a spec of an existing show, I would do one that you didn't stop watching. One that was appointment television. One that you know backwards and forwards. (And no, Tom Baker episodes don't count.)

Good luck.

Dude, you sound like my agent now....

Why not just write a script using the Doctor you know? If its about showing off your writing, rather than getting it produced, why should it matter which Doctor is used?

You're correct, it shouldn't matter. My guess for the rule is so people won't submit scripts from shows that were from the 90s, 80s, 70s, etc. For example, I can see people submitting scripts for shows like "Hill Street Blues," "Buffy," or "ER" if there wasn't a production limit.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Why not just write a script using the Doctor you know? If its about showing off your writing, rather than getting it produced, why should it matter which Doctor is used?

You're correct, it shouldn't matter. My guess for the rule is so people won't submit scripts from shows that were from the 90s, 80s, 70s, etc. For example, I can see people submitting scripts for shows like "Hill Street Blues," "Buffy," or "ER" if there wasn't a production limit.

Well, its a bit of a grey area since Doctor Who is a "currently airing network or cable program" which fits with the rules of Austin Film Festival. even if the Doctor you might use isn't played by the actor who currently had the part.