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
Always begin with the elevator pitch. Distill the project into a couple sentences and then break it out further. The world, the characters, the POV that makes it unique. And why are YOU the best writer to tell this story?
Queer authors writing film/tv/theatre and books (fiction and non-fiction). Untold stories from history, particularly from voices we don't get to hear very often. Stories that have the potential to serve as an ongoing series with long story engines.
Sports / Multi-cam / Faith-based / Action
International producer John-Paul Sarni most recently served as EVP, Head of International Content + IP Acquisitions at Stampede Ventures. In that post, he curated and looked after a development slate including a first-look deal with CBS Studios’ international division, a joint venture with Australia’s KOJO Studios (THE ALLIANCE), and projects across 15+ countries. He served as Executive Producer on the comedy series, GOLD DIGGERS for Australia’s ABC/CBS Studios (AACTA Nominee for Best Comedy Series), and THE DARKNESS for Iceland’s Síminn/CBS Studios from director Lasse Hallström.
He began in development at HBO Films before moving on to aid+abet as an executive working on such films as PARIAH (Sundance 2011) and UNA NOCHE (Berlinale 2012). As VP of Development & Literary Acquisitions at Sonar Entertainment, he oversaw an extensive slate of series, miniseries and feature films produced and acquired for the international market.
At Laurence Fishburne’s Cinema Gypsy Productions he served as Head of Development and Current, developing new properties for the company, including their award-winning ABC series, BLACK-ISH as well as Emmy winner, SNOWY DAY for Amazon.
He hosts the podcast PAGE & SCREEN WITH JOHN-PAUL SARNI (now in its 3rd season) in which he talks with authors, actors, historians and journalists.
Originally from Andover, Massachusetts, he lives between Italy and California. He is a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
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.