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The Way We Write Collectively

We want 20 shows of 100 episodes.  That's 4000 shows.

There is a core script - The American Version.  It's the one you're reading.

During the next year we will work on this version together, but as we go, start thinking of changes you can make for the show in your own country.  In fact, the translations can be done later and many of the changes can be done by the studio which makes the shows.  Remember this show will take 7 years to film.  we're not in a rush.

How to proceed.

 

We’ll all start writing all across the board. We can all write any scene which we want to whether it has been attempted or not. All of my work is subject to editing or rejection.

 

TAG your submission with:

Episode and Scene Number e.g. 27:05  (Episode 27 Scene 5)

Characters e.g. Perry, Jurgan and Hope

Setting e.g. WISE BACK GARDEN

 

Whenever you write for an Episode, a Character or in a Setting, you need to add yourself to the forum or newsgroup which is about that.

 

Nothing makes the final cut until it has been approved by all of the writers signed into those groups and the editor, who will be appointed in due course.

 

It makes sense to set up a mail system which sorts all this! If anybody knows how to do that, tell me and I’ll put you on admin.

 

We all sign off on every complete episode.

 

(...and all of these rules are subject to your approval!)

 

Hierarchy of decision makers

I want to organise the company so that there is a Head of Production in charge of all matters relating to the studio and the business, on equal footing with an Editor in Chief, who takes care of the script and the cast. I hope that will balance the representation although there is no strict division between either side of the company anybody works for (anything but)! By the time we start filming I want to have set up a kind of academy to teach Acting, Production and Languages.

 

We can talk about this.

 

Joe’s Notes

I write in the following manner:

 

Any new Character I think of I put it into: Unassigned Characters

Any new Technology, Plot Event or In-world media including shows and movies, into: JTV

Anything related to an existing character I think of: backstory, quotes, dialogue or notes into: CHAR FILES

Any action stunt into: Kisses and Cuddles

 

Contact me or the editor for any guidance.

 

All of these will be available when we’ve completed the review of Series 1 (along with Series 2).

 

After all that:

While I sort out the inquiries regarding the rest of the notes. I think everyone should have a look at series 2 and begin a 2nd draft of both Series 1 and 2. Then after we’ve seen how that goes, we should all tackle the completion of Series 3, and then all start Series 4 together.

 

What do you all think about this?

 

What can change and what can’t.

We are aiming for 20 different versions of the show, but that will depend upon how we recruit production in (I anticipate) 1 year.

  • Character names must change.

  • Characters can change IF the plot can stay the same.

 

The plot can be amended:

  • There will be a filming schedule.

  • There will be call-sheets. That means that we, the writers, must:

    1. Organise the plots we write to conform to the filming schedule and the availability of actors and crew..

    2. Stick to a common plot structure which will allow every actor (all of whom do at least two roles, AND work in at least two studios), to be able to follow all of their story lines.

 

Are you a character writer, a plot writer, an episode or series writer?  Do you like writing for young actors or old?  Can you write alternative story lines for the version of Jellybabies which we will make in your country (Are you a multi-version writer?)

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Previous post:

I’m going to publish Series 2 soon, but before I do, I want a discussion on Series 1. This will tell us all about each other’s strengths and interests and we’ll begin to understand how we can work together. I’m also going to post an episode by episode, paragraph synopsis of the entire 100 episodes and a scene by scene synopsis of Act I (the first 5 series). These are not set in stone but remember we all have to work to constraints of time and coherence.

 

Right now, I’m wearing a lot of hats: I’m the founder, the writer, the editor, the accountant, the lawyer, the producer and the general manager. This should all begin to change as we work out who is good at what and within a few months, I’ll simply be a writer again! I’ll be much happier – that’s where I want to be.

 

This is where I want to be a week from now:

  • All of you will have read the entire first series.

  • All of you will have discussed with somebody, which aspects, characters and plot-lines interest you and you’d like to tackle.

  • Some of you will have opened discussions about:

    1. Changes you want to make to the script

    2. Future plot-lines and Characters

    3. Questions about the script

    4. Questions about organisation of the project

 

I anticipate (and hope to see) a steep learning curve for all of us. Remember, I’ve never done this before. I will make mistakes – as we’ve already seen. Don’t be afraid to lead!

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