How can you create compelling storylines and characters for your TV production portfolio?

1 Know your genre and audience

One of the first steps to creating a compelling storyline and characters is to identify the genre and audience of your TV production. Different genres have different conventions, expectations, and tropes that you need to be aware of and follow or subvert. For example, if you are making a comedy, you need to know what kind of humor works for your target audience and how to balance it with other elements such as drama, romance, or action. Similarly, if you are making a thriller, you need to know how to create suspense, tension, and twists that keep your viewers on the edge of their seats. Knowing your genre and audience will help you shape your tone, style, and structure of your TV production.

2 Create a strong premise and logline

A premise is the core idea or concept that drives your TV production. It should be original, intriguing, and relevant to your genre and audience. A logline is a one-sentence summary of your premise that captures the main conflict, characters, and stakes of your TV production. It should be clear, concise, and catchy. A strong premise and logline will help you pitch your TV production to potential collaborators, funders, or distributors, as well as attract and retain your viewers' attention.

3 Develop memorable characters and arcs

Characters are the heart and soul of your TV production. They are the ones who make your viewers care about what happens in your storyline. To create memorable characters, you need to give them distinct personalities, traits, goals, motivations, and flaws. You also need to make them relatable, believable, and dynamic. Characters should grow and change over the course of your TV production, facing challenges, conflicts, and dilemmas that test their values, beliefs, and relationships. You should also create a diverse and balanced cast of characters that reflect your genre, audience, and theme.

4 Outline your plot and structure

A plot is the sequence of events that make up your TV production. It should be logical, coherent, and consistent with your premise, genre, and characters. A structure is the way you organize and present your plot to your viewers. It should be engaging, clear, and paced well. There are different types of structures that you can use for your TV production, such as the three-act structure, the hero's journey, or the episodic structure. You should choose a structure that suits your genre, audience, and format. To outline your plot and structure, you can use tools such as index cards, mind maps, or software programs that help you visualize and arrange your scenes, acts, and episodes.

5 Write compelling dialogue and narration

Dialogue and narration are the words that your characters speak or hear in your TV production. They should be realistic, natural, and expressive of your characters' personalities, emotions, and intentions. They should also advance your plot, reveal your characters, and convey your theme. To write compelling dialogue and narration, you need to avoid clichés, exposition, and jargon, and use variety, subtext, and humor. You should also read your dialogue and narration aloud or have someone else read them to you, to check how they sound and flow.

6 Revise and polish your TV production

Once you have written your TV production, you need to revise and polish it to make sure it is ready for production and distribution. You should check your TV production for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors, as well as for clarity, consistency, and coherence. You should also seek feedback from other people, such as your peers, mentors, or professionals, who can give you constructive criticism and suggestions on how to improve your TV production. You should be open to feedback, but also trust your own vision and voice. Revising and polishing your TV production will help you refine your storylines and characters and make them shine.