The TV Studio Production
Handbook Chapter 2
The Big Idea
The first step in the development process is to come up with an idea that translates
well to screen. Ideas are the industry's lifeblood and an essential component of the
production process. Idea generation takes a lot of time and money for television
production firms. Experts are hired by development teams to come up with the next
big commission. They search through all news channels and social media sites for
ideas, and they have regular brainstorming meetings. To be creative, you must
believe that you can generate both good and poor ideas without fear of making a
mistake. You must be bold, daring, and courageous, and you must not be afraid to
fail. Ideas abound, and we may draw inspiration from a wide range of sources.
The way people consume content has changed, on mobile
devices, on tablets, but at the end of the day, it needs to be
content you want to watch; you want to see people laugh,
you want to see sad stories, you want to see the human
connection. The content needs to matter.
Rebecca Yang
The Audience
On paper, ideas may appear simple, but they can be challenging to implement in
practice. Consider your audience to help you perfect your concept. An idea rarely
appeals to everyone. Examine TV schedules and the top shows by category to see if
you can notice any trends, patterns, or gaps in the market.
It's beneficial to share your ideas and see what others have to say about them.
Because television has been around for decades and we all consume the same
information, it's tempting to believe that everything has already been done and that
coming up with an original concept is impossible. To offer fans something fresh, all
The TV Studio Production Handbook Chapter 2 1
, genres must innovate. Something that is always unique is basing the story
on personal experiences.
Thinking techniques you can use to improve your
creativity:
Lateral thinking:
It involves looking at problems from unusual perspectives in groups or
individually, with the aim of stretching your imagination to ‘think outside the box’
before reaching a solution that is unexpected and effective
Mind maps:
Used to brainstorm ideas by visualizing them and seeing how they connect
You start by writing a single word at the center of a piece of paper and from there
you work outwards, connecting and grouping words via curved lines and with a
range of colors to help stimulate your mind and enhance your imagination
Blue-sky thinking:
A useful technique for group work
Bouncing ideas off each other
💡 You should also consider where your best ideas came from. Is it while
you're out on a stroll or sipping a cup of tea at a bustling café? It's a good
idea to think about what works for you - quiet or noisy environments,
indoors or outside – and then switch things up to get your creative juices
flowing.
Karl Warner’s brainstorming technique exercises:
1. Stare out of the window – get into a zone – like a form of meditation that allows
your brain to expand and think of anything that comes to mind
2. Opposites attract – on one side of the paper write what usually happens and on
the other side write what the opposite is
3. Unusual triggers – Fear Factor versus Strictly come Dancing or Rambo versus
Lambing Live – what would that look like? If an idea makes you laugh, don’t
dismiss it
The TV Studio Production Handbook Chapter 2 2
Handbook Chapter 2
The Big Idea
The first step in the development process is to come up with an idea that translates
well to screen. Ideas are the industry's lifeblood and an essential component of the
production process. Idea generation takes a lot of time and money for television
production firms. Experts are hired by development teams to come up with the next
big commission. They search through all news channels and social media sites for
ideas, and they have regular brainstorming meetings. To be creative, you must
believe that you can generate both good and poor ideas without fear of making a
mistake. You must be bold, daring, and courageous, and you must not be afraid to
fail. Ideas abound, and we may draw inspiration from a wide range of sources.
The way people consume content has changed, on mobile
devices, on tablets, but at the end of the day, it needs to be
content you want to watch; you want to see people laugh,
you want to see sad stories, you want to see the human
connection. The content needs to matter.
Rebecca Yang
The Audience
On paper, ideas may appear simple, but they can be challenging to implement in
practice. Consider your audience to help you perfect your concept. An idea rarely
appeals to everyone. Examine TV schedules and the top shows by category to see if
you can notice any trends, patterns, or gaps in the market.
It's beneficial to share your ideas and see what others have to say about them.
Because television has been around for decades and we all consume the same
information, it's tempting to believe that everything has already been done and that
coming up with an original concept is impossible. To offer fans something fresh, all
The TV Studio Production Handbook Chapter 2 1
, genres must innovate. Something that is always unique is basing the story
on personal experiences.
Thinking techniques you can use to improve your
creativity:
Lateral thinking:
It involves looking at problems from unusual perspectives in groups or
individually, with the aim of stretching your imagination to ‘think outside the box’
before reaching a solution that is unexpected and effective
Mind maps:
Used to brainstorm ideas by visualizing them and seeing how they connect
You start by writing a single word at the center of a piece of paper and from there
you work outwards, connecting and grouping words via curved lines and with a
range of colors to help stimulate your mind and enhance your imagination
Blue-sky thinking:
A useful technique for group work
Bouncing ideas off each other
💡 You should also consider where your best ideas came from. Is it while
you're out on a stroll or sipping a cup of tea at a bustling café? It's a good
idea to think about what works for you - quiet or noisy environments,
indoors or outside – and then switch things up to get your creative juices
flowing.
Karl Warner’s brainstorming technique exercises:
1. Stare out of the window – get into a zone – like a form of meditation that allows
your brain to expand and think of anything that comes to mind
2. Opposites attract – on one side of the paper write what usually happens and on
the other side write what the opposite is
3. Unusual triggers – Fear Factor versus Strictly come Dancing or Rambo versus
Lambing Live – what would that look like? If an idea makes you laugh, don’t
dismiss it
The TV Studio Production Handbook Chapter 2 2
