About Jeffery Stevenson
Location: Austin, TX
Occupation: Database Consultant/Writer
Bio: Pop Syndicate's Creative Adviser is also the writer and letterer of the long-running twice weekly webcomic, Brat-halla (following the Norse gods during their elementary school days), which ran for a few years at Kevin Smith's MoviePoopShoot.com (and later, QuickStopEntertainment.com) and is currently hosted over at Graphic Smash. He was also the hired wordslinger for Jim Valentino's Task Force 1 from Shadowline/Image Comics.
To keep up with the rest of Jeff's insanity, feel free to check out his personal blog at Dark-n-Dam'd.
Posts: 36
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A question about writing TV spec samples...
Why can't I write a TV spec sample using my favorite TV show that's been canceled? I just don't see why it has to be a current show.
Marcie Ross, Sunnydale, CA
Dear Marcie,
Some might think it's just a big network conspiracy to make sure aspiring TV writers watch every episode of as many current shows as possible while also investing in DVD collections of those same shows. But there's actually a method to the madness. It's a means of letting execs see a little variety in the specs that pile up on their desk week-after-week... year-after-year.
Especially after they've read a gazillion variations of this spec script...
... and well, you can probably tell where it goes from there for the next 36 minutes. Those fans of Buffy (especially the aspiring TV writers) were extremely passionate about their show, and it showed. In a lot of ways.
Marcie Ross, Sunnydale, CA
Dear Marcie,
Some might think it's just a big network conspiracy to make sure aspiring TV writers watch every episode of as many current shows as possible while also investing in DVD collections of those same shows. But there's actually a method to the madness. It's a means of letting execs see a little variety in the specs that pile up on their desk week-after-week... year-after-year.
Especially after they've read a gazillion variations of this spec script...
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
"Halloween, Her Way"
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. BUFFY'S BATHROOM - NIGHT
Steam slightly clouds the scene as we just make out Buffy's
nude silhouette in the shower as she finishes rinsing her
hair.
BUFFY (SINGING)
It's a dead man's party. Who could
ask for more? Everybody's comin',
leave your body at the door Leave your
body and soul at the--
BREEP BREEP
Buffy shuts off the water and slides open the shower curtain
listening intently.
INT. BUFFY'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Buffy, with a towel wrapped around her body, finishes tucking
her wet hair into another towel as she walks across the room
and picks up the phone.
BUFFY
Hello? Giles?
GILES (PHONE)
Yes, I know you're supposed to have
the night off, but there have been
reports of a strange demon sighted in
the cemetery.
Buffy sits down on the edge of her bed where there's a nice
dress and shoes spread out ready for her to change into.
BUFFY
But, it's Halloween. Nothing--
GILES (PHONE)
Yes, quite right. Nothing ever happens
on Halloween, but we've been proven
wrong before.
CONTINUED
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.
CONTINUED:
She pulls the dress up off the bed and hangs it back up in
the closet.
BUFFY
All right, I'll go make a quick check.
She tosses a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve comfortable
shirt onto the bed. She tosses her patrol bag onto the bed
and fills it with her tools... crucifix, wooden stakes, flask
of holy water, and a small axe.
EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT
Buffy wanders through the cemetery, stake in hand, looking
out for any sign of trouble. She hears a sound and turns in
that direction.
She spots something out of place on a tombstone.
She approaches and sees it's a rose. She looks around but
doesn't see any sign of anyone... or anything.
As she grabs the rose, a monstrous demonic figure in
silhouette rises up behind her. She smells the rose and
then her eyes go wide as a hand grabs her shoulder.
BLACK OUT.
END OF TEASER
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.
ACT TWO
EXT. CEMETERY - MOMENTS LATER
Buffy spins around with a wooden stake in her hand, but the
demonic figure swats her arm aside. He pulls off the mask
to reveal..
ANGEL
They look deep into each other's eyes for an eternity before
giving in to their desire and kissing passionately. In the
midst of their passionate exchange, Angel lifts her up and
seats her on top of the tombstone as she wraps her legs around
his waist.
BUFFY
Angel... we can't... we can't do this.
You'll turn... bad... again.
Angel stops kissing and rests his forehead against hers. He
takes a step back letting his hand slide gently across her
cheek and then runs his fingers through her hair.
ANGEL
You're right. But... but maybe there's
a way. Maybe we can find a way to
make it work this time. I--
He turns his back to her.
ANGEL (cont'd)
I need you, Buffy. I--
SPIKE (O.C.)
Can you believe this bloody loser?
Angel and Buffy look up to see SPIKE scratching his nails
across the tops of tombstones as he strolls toward them.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Wants to endanger the whole world again
for a little piece of... happiness?
Spike brushes past Angel and sits on the edge of the tombstone
right next to Buffy.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Tell you what, luv. I'll take care of
the physical happiness while you and
Angelus enjoy the finer points of ooey-
gooey mushiness.
CONTINUED
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.
CONTINUED:
ANGEL
That's enough, Spike.
Spike puts his arm around Buffy. She looks dazed and confused
like a lost, little girl.
SPIKE
Enough? I think the lady and I were
just getting warmed up.
Angel grabs Spike and lifts him up off the ground.
ANGEL
Enough!
Angel switches to his vampire face. Spike puts on his vampire
face in return.
SPIKE
Well then, let's go... Angelus.
Angel tosses Spike through the air smashing him into a
tombstone, which cracks in half on impact.
Buffy watches on as Angel and Spike fight. They tear into
each other with claws that shred away their shirts revealing
rippling muscles and perfect bodies glistening with sweat.
Buffy bites her lip as she plays voyeur to the two vampire's
violent dance.
EXT. CEMETERY - MOMENTS LATER
A pair of combat boots jogs over the grass of the cemetery.
The soldier's feet come to a stop within sight of the two
vampires fighting. Buffy still breathes heavily as she
watches them.
A military A3 bag drops beside the boots.
XANDER
Hey, you vampire freaks!
Angel and Spike continue fighting.
XANDER (cont'd)
Listen to me, dammit!
Angel and Spike turn their heads toward Xander who keeps
most of his appearance hidden in the shadows.
CONTINUED
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.
CONTINUED:
XANDER (cont'd)
I'm tired of you two running around
with your chiseled jaws and fancy
accents making it impossible for us
normal guys to get a second look from
a woman like Buffy. I could have had
a shot at her if it weren't for you
tainting her with your vampire charms.
SPIKE
I don't think you have us to blame for
that.
XANDER
And... I gotta deal with your ever-so-
smugger-than-thou attitudes belittling
me in the process. Trying to make me
less of a man. Well, I've had enough!
Xander reaches into the A3 bag and pulls out a vest, which
he puts on. He goes through the Commando/Predator military
soldier suit up sequence as he gets ready for battle.
He steps into the light looking like Rambo as he snaps a
clip into his M16.
XANDER (cont'd)
And I mean it this time.
Buffy gasps as Xander opens fire on Spike and Angel riddling
them with bullets.
Spike and Angel look at each other, unfazed by the bullets.
Then they look at Xander.
XANDER (cont'd)
Crap. I should've known that From
Dusk Til Dawn cross on the bullets
trick wouldn't work.
Xander pulls out his combat knife as he, Spike, and Angel
prepare to throw down.
BUFFY
Stands up to go save Xander's butt when a female hand covers
her mouth.
EXT. CEMETERY - MOMENTS LATER
Xander, Spike, and Angel circle each other, exhausted but
determined. Their clothes are shredded leaving the men
practically half-naked under the moonlight.
CONTINUED
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.
CONTINUED:
WILLOW (O.C.)
Oh, boys!
The three men turn to see Willow holding Buffy close. She
has a wicked grin on her face as her hand slides across
Buffy's stomach along the waistline of her jeans.
Buffy looks like she's in a hypnotic trance.
WILLOW (cont'd)
I was just thinking...
She stops to nibble lightly on Buffy's ear as another female
steps out of the shadows.
EVIL WILLOW
We... we were just thinking.
Evil Willow slides up alongside Buffy and pulls Buffy's head
back by her hair to plant a deep, passionate kiss on her
while regular Willow fumbles around with the button to Buffy's
jeans.
WILLOW
Right, we were thinking...
BUFFY'S FEET
As her jeans drop to the ground. Looking past the jeans,
Xander, Spike, and Angel look on in eager anticipation.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Why can't we all just share her?
As the boys continue to stare, more clothes land beside the
jeans on the ground... Buffy's shirt, Willow's shirt, Buffy's
bra, Evil Willow's shirt, and the bras of both Willows.
XANDER
Do you think this is one of those
strange Halloween enchant--
Xander, Angel and Spike go wide-eyed as they see something
off screen that makes Buffy MOAN with pleasure.
XANDER (cont'd)
Was that... I mean... did they just...
do what I think they just did to her?
Spike starts running toward the moans tearing off what little
remains of his shirt. Angel and Xander follow him doing the
same.
... and well, you can probably tell where it goes from there for the next 36 minutes. Those fans of Buffy (especially the aspiring TV writers) were extremely passionate about their show, and it showed. In a lot of ways.
####
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All material in The Creative Adviser is fictitious and intended solely for the purpose of entertainment. Names are fabricated and any similarity to real people or places is purely coincidental except in those cases where public figures are being satirized.
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