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03/08/2007: Theme-ophilia


Let's imagine that you've looked at all the example produced scripts you've collected for the show you're specing. And let's say that you've noticed that the show's A and B stories are usually united by theme. Well then, it's pretty clear that your spec should do the same thing. Now let's say they're only sometimes united by theme. What should you do?

Theme! I say use it. I say use it even if the show only does it rarely. Gilmore Girls scripts, for example, don't tend to have unifying themes. But if I had ever written a spec GG, I would've made it totally themalicious. If you want your spec to feel deep, unified, professional, there's nothing better for doing that than creating that sense that these stories are together for a reason.

You don't need to make the connection explicit, nor too neat. But if there's just a subtle sense that the stories comment on each other, it can really kick the script up a notch.

Lunch: More from the Universal salad bar. Love those beets.