In addition to a tight, killer script, every TV project needs a strong series bible or deck to help convey sustainability and its role in the marketplace. And execs commonly ask for pitch decks for features as well! So submit your Series Bible, Pitch Deck (20 pages max each), or both, and the exec will conduct a 30-minute notes call (1-hour if submitting both documents) to help you clarify and sharpen the supplemental material to help your marketing efforts.
Questions? Email terra@roadmapwriters.com
Great characters driving great story is key. I want to understand how the characters will be the engine for exploring the world they will inhabit. Good plot and structure are important, but without great characters to drive the engine none of the rest matters. Also knowing and understanding why a specific writer is the one to tell this story with these characters in this specific moment is crucial. Understanding that the buyer is investing in the writer themselves as much as the project is important.
Always open to any interesting voices with no restrictions. All voices are welcome. Particularly excited about crime drama, sci-fi, action, horror, fantasy, thriller, historical, and mystery genre. Great characters driving great story. I love it when a concept has the familiar structure that an audience can count on but also introduces something new and surprising into the equation that distinguishes it from other concepts in a similar arena. What makes your project unique? I try not to think of working with writers as "giving notes". That always feels like telling a creative person what to do. Rather, I like to give feedback and engage with the writers to explore the best version of their story and characters that (most importantly) maintains their voice and POV, while also advising on adjustments that might help further ensure success in the marketplace. A strong focus and commitment to your characters and stories blended with openness and flexibility to adjust when needed is key!
Grant Anderson is an Executive Producer and entertainment creative executive with over 30 years of experience in the television industry. Grant has served in various high-level creative, producer, and executive roles including President of Shane Brennan Productions, and VP of Current Programs for CBS Studios overseeing a slate of hit series including NCIS, NCIS LOS ANGELES, CSI, CSI MIAMI, CSI NY, and CRIMINAL MINDS.
He is also a writer and producer of both non-scripted and scripted podcasts including the Be Good Humans Podcast with Trey Callaway and Brian Phelps, the critically acclaimed Audible series Shootout: The Battle for North Hollywood, and the forthcoming audio documentary series Broken Badge in association with the Gabby Petito Foundation. He spent his formative years at Warner Bros. Television working alongside producers John Wells and Christopher Chulack on the first six seasons of the hit series ER and earned his producer stripes working in production and post-production on multiple John Wells produced pilots and series including NBC's critically acclaimed THIRD WATCH. Grant is known for his strong working relationships with writers, and his ability to help writers develop and express their voice and story to the absolute maximum while navigating the complexities of the creative relationship with studios, broadcasters and streamers. He has worked closely in both development and ongoing series with writers and showrunners such as R. Scott Gemmill, Trey Callaway, Shane Brennan, Erica Messer, Simon Mirren, Carol Mendelsohn, Edward Allen Bernero, Matthew Greenberg, Barbie Kligman, Scott Williams, and many others.
After registering, you will receive instructions on how to submit your material in your order confirmation email. After submitting your material, please allow about 3-4 weeks to receive proposed times for scheduling your call with the exec. If you haven't heard from your exec by the 3-4 week mark about scheduling, please email terra@roadmapwriters.com so we know to check in with them on your behalf about their proposed dates/ETA for you.
PITCH DECKS: These are visually-driven documents (20 pages max) that use images and short paragraphs of text to demonstrate the tone, world, character insight, key plot points, stakes, and theme of the series or feature. If the Pitch Deck is for a show, it will use some of the same sections of text as your Series Bible, but will be less extensive. When creating a pitch deck, always make sure that you are using images of a consistent size and quality, and that you use the same font, color code, margins, and other design specifications throughout. Click here for a Pitch Deck example! Want more insight? Consider signing up for our Creating Professional Level Pitch Decks webinar!
SERIES BIBLES: These supplemental documents are text-only (20 pages max), and can get requested when marketing any sort of TV show. Among other things, they should demonstrate what makes your characters unique and captivating, the focus and evolution of their arcs, the rules of the world, the hook of the story engine, the intended tone and theme, as well as why YOU are the best person to write this show from this perspective. Here's example #1 and example #2. Note: The formatting and organization of Series Bibles has changed since these examples were created, but addressing these sections in your own Series Bible will be a great starting point to make sure you're answering questions before they're asked.
**Please note series bibles and pitch decks are each limited to 20 pages maximum. Please contact terra@roadmapwriters.com for pricing on a consultation for material exceeding 20 pages.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with Roadmap's Code of Conduct.
Questions? Email terra@roadmapwriters.com
Cancellation Policy: You may cancel your registration for a refund or Roadmap gift card if you have not yet submitted your material for review. However, once your material has been received by Roadmap, your registration cannot be canceled. Having revised material or a desire to retroactively apply a discount or gift card code are not grounds for cancellation, refunds, or gift card credit. Once your material has been submitted, the only acceptable grounds for cancellation and a refund or gift card credit is an unforeseen, ongoing emergency on the part of either the writer or the exec resulting in more than 6 weeks without any scheduling update from the exec via direct contact or Roadmap, or a sudden change in the exec's ongoing availability. In the instance of an irreconcilable scheduling issue, the writer may still receive a written feedback report from the exec. In this case, the writer is not entitled to a refund or gift card credit as the exec has read the submitted material and provided written feedback in lieu of the call.