Baranovsky Vlad - Scriptwriting for Web Series : Writing for the Digital Age

Second edition published 2018

by Routledge

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and by Routledge

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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2018 Marie Drennan, Yuri Baranovsky and Vlad Baranovsky

The right of Marie Drennan, Yuri Baranovsky and Vlad Baranovsky to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

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First edition published by Holcomb Hathaway, Publishers, Inc. 2013

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Drennan, Marie, 1969 author. | Baranovsky, Yuri, 1983 author. | Baranovsky,

Vlad, author.

Title: Scriptwriting for web series : writing for the digital age / Marie Drennan, Yuri

Baranovsky, Vlad Baranovsky.

Other titles: Screenwriting 2.0

Description: Second edition. | New York : Routledge, 2018. | Second edition of the

authors Screenwriting 2.0. | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017058283 | ISBN 9780815376361 (hardback) | ISBN 9780815376378 (pbk.) |

ISBN 9781351237857 (e-book)

Subjects: LCSH: Online authorship. | Motion picture authorship.

Classification: LCC PN171.O55 D74 2018 | DDC 006.3dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017058283

ISBN: 978-0-8153-7636-1 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-0-8153-7637-8 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-351-23785-7 (ebk)

Typeset in Palatino

by Apex CoVantage, LLC

Marie Drennan began teaching TV scriptwriting before the dawn of the internet and can attest that things are much more fun now. When the first edition of this book was published in 2012, there wasnt much talk or awareness about web series, at least not in the mainstream media industry or in academia. (In fact, this book was written because Professor Drennan couldnt find any that talked about web series.) Now, of course, web series are everywhere from YouTube to HBO. Its thrilling to know that, unlike in days past when scripts were graded and handed back and usually forgotten, now creators can get their work up on the screen for all the world to see. Todays creators enjoy tremendous freedom, both in the content of their work and the ways they share it quietly, with just friends; more broadly, perhaps with some social-media outreach; or even aiming for the stars, literally (you never know when a TV or film star might be ready to sign on for something totally different). And then theres the challenge of telling a complete, compelling story in 15 minutes, or 10, or 2. It forces the writer to give less sometimes, but that can turn out to mean creating an entirely unexpected dynamic, mood, plot twist every challenge becomes an experiment, and it is a great joy to accompany writers along the process.

Vlad and Yuri Baranovsky have been writing for new media since before writing for new media was a thing. The brothers created Break a Leg while Vlad was still a creative writing student and Yuri was newly out of community college, where he tentatively studied drama. They begged, borrowed and sometimes politely stole and then returned cameras, lights, locations and just about everything else to make the show possible. The cast and crew worked for free, and for over 3 years, Vlad and Yuri shot Break a Leg between full-time jobs, school, relationships and life. As the series gained popularity online, the brothers, along with two business partners, created Happy Little Guillotine Studios (www.hlgstudios.com), a production company focused specifically on creating original and innovative digital content. With HLG Studios, Vlad and Yuri created multiple large-scale series and branded campaigns, from shows like Leap Year , which was eventually sold to USA Networks, to the upcoming Disney series, Dan Is Dead , to most recently, Binge a dark comedy about bulimia that has gone viral and managed to raise thousands of dollars in a crowdfunding campaign. A full season is currently in pre-production.

BROOKLYN SOUND

Ep. 1, Josiah and the Teeth

Written by

Julia Mattison

COLD OPEN

INT. RECORDING STUDIO LIVE ROOM DAY

JOSIAH AND THE TEETH, a Mumford and Sons-type band of beards is tuning instruments and working out harmonies.

We see a banjo, guitars, tambourines, a single drum, a shoe filled with sand, someone twirling their perfectly quaffed mustache, etc.

JOEL,head engineer, 30, is at the console.

JOEL

Alright, you guys ready for a take?

JOSIAH

Oh, were ready, brother. Pieces? Scruples? Clift?

PIECES, SCRUPLES, and CLIFT nod profoundly.

JOSIAH (CONTD)
Jebediah? Corn? Bedejiah?

JEBEDIAH, CORN, and BEDEJIAH do the same.

JOSIAH (CONTD)

Alright it begins.

JOSIAH starts humming softly on a note, eyes closed. Everyone else joins in quietly in harmony, slowly swarming together like a pack of animals. It doesnt sound bad. The group approves. Some pat each other on the back, one gentleman tips his corn cob pipe.

Josiah and Jebediah nod at each other. Through the control room window, they nod at JOEL, who hits record.

The band takes a breath.

TITLE CARD

JOSIAH AND THE TEETH

(singing)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAH! HEY!

END OF COLD OPEN

ACT ONE

INT. RECORDING STUDIO HALLWAY DAY

Camera crew, somewhat hidden, captures LUCY, 24, on the phone with a potential client.

LUCY

Yes. We are offering two-for-one pizza parties. Thats two twelve-hour studio sessions for the price of one, plus we buy you a pizza for dinner. Yes, I know, it does seem too good to be true. Yes, we can do pepperoni.

PAM, intern, approaches Lucy in the hallway.

PAM
Lucy, the documentary crews here. They want to interview you.

LUCY
(still on the phone)

Pam, thats not today.

PAM
Theyre waiting for you

LUCY
Well, I dont know, tell them to go suck on my

(sees the camera is filming her)

Oh, excellent. Good good day.

Lucy kind of nods her head as if to bow.

LUCY TALKING HEAD

LUCY
Im Lucy. Im the owner of Brooklyn Sound. Ive been working here for, technically eleven years now, though I guess Ive really been here my whole life.

MONTAGE:

LUCY giving a tour, showing an old photograph of her parents, a fake album cover for Shadowland, etc.

LUCY
(V.O.)

Its a family business. My parents opened the studio in 1974 and they were lucky to get a lot of major success very quickly. They recorded Lionel Goulds album Shadowland, I think only six months into opening the place. After that, things just blew up.