Exercises
- Watch at least five episodes of an animated series that you would like to use for your
sample script. Take notes on characters, kinds of stories, gags, and so on. Try to find a
script from that series on the Internet or from a bookstore that sells scripts. Then write
a premise for the series. - If you live outside the United States, discuss in class how animated series and the writing
process in your country may differ from what is described here. - Create a premise for your favorite gag-oriented cartoon.
- Think of a premise for your favorite on-air action/adventure series.
- Develop a premise for your favorite animated sitcom.
- Using the characters and basic idea you developed, write a detailed premise for your
student film or Internet short. - As a class, create a concept for a group project.
- Taking those characters that you developed earlier, write one complete premise and
several springboards (a short paragraph each). Use these for your original television
series bible. - Write a logline for your project.
- Continue work on the concept proposal for your wireless or video game.
- From your original characters and a theme, take the feature concept you were devel-
oping earlier and write a detailed premise.
The Premise 127