by Erik Bork | Nov 16, 2019
HBO’s Succession won the Emmy for outstanding drama series in 2020. I am struck by how well it underscores the need to do one simple thing with a series’ characters, especially if they’re going to be not that easy to like and “root for.”...
by Erik Bork | Jan 20, 2017
I often say that a good story idea focuses on one big problem that it takes the whole story to solve. What that means is that the problem has to emerge early in the story (traditionally at the “Catalyst” or “Inciting Incident,” about 10% in), and not be resolved until...
by Erik Bork | Dec 31, 2015
When I work with writers developing a half-hour pilot, whether as private clients or through my course, I often recommend Scott Sedita’s book The Eight Characters of Comedy. Written primarily for actors (Sedita is an acting coach in Los Angeles), it can also greatly...
by Erik Bork | Apr 7, 2014
“Premise pilots,” in my experience, are not seen as a good thing. But the definition of a “premise pilot” seems to move around a bit, depending on who you ask. Some sources on the internet say that a “premise pilot” is when the...
