[Andrew Bailey]

Example show: WEDNESDAY

What I learned doing this assignment: That a good pilot hits all the right notes, from the hook to introducing indelible characters placed in unpredictable situations that keep you watching. And it’s all about the empathy/distress factor—how we feel for a character who isn’t necessarily likable but who becomes thrilling to watch as escalating conflicts are thrown her way à la Wednesday Addams. Also, decently flowing wit can fuel an otherwise rudimentary and formulaic show.

BIG PICTURE HOOKS – What is the big hook of this show?

Seeing snarky, crafty, ultimate outcast Wednesday Addams outwit (or try to outwit) every obstacle in her path as she transfers to Nevermore Academy

AMAZING AND INTRIGUING CHARACTER – What makes the main character intriguing and interesting?

She’s dark and diabolical but also cute and loveable and she’ll take on anyone or anything that tries to cross her; sometimes she fails but more of than not she succeeds—the negative Nancy who wins.

EMPATHY/DISTRESS – What situations cause us to feel both empathy and distress for the main character(s)?

She’s dark and twisted but we root for her because at heart we identify with her as an outsider—that’s the general one. We’re in her shoes as she enters Nevermore Academy for the first time, stepping into dangerous situations as a new girl who is tested. We feel for her because we’ve all been there before, in school, at a new job, in any unfamiliar environment. We have empathy for her as she tries to overcome, but we fear for her because she doesn’t always win, and frequently finds herself in danger.

LAYERS/OPEN LOOPS – What questions are created by this first episode that can only be answered by watching the entire season?

Who is the deranged creature killing innocent people in the forest and why did it protect Wednesday? What is Gomez’s sinister history in Jericho and at Nevermore Academy? Will Wednesday emerge victorious as she takes on Nevermore Academy and Jericho? Will she fall in love with Tyler Galpin? What is the strange mystery behind her classmate Rowan and the drawing she shows him of Wednesday?

INVITING OBSESSION – How does this pilot create the need to see every single episode?

Because of the unique and compelling character that is Wednesday Addams and the way she is brought to snarky life in a new realm by Tim Burton and Jenna Ortega. We know this character already, because we love The Addams Family from film, television and comics; but we can’t wait to see how she is repurposed for streaming by goth auteur Tim Burton.

[Andrew Bailey]

*I’m Andrew Bailey, and usually go by Andy. I live in New York City.

*I’ve written 2 TV pilots and one feature, none produced. One of them was for a dermatologist to the stars, who was as shallow and ridiculous as you could imagine. But I got experience writing in an area I wasn’t familiar with (and didn’t care much about) and I made him see his world in a different, more absurd way. But he was unwilling to poke fun at his own profession, haha, so we parted ways.

*I’m an AI skeptic with a concept (or story world) that ChatGPT doesn’t understand, so I’m here to see where I can go with that. Hoping to improve my writing along the way.

*I work in the industry, in the art-house realm, in marketing and publicity, and wrote CINEMA NOW for Taschen Books some years back. I have a history of writing about movies.

*I was in the Bingeworthy TV class during the pandemic, and I also took the Thriller class.

[Andrew Bailey]

I, Andrew Bailey, agree to the terms of this release form.

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.