Additional Script Orders From NBC

http://deadline.com/2014/10/mysteries-of-laura-constantine-script-orders-nbc-847687/

This article is about NBC dramas Mysteries of Laura and Constantine being ordered by the network to have three extra scripts of each show. Script pickup for the first show will come after three episodes whereas Constantine is being done ahead of its debut later this month. Broadcasting networks have favorited a new tactic in which they pickup back up scripts. The reason they do so is because it is relatively an inexpensive method to gain a few weeks by making writers work on shows. Executives feel that these shows would have promised before nets decide on a back episodic order. A backup script is exactly what it says. Networks have writers craft a backup script in order to keep them busy and under contract throughout the season. I chose this article because I was interested to hear what backup scripts were for and how did they benefit the writers of the show. It helps you as a filmmaker and student to understanding that theres two sides of filmmaking. Understanding that there is not only a creative side to Film, but also a business one that you have to comprehend in order to succeed in the film industry. As a consumer, it affects you because it limits writers from doing other work outside of that specific television show, and not get paid for anything else. This disallows them to work on independent films and instead use up all their ideas and main focus on the backup scripts they make for a particular show, which therefore will decrease the amount of independent films composed. Questions that come to mind are: Are keeping these writers working with the backup script tactics decrease the amount of independent films being created? Are there any other tactics that broadcasting networks use to buy an extra few weeks? What other script orders are broadcasting networks allowed to give?