What to Do with Your TV Pilot Script After Writing It

As an aspiring screenwriter you’ve probably found yourself planning your TV pilot for some time. Perhaps you’ve thought long and hard about writing a television pilot before you actually managed to complete the task?

Whatever the case is, if you’ve written a TV pilot script and you’re finally finished with the project – Congratulations!

That’s a great accomplishment, but now you’re probably wondering what to do with your TV pilot script next? 

Now that you’re done writing your pilot script, it’s time to take action! Writing the script is certainly one of the most important steps, but if you don’t take action after you’ve finished writing, not much will likely come of your script.

It certainly won’t pitch itself to producers and it’s not going to land you an opportunity with NBC anytime soon if you just keep it filed away somewhere. 

So if you’re wondering what to do with your TV pilot script, you’ve come to the right place!

Potential steps to maximize the opportunities:

1. Seek Feedback & Revise

You thought you were done! The reality is, most TV pilot scripts are nowhere near “broadcast” ready with the first draft. In fact, you’ll more than likely rewrite the script several times before it’s television ready and you’re not alone!

Did you know that the script I May Destroy You which would ultimately become an HBO series was rewritten 191 times before becoming a broadcasted series? 

Consider setting up a table read with other actors or industry professionals to get feedback on your script.

This is beyond the share with friends and family point.

You should be sharing with professionals at this point and seeking true, quality feedback – industry level. Professional. Feedback.

Take all feedback with an open mind. Listen. Take notes. Make adjustments.

Be open to pivoting. Have the script read out loud. Listen to what the characters say.

Record it and listen again. Adjust. Adapt. Revise. Rewrite. 

And then do it all over again!

2. Submit to Screenwriting Competitions

Once you’ve got your TV pilot script written and revised, consider submitting it to as many screenwriting competitions as you can.

Start with just a few and see what kind of feedback you get.

Use any and all feedback constructively and to your advantage to help you grow and improve your pilot. 

Make sure you carefully research the competitions you’re considering before you submit and make sure that you’ve copyrighted your work first!

Screenwriting competitions provide unique opportunities for screenwriters to meet professionals in the industry, create a following for themselves, and earn recognition for their work. 

As you research the competitions that you’re considering, make sure that:

• There will be script coverage and feedback provided. 
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• The judges are industry professionals that have had success.
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• There is an entry category for television screenplay, pilot, series, etc.
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• You’re aware of the prizes available – cash? Training? Something else?
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• The program is prestigious or otherwise reputable and recognized.

The primary purpose here of researching the competitions is for your own safety and to ensure you’re not wasting time submitting somewhere that is unreliable.

3. Pitch to Producers

Not all producers are going to be willing to give you the time of day, but many will entertain your pitch if you take the right steps to get to that point.

Now that you’re trying to determine what to do with your TV pilot script after you’ve written it, it’s important to pitch it to professional producers at production offices for major television channels and stations.

But also consider pitching to digital media platforms too where you might have a better chance getting your foot in the door.

Before you pitch, make sure that you’ve prepared your logline and you’ve got a pitch deck prepared.

Nothing shows a lack of effort more than showing up unprepared! 

You  might have to network a bit in order to make connections with industry professionals that can assist you in reaching the right producer, but with a little bit of research and some relationship building, you’ll get there!

4. Share with Industry Reps

Whether you’re entirely new to the industry or you’ve made some headway with networking and you know some reps in the industry, figuring out what to do with your TV pilot script after you write it should almost certainly involve some communication with industry reps.

Send you pilot to anyone that is willing to read it.

Send it to anyone that is willing to send it to anyone they think is willing to read it.

Send it to production companies that you’re trying to work with.

Send it to colleagues that you want to work with.

Send it to members of your network that might be willing to share it with people they know in the industry.

Anyone and everyone that matters and that could potentially get your script in front of the right industry reps should have a copy of your script in front of them!

So, if you’re wondering what to do with your TV pilot script after writing it, start by revising it regularly.

Sharing it frequently.

And taking steps to make sure it lands in contests, on the desks of industry professionals, and in front of producers as many and as much as possible – because it’s not going to network on its own, but it can be an amazing networking tool for you to use to get your foot in the door and perhaps achieve production one day!