A bible, also known as a show bible or pitch bible, is a reference document used by

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

s for information on characters, settings, and other elements of a television, film or video game project.

Types

Bibles are updated with information on the characters after the information has been established on screen, scripts, or writer's notes. For example, the ''

Frasier ''Frasier'' () is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey (screenwriter), Peter Casey, and David Lee (scr ...

'' show bible was "scrupulously maintained", and anything established on air — "the name of Frasier's mother, Niles' favorite professor, Martin's favorite bar...even a list of Maris' ozens offood allergies" — was reflected in the bible. The updated bible then serves as a resource for writers to keep everything within the series consistent. Other bibles are used as sales documents to help a

television network A television broadcaster or television network is a telecommunications network for the distribution of television show, television content, where a central operation provides programming to many television stations, pay television providers or ...

studio A studio is a space set aside for creative work of any kind, including art, dance, music and theater. The word ''studio'' is derived from the , from , from ''studere'', meaning to study or zeal. Types Art The studio of any artist, esp ...

understand a series, and are sometimes given to new writers when they join the writing staff for the same reason. These types of bibles discuss the backstories of the main characters and the history of the series' fictional universe. Television series often rely on writers' assistants and

script coordinator A script coordinator is a role in the production of a film or television series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via o ...

s to serve as "walking bibles" in remembering details about a series.

Writers Guild of America

In the United States, writing the bible of a produced series earns that writer the 24 units of required credit necessary to qualify for membership in the

Writers Guild of America The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the name of two American labor unions representing writers in film, television, radio, and online media: * The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) is headquartered in New York City and is affiliated wit ...

References

External links

How to Write a TV Bible
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bible (Writing) Continuity (fiction) Reference works Television terminology

Types

Writers Guild of America

See also

References

External links