Teasers: Are They Really Needed?

[Jason T. Davis]

I'm the kind of writer that doesn't like writing teasers. I don't feel they're needed, and I've been thinking about removing them from my personal writing structure in the future. How do you all feel about teasers? Do you think they are something that needs to be in a script?

[Ms. Kerry]

I don't think it is a question on this site of who doesn't like teasers...but who DOES! I actually do.

[Deleted]

I don't mind teasers. I like them in my tv shows and having them in VS is useful because it could be used as a promo for an upcoming episode or what not. Now writing teasers sucks! LOL. You have 5 pages to set up the entire episode. They better count towards something. I think the same goes with Acts. I've never been one to go by the Act rule. Lately though I have been finding it helpful.

[Ms. Kerry]

I firmly believe in the teaser being important because it is the HOOK! A good teaser can draw a person into a story and a bad one can throw you off. I always try to make my teaser excellent with a joke or a mystery something that will keep the reader guessing and continue on with the story.

[Deleted]

That's a great point Kerry! One I totally agree with!

[Jason T. Davis]

Maybe I just don't like writing teasers in pilots.

[Verbal Vegetable]

I agree with you Jason. Sometimes people set up this really awesome teaser, and then you read the rest of it and you are like...... What the heck happened? I have that issue with a lot of people. Sometimes they work TOO hard on making the teaser, hook the reader and then fail with with rest of the story. So for me, I go back and forth on teasers. I think they can make AND break a good script, even a good teaser.

[Amin]

I'm scrapping teasers and acts both. A good story/episode can work without them.

[Deleted]

In saying that Acts can be useful in distributing a round mixture of mythology and action.

[Aimee Nicole]

I love teasers. To me, it's the set up for the show. And like you guys have said, it's the hook and totally can be used for promo trailers and such.

[MJ]

I find the teasers pretty easy to write and I enjoy having them in my scripts then. Then again, being a crime show makes writing my teasers easy because it's all about setting up the Demon/crime for the episode

[Jamison]

I think they can be useful in certain kinds of shows. Like MJ said, crime dramas use teasers to set up a murder/crime. They tend to work very well with procedural shows, but it's not the case with every series. I say, if you feel like your teaser doesn't add anything to the episode overall, it's not necessary to have it.

[Carey]

They are bastards to write. I have great difficulties writing them. The one for the pilot of LOTLD went through so many changes (The original idea actually ended up the first scene in Act One).

For procedurals I can understand, but dramas and all that, there is very little need. If I ever do a second show, it is very likely that I'll exclude them altogether.

[Jack Malone]

I love writing Teasers, to be honest. I prefer snappy and quick teasers, as opposed to a really drawn out build up.

[Jason T. Davis]

Mar 27, 2012 13:30:28 GMT -6 Amin said:

I'm scrapping teasers and acts both. A good story/episode can work without them.

My "Rebirth" pilot is just about finished and there's not a single act break in sight. I like this structure