Outlining

[Connor J. J]

I was just wondering what are the different ways people outline episodes or vs? Do you make a detailed page of the plot? a paragraph? or do you have a template that you follow?

why not provide an example?

[Deleted]

I'm a big flip flopper Lol. Sometimes I do outlines, other times I don't. But when I do I usually set it up the same way I would a script. I write a brief description of the scene, sometimes I add in a tiny bit of dialogue to remind myself where I was heading with it. I like it this way, so when it's done, I can read through it see what needs to change, or be eliminated, or added. It also makes writing the script a lot easier.

EXAMPLE[/u]

**SPOILER ALERT** - I'm not really giving much away here, but this is a little of the opening of the episode of The Void I am currently writing: "Sally".

The Void -- "SALLY"
written by Darrin McCann

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CAST AND CHARACTERS

KELSEY GAUGE (played by Felicia Day)
TODD HOLDEN (played by Michael Grant Terry)
MOLLY ROSE


SOUNDTRACK
"Lucky" by Kat Edmonson
"Made" by Greg Weeks
"The Big Sleep" by Bat for Lashes feat. Scott Walker
"Tainted Love" by Hannah Peel
"Whispering" by Alex Clare
"Heavy In Your Arms" by Florence + the Machine

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EXT. WALTERS FUNERAL HOME - NIGHT

"The Big Sleep" by Bat for Lashes feat. Scott Walker begins to play on the soundtrack.

A storm is raging as a black hearse pulls into the funeral home driveway. Lightning flashes, and thunder cracks.

INT. WALTERS FUNERAL - EMBALMING ROOM - SAME

SOUNDTRACK continues.

A pair of metal embalming tables sit in the middle of the room, surrounded by cabinets filled with embalming fluid jars, as wells as utensils. One of the tables is occupied by a deceased man, a sheet pulled down partly. An elderly gentleman, wearing a leather apron, picks up a scalpel from a near by tray.

[Ms. Kerry]

I don't always outline, but when I do it is much different from Darrin's. Let me see if I can find a non spoilery example.

Crap...I dont have a non spoilery example soooo here is the teaser from Bad Wolf's Mid-Season Finale because I already posted it.

Teaser
- John wakes up and meets other game player
- tries to remember what happened
(- They were on the ship
- found out Tony is on board
- Captured by tracking beam)
- they get selected for gaming

Act One
- We open on the------

[Jack Malone]

Whenever I outline, it tends to follow Kerry's example- I state the act, and then jot down what each scene is, even if its as simple as "Chloe confronts The Joker." A lot of the time, I start off with the beginning of the episode outlined, then go off on a tangent and see where it takes me. Then, during editing, I like to give all the scenes titles, because a lot of the time, scenes get switched around or cut and it helps me figure out the flow a little more- or even just find better transitions.

[Jamison]

Perhaps I get a little bit too detailed in my outlines. Here's an example of one scene from a Trinity outline. I strangely include dialogue in my outlines, even though I know you're not supposed to. But, I'm a rebel.

ACT ONE
1.) CYNTHIA AND HANK. They’re talking about last night. “How was Valentina?” “She was…something else. I don’t know if she was crazy, or confused.” “Maybe a bit of both.” “It’s like I know her from some reason. It’s hard to explain.” “Maybe Quentin could help.”

“I don’t know – I wouldn’t want to bring the wide he believed to be dead to the forefront of our
conversations. I mean, I’m not exactly the best of Quentin’s friends.” “I thinking you’re more
wanting than you think, Cynthia. You’re needed too.” Cynthia nods/smiles.

Then, there’s a knock at the door. Hank opens the door to see PETE, looking desperate. “Pete. What’s up?” “I think I’m going insane.” He comes into the apartment, and Cynthia asks him what’s
wrong. He explains that he’s been having strange illusions of Jake. “Visions?” “No…. more like hallucinations. I was hoping you would be able to tell me something. You seemed to
know a lot about me and Jake when you came back from the future.” “I still can’t remember
anything. All I can see is Valentina Vostok… I think it’s remnants of last night.” “Maybe we
should go see her ex-husband then.” They agree, and we cut to --

[MJ]

I do the same as some of the others and split it into acts and then write what happens in each act. I generally aim for 4 or more scenes per act and make a dot point in my outline for each major scene. For example, here's the outline that I used for EoV episode 3:

TROUBLED WATERS

A plot: Tori and Shayne’s inability to work together impacts on their job and they are forced to put their differences aside to get themselves out of a situation gone wrong. A pair of Demons are breaking to houses and killing the families while also destroying the houses, burning them down.
B plot: Tori and Shayne not getting along
C plot: Lloyd is back at work and getting used to life in a wheelchair. He also gets his new assignment from Nora.

Teaser: -maniacal laughing of the demons as they set a house on fire. As we follow their progress we catch site of dead bodies around the house, killed brutally. We watch the demons disappear and the house begins to burn.
-The next day, the same house is burnt to the ground and surrounded by police and some DCIU agents. It’s the second house that week. Tori and Shayne are doing their usual work though they don’t get along very well. They’re waiting for the all clear to enter the house.
-Inside the house they find the four bodies and begin to get worried about how they’re going to figure out where they strike next.

Act 1: -Bullpen, Tori and Shayne are arguing over the case (which isn’t anything new) when Lloyd arrives. Tori is happy to see him out and about, albeit in a wheelchair and asks him if he’ll be coming back to work with the DCIU. She introduces him to Shayne who is surprised to know Lloyd knows about his reputation. Nora arrives to escort Lloyd to her office, commenting on the lack of arguing that drew her over. Tori gets a call, Adam wants to see them.
-Nora’s office, she gives Lloyd his new job task.
-Adams office, Tori and Shayne listen as he goes over all the ways their victims could be related. Shayne points out that that could just be because they live in the same area. Tori mentions that the demons never have any set reason for doing anything. Shayne jabs at the fact their demon serial killer had a pretty clear reason for doing what he was doing. It escalates into an argument and Adam eventually kicks them out.
-Walking into the hall they go to take different paths and argue over who’s decision is more important. Shayne eventually heads off to the morgue, Tori goes back to the bullpen.

Act 2: -Bullpen, Tori picks up a file off Shayne’s desk and almost knocks his name plate off. It hangs half off the edge of the desk and she pushes it off. Lloyd catches her and they chat about Shayne and Lloyds new role.
-Shayne heads down to the morgue. Cassie expects him and Tori but is surprised when it’s only him. Cassie mentions that they’re both stubborn and just need to get over themselves. She lets him know the bodies aren’t much help besides letting them know how twisted these demons are. Any evidence that may have been useful was burned. She tells him to go up and try actually working with Tori and they may get somewhere.
-Tori is in the bullpen and Shayne rocks up, instantly insulting her. “Are you done acting like a child?” “That was an accident” “And you couldn’t pick it back up?” “I was busy” “Right...”
He concedes in the end and suggests they go check out the neighborhood as that seems to be their best lead. Tori reluctantly admits that was what she was thinking and they go. The do begin to think that the family as a whole may be what the demons are after. They agree on a stakeout of the neighborhood.
-Something with Lloyd, possibly Nora giving him a new office.

Act 3: -Tori is driving around the neighborhood and eventually pulls up against the curb. She’s waiting in the car and Shayne taps on the window scaring her. Neither have seen anything suspicious. Tori points out that none of the neighbors suspected anything either until the houses were halfway burnt. They begin driving out Tori drives a little slowly when she starts feeling something (sensitive powers) when something lands on the windshield. It is a dead cat. Shayne points out the house it came from and they head over to it.
-Scene with Lloyd looking for Tori.
-They debate over if they should call backup and how they should get into the house when some noises from inside the house make them move a little faster. All the lights in the house are out. Tori knocks on the front door while Shayne heads around back, pulling gout his phone to call in the local law enforcement. A woman answers, laying obviously about everything being fine. Tori insists she come in and check everything out because of the recent attacks. One of the demons comes to the door, cuts Tori with a knife and slams the door shut.
-Shayne can hear the commotion and finishes his call to the local LEO’s. He jumps a fence and is in the backyard. He narrowly misses a large implement thrown out one of the back windows and turns to face it, gun drawn. The male demon shows himself but suggests he doesn’t shoot as they have Tori.

Act 4: -The demon invites him inside through the window and he’s faced with the prospect of getting everyone out of a very dangerous situation. The demons can’t be bought; they simply want to have fun. The demon says they have all the time in the world but Shayne warns them about the LEO’s who will be showing up Tori is annoyed because she told them they were the only ones there. The demons say that they could have them all dead and burned by then.
-Nora’s office, Adam turns up to let her know Tori and Shayne are in trouble. She assumes they’ve gotten into another argument and done something stupid, going on about how she should have suspended them last time but Adam quickly clarifies what kind of trouble. Nora is anxious now.
-Back in the house the Demons have taken both agent’s guns and are looting the different rooms getting ready to set the place on fire. They are trying to calm the family down while work out a way out when Adam’s phone rings. It’s Nora. One of the demons comes in a wants to know what’s going on. Tori let her know it’s her boss calling and she should really answer it. The local cops are outside, shouting things but the demons don’t care. While she distracts the female demon she signals Shayne to do something. He manages to knock the other demon out and they begin to hurry out but the other demon gets in the way. A race to get our before the house burns down

Tag: -Walking back into the bullpen they are met by Lloyd who asks what happened. Tori “well, we cracked the case.”
-End with Tori and Shayne still having a go at each other much to Nora’s annoyance and Lloyds amusement.

Of course, there are quite a few sections in this episode that changed as I wrote it (which those of you who have read the episode will probably pick up) but this was the very original plan

[Brady Brown]

I outline sorta similar to some above. Like Darrin, I put some more description than others, because it usually helps me remember the direction I was going. XD I'll show the Teaser outline for the "Twelve" pilot. Doesn't really give anything away. XD

1.01 You're Invited: WELCOME TO HELL - Twelve strangers (or supposed strangers) have been invited to a mysterious island mansion, for a dinner in their honor, recognizing a special achievement they have recently achieved. But once they all arrive, they soon realize that they're all their for the same reason. And when their "host" is a no show, the guests begin to grow impatient, and attempt to leave, but when twelve becomes eleven, the remaining dinner guests are forced to fend for themselves with a killer lurking in the house.

- We open to the boat, which is escorting them to the island. None of them speak to one another, but the conversations from couples show that they think they're just their to celebrate with them. We flash to several of the individuals, receiving their letters. END OF TEASER.

That's pretty much how I do it, when I do it. I rarely every outline anyway. Xd