@mytechtoday/augment-extensions 0.7.0 → 1.2.0

package/augment-extensions/writing-standards/screenplay/rules/tv-series.md

@@ -1,374 +1,374 @@
-# TV Series
-
-## Overview
-
-Television series require balancing episodic storytelling with long-form narrative arcs, maintaining character consistency across episodes and seasons while delivering satisfying individual installments.
-
-## Series Structure
-
-### Episode Types
-**Procedural**:
-- Self-contained episodes
-- Case-of-the-week format
-- Minimal serialization
-- Easy entry point for new viewers
-- Examples: Law & Order, CSI
-
-**Serialized**:
-- Continuous storyline
-- Episode cliffhangers
-- Character arc development
-- Requires sequential viewing
-- Examples: Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones
-
-**Hybrid**:
-- Episodic A-plot (case/problem)
-- Serialized B-plot (character arcs)
-- Balance accessibility and depth
-- Examples: Buffy, The X-Files
-
-### Season Structure
-**Traditional Network** (22-24 episodes):
-- Premiere (establish season arc)
-- Early episodes (character development)
-- Mid-season finale (major cliffhanger)
-- Mid-season premiere (resolution/new direction)
-- Build to finale
-- Season finale (major resolution + setup)
-
-**Cable/Streaming** (8-13 episodes):
-- Tighter narrative arc
-- Less filler
-- Each episode advances main plot
-- Season as extended film
-
-## Episode Structure
-
-### One-Hour Drama (42-44 minutes)
-**Act Structure**:
-
-**Teaser** (2-4 pages):
-- Hook/cold open
-- Establish episode conflict
-- Cliffhanger into main titles
-
-**Act 1** (10-12 pages):
-- Develop episode problem
-- Character reactions
-- Complications arise
-- End on complication
-
-**Act 2** (10-12 pages):
-- Escalate conflict
-- Midpoint twist
-- Character decisions
-- End on major setback
-
-**Act 3** (10-12 pages):
-- Lowest point
-- New approach
-- Building to climax
-- End on cliffhanger
-
-**Act 4** (10-12 pages):
-- Climactic confrontation
-- Resolution of episode plot
-- Advance season arc
-- Setup next episode
-
-**Tag** (1-2 pages):
-- Denouement
-- Character moment
-- Tease future episode
-- Emotional button
-
-### Half-Hour Comedy (22 minutes)
-**Structure**:
-
-**Cold Open** (2-3 pages):
-- Standalone joke/scene
-- Establish episode theme
-- Character moment
-
-**Act 1** (8-10 pages):
-- Introduce episode problem
-- A-plot and B-plot setup
-- Complications
-- End on escalation
-
-**Act 2** (8-10 pages):
-- Problems worsen
-- Character attempts solutions
-- Climax and resolution
-- Emotional or comedic payoff
-
-**Tag** (1-2 pages):
-- Final joke
-- Character button
-- Running gag payoff
-
-## Plot Structure
-
-### A/B/C Plot System
-**A-Plot** (Main Story):
-- 50-60% of episode
-- Primary conflict
-- Drives episode forward
-- Major character focus
-- Significant stakes
-
-**B-Plot** (Subplot):
-- 25-35% of episode
-- Secondary characters
-- Thematic connection to A-plot
-- Character development
-- Lighter or contrasting tone
-
-**C-Plot** (Runner):
-- 10-15% of episode
-- Comic relief or character moment
-- Minimal screen time
-- Quick scenes throughout
-- Payoff at end
-
-### Serialized Arc Integration
-**Episode Level**:
-- Advance season arc incrementally
-- Plant seeds for future episodes
-- Callback to previous episodes
-- Balance standalone and serialized elements
-
-**Season Level**:
-- Establish season goal/threat (premiere)
-- Develop complications (early episodes)
-- Major revelation (mid-season)
-- Escalate stakes (late season)
-- Climactic resolution (finale)
-
-## Character Development
-
-### Series Regulars
-**Consistency**:
-- Maintain core personality
-- Evolve gradually
-- Respect character history
-- Avoid regression without reason
-- Track character growth across seasons
-
-**Ensemble Balance**:
-- Rotate character focus
-- Give each regular spotlight episodes
-- Develop relationships
-- Create character pairings
-- Explore different dynamics
-
-### Character Arcs
-**Season Arc**:
-- Clear beginning state
-- Incremental development
-- Major turning points
-- Season finale transformation
-- Setup for next season
-
-**Series Arc**:
-- Long-term character journey
-- Multi-season development
-- Consistent through-line
-- Satisfying series conclusion
-
-## Episodic Elements
-
-### Cold Opens
-**Purpose**:
-- Hook viewers immediately
-- Establish tone
-- Introduce episode conflict
-- Standalone comedy beat
-- Cliffhanger resolution
-
-**Types**:
-- Action sequence
-- Mystery setup
-- Character moment
-- Comedy sketch
-- Previous episode continuation
-
-### Cliffhangers
-**Episode Cliffhangers**:
-- Unresolved conflict
-- Shocking revelation
-- Character in danger
-- Relationship crisis
-- Mystery deepens
-
-**Season Cliffhangers**:
-- Major character death/departure
-- Relationship game-changer
-- Villain victory
-- World-altering event
-- "To be continued..."
-
-### Tags/Stingers
-**Purpose**:
-- Final character moment
-- Running gag payoff
-- Emotional button
-- Setup for next episode
-- Post-credits surprise
-
-## Dialogue and Voice
-
-### Consistent Character Voice
-**Maintain**:
-- Speech patterns
-- Catchphrases
-- Vocabulary
-- Humor style
-- Emotional expression
-
-**Evolve**:
-- Reflect character growth
-- Respond to events
-- Deepen relationships
-- Mature over time
-
-### Series-Specific Language
-**Develop**:
-- Show-specific terminology
-- Running jokes
-- Callback references
-- Character catchphrases
-- World-building language
-
-## Pacing Considerations
-
-### Episode Pacing
-**Balance**:
-- Action and character moments
-- Humor and drama
-- Plot advancement and development
-- Fast and slow scenes
-- Tension and release
-
-### Season Pacing
-**Structure**:
-- Strong premiere
-- Build momentum (episodes 2-4)
-- Mid-season climax
-- Sustain interest (back half)
-- Accelerate to finale
-
-## Continuity and Callbacks
-
-### Continuity Tracking
-**Maintain**:
-- Character relationships
-- Plot developments
-- World rules
-- Timeline accuracy
-- Character knowledge
-
-### Callbacks
-**Usage**:
-- Reward long-time viewers
-- Create depth
-- Running jokes
-- Character history
-- Thematic echoes
-
-**Balance**:
-- Don't alienate new viewers
-- Make callbacks enhance, not confuse
-- Provide context when needed
-
-## Genre-Specific Guidelines
-
-### Drama
-- Character-driven conflicts
-- Emotional depth
-- Serialized arcs
-- Complex relationships
-- Thematic exploration
-
-### Comedy
-- Joke density (3-4 per page)
-- Character-based humor
-- Running gags
-- Ensemble dynamics
-- Comedic escalation
-
-### Procedural
-- Case structure
-- Investigation process
-- Red herrings
-- Revelation and resolution
-- Character moments within case
-
-### Sci-Fi/Fantasy
-- World-building consistency
-- Mythology development
-- Special effects considerations
-- Concept-driven episodes
-- Long-term planning
-
-## Best Practices
-
-### DO
-✅ Plan season arc before writing episodes
-✅ Balance episodic and serialized elements
-✅ Maintain character consistency
-✅ Track continuity carefully
-✅ Give each regular character focus
-✅ Use A/B/C plot structure
-✅ End acts on cliffhangers
-✅ Reward long-time viewers
-✅ Make each episode satisfying
-✅ Build to strong season finale
-
-### DON'T
-❌ Forget previous episode events
-❌ Change character personality arbitrarily
-❌ Neglect supporting characters
-❌ Make every episode a cliffhanger
-❌ Ignore established world rules
-❌ Rush character development
-❌ Overload with plot
-❌ Sacrifice episode quality for arc
-❌ Confuse new viewers unnecessarily
-❌ Leave too many threads unresolved
-
-## Format-Specific Considerations
-
-### Network Television
-- Commercial breaks (act structure)
-- Broadcast standards (language, content)
-- Broader audience appeal
-- Longer seasons
-- Syndication potential
-
-### Cable
-- More creative freedom
-- Mature content allowed
-- Shorter seasons
-- Niche audiences
-- Prestige storytelling
-
-### Streaming
-- No commercial breaks
-- Binge-watching consideration
-- Variable episode length
-- Global audience
-- All episodes released together
-
-## Examples
-
-**Successful TV Series**:
-- Breaking Bad (serialized drama)
-- The Office (comedy)
-- The Wire (serialized ensemble)
-- Stranger Things (streaming sci-fi)
-- Better Call Saul (character drama)
-- Atlanta (experimental comedy-drama)
-- Succession (prestige drama)
-- Ted Lasso (feel-good comedy)
-
+# TV Series
+
+## Overview
+
+Television series require balancing episodic storytelling with long-form narrative arcs, maintaining character consistency across episodes and seasons while delivering satisfying individual installments.
+
+## Series Structure
+
+### Episode Types
+**Procedural**:
+- Self-contained episodes
+- Case-of-the-week format
+- Minimal serialization
+- Easy entry point for new viewers
+- Examples: Law & Order, CSI
+
+**Serialized**:
+- Continuous storyline
+- Episode cliffhangers
+- Character arc development
+- Requires sequential viewing
+- Examples: Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones
+
+**Hybrid**:
+- Episodic A-plot (case/problem)
+- Serialized B-plot (character arcs)
+- Balance accessibility and depth
+- Examples: Buffy, The X-Files
+
+### Season Structure
+**Traditional Network** (22-24 episodes):
+- Premiere (establish season arc)
+- Early episodes (character development)
+- Mid-season finale (major cliffhanger)
+- Mid-season premiere (resolution/new direction)
+- Build to finale
+- Season finale (major resolution + setup)
+
+**Cable/Streaming** (8-13 episodes):
+- Tighter narrative arc
+- Less filler
+- Each episode advances main plot
+- Season as extended film
+
+## Episode Structure
+
+### One-Hour Drama (42-44 minutes)
+**Act Structure**:
+
+**Teaser** (2-4 pages):
+- Hook/cold open
+- Establish episode conflict
+- Cliffhanger into main titles
+
+**Act 1** (10-12 pages):
+- Develop episode problem
+- Character reactions
+- Complications arise
+- End on complication
+
+**Act 2** (10-12 pages):
+- Escalate conflict
+- Midpoint twist
+- Character decisions
+- End on major setback
+
+**Act 3** (10-12 pages):
+- Lowest point
+- New approach
+- Building to climax
+- End on cliffhanger
+
+**Act 4** (10-12 pages):
+- Climactic confrontation
+- Resolution of episode plot
+- Advance season arc
+- Setup next episode
+
+**Tag** (1-2 pages):
+- Denouement
+- Character moment
+- Tease future episode
+- Emotional button
+
+### Half-Hour Comedy (22 minutes)
+**Structure**:
+
+**Cold Open** (2-3 pages):
+- Standalone joke/scene
+- Establish episode theme
+- Character moment
+
+**Act 1** (8-10 pages):
+- Introduce episode problem
+- A-plot and B-plot setup
+- Complications
+- End on escalation
+
+**Act 2** (8-10 pages):
+- Problems worsen
+- Character attempts solutions
+- Climax and resolution
+- Emotional or comedic payoff
+
+**Tag** (1-2 pages):
+- Final joke
+- Character button
+- Running gag payoff
+
+## Plot Structure
+
+### A/B/C Plot System
+**A-Plot** (Main Story):
+- 50-60% of episode
+- Primary conflict
+- Drives episode forward
+- Major character focus
+- Significant stakes
+
+**B-Plot** (Subplot):
+- 25-35% of episode
+- Secondary characters
+- Thematic connection to A-plot
+- Character development
+- Lighter or contrasting tone
+
+**C-Plot** (Runner):
+- 10-15% of episode
+- Comic relief or character moment
+- Minimal screen time
+- Quick scenes throughout
+- Payoff at end
+
+### Serialized Arc Integration
+**Episode Level**:
+- Advance season arc incrementally
+- Plant seeds for future episodes
+- Callback to previous episodes
+- Balance standalone and serialized elements
+
+**Season Level**:
+- Establish season goal/threat (premiere)
+- Develop complications (early episodes)
+- Major revelation (mid-season)
+- Escalate stakes (late season)
+- Climactic resolution (finale)
+
+## Character Development
+
+### Series Regulars
+**Consistency**:
+- Maintain core personality
+- Evolve gradually
+- Respect character history
+- Avoid regression without reason
+- Track character growth across seasons
+
+**Ensemble Balance**:
+- Rotate character focus
+- Give each regular spotlight episodes
+- Develop relationships
+- Create character pairings
+- Explore different dynamics
+
+### Character Arcs
+**Season Arc**:
+- Clear beginning state
+- Incremental development
+- Major turning points
+- Season finale transformation
+- Setup for next season
+
+**Series Arc**:
+- Long-term character journey
+- Multi-season development
+- Consistent through-line
+- Satisfying series conclusion
+
+## Episodic Elements
+
+### Cold Opens
+**Purpose**:
+- Hook viewers immediately
+- Establish tone
+- Introduce episode conflict
+- Standalone comedy beat
+- Cliffhanger resolution
+
+**Types**:
+- Action sequence
+- Mystery setup
+- Character moment
+- Comedy sketch
+- Previous episode continuation
+
+### Cliffhangers
+**Episode Cliffhangers**:
+- Unresolved conflict
+- Shocking revelation
+- Character in danger
+- Relationship crisis
+- Mystery deepens
+
+**Season Cliffhangers**:
+- Major character death/departure
+- Relationship game-changer
+- Villain victory
+- World-altering event
+- "To be continued..."
+
+### Tags/Stingers
+**Purpose**:
+- Final character moment
+- Running gag payoff
+- Emotional button
+- Setup for next episode
+- Post-credits surprise
+
+## Dialogue and Voice
+
+### Consistent Character Voice
+**Maintain**:
+- Speech patterns
+- Catchphrases
+- Vocabulary
+- Humor style
+- Emotional expression
+
+**Evolve**:
+- Reflect character growth
+- Respond to events
+- Deepen relationships
+- Mature over time
+
+### Series-Specific Language
+**Develop**:
+- Show-specific terminology
+- Running jokes
+- Callback references
+- Character catchphrases
+- World-building language
+
+## Pacing Considerations
+
+### Episode Pacing
+**Balance**:
+- Action and character moments
+- Humor and drama
+- Plot advancement and development
+- Fast and slow scenes
+- Tension and release
+
+### Season Pacing
+**Structure**:
+- Strong premiere
+- Build momentum (episodes 2-4)
+- Mid-season climax
+- Sustain interest (back half)
+- Accelerate to finale
+
+## Continuity and Callbacks
+
+### Continuity Tracking
+**Maintain**:
+- Character relationships
+- Plot developments
+- World rules
+- Timeline accuracy
+- Character knowledge
+
+### Callbacks
+**Usage**:
+- Reward long-time viewers
+- Create depth
+- Running jokes
+- Character history
+- Thematic echoes
+
+**Balance**:
+- Don't alienate new viewers
+- Make callbacks enhance, not confuse
+- Provide context when needed
+
+## Genre-Specific Guidelines
+
+### Drama
+- Character-driven conflicts
+- Emotional depth
+- Serialized arcs
+- Complex relationships
+- Thematic exploration
+
+### Comedy
+- Joke density (3-4 per page)
+- Character-based humor
+- Running gags
+- Ensemble dynamics
+- Comedic escalation
+
+### Procedural
+- Case structure
+- Investigation process
+- Red herrings
+- Revelation and resolution
+- Character moments within case
+
+### Sci-Fi/Fantasy
+- World-building consistency
+- Mythology development
+- Special effects considerations
+- Concept-driven episodes
+- Long-term planning
+
+## Best Practices
+
+### DO
+✅ Plan season arc before writing episodes
+✅ Balance episodic and serialized elements
+✅ Maintain character consistency
+✅ Track continuity carefully
+✅ Give each regular character focus
+✅ Use A/B/C plot structure
+✅ End acts on cliffhangers
+✅ Reward long-time viewers
+✅ Make each episode satisfying
+✅ Build to strong season finale
+
+### DON'T
+❌ Forget previous episode events
+❌ Change character personality arbitrarily
+❌ Neglect supporting characters
+❌ Make every episode a cliffhanger
+❌ Ignore established world rules
+❌ Rush character development
+❌ Overload with plot
+❌ Sacrifice episode quality for arc
+❌ Confuse new viewers unnecessarily
+❌ Leave too many threads unresolved
+
+## Format-Specific Considerations
+
+### Network Television
+- Commercial breaks (act structure)
+- Broadcast standards (language, content)
+- Broader audience appeal
+- Longer seasons
+- Syndication potential
+
+### Cable
+- More creative freedom
+- Mature content allowed
+- Shorter seasons
+- Niche audiences
+- Prestige storytelling
+
+### Streaming
+- No commercial breaks
+- Binge-watching consideration
+- Variable episode length
+- Global audience
+- All episodes released together
+
+## Examples
+
+**Successful TV Series**:
+- Breaking Bad (serialized drama)
+- The Office (comedy)
+- The Wire (serialized ensemble)
+- Stranger Things (streaming sci-fi)
+- Better Call Saul (character drama)
+- Atlanta (experimental comedy-drama)
+- Succession (prestige drama)
+- Ted Lasso (feel-good comedy)
+