When I first started writing Priority One, my pilot leaned heavily procedural; the character arcs were there, but only sprinkled in. It was a good foundation, but not quite what I was aiming for.
Now, with Draft 4, the focus has shifted closer to what I always envisioned: a character-driven show, where the emergency calls don’t just provide spectacle, but actually push development, conflict, and sometimes disintegration.
It’s been wild to see the evolution from “plot first, characters second” to “characters first, with the calls shaping them.” I’m not all the way there yet, there’s still polishing to do, but this draft finally feels like I’m standing on the edge of what the show is meant to be.
Would love to hear if others have had similar “draft evolution” moments with your scripts. What shifted most between your early and later versions?
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Great post question Hannah Augenstine - and congrats on allowing your story to develop! I'm actually in a similar moment now. from a crafting view, for me those shifts happen as I make sure every moment is justified organically by the moment before. But I like to control a little too much often, so it's a challenge to put myself 'at the service' of those justifications. But when I am honest with where those moments want to go, I realize the plot and the dialogue isn't dependent on me as often as I may like it to be lol
Priority One sounds awesome and you've obviously much experience to bring to that world of high stakes. Look forward to one day watching it! And thank you for serving :)
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My assassin script, the first one of mine that I extensively rewrote, started as (quoting notes) "a series of action scenes with recurring characters" to an actual interconnected plot. Going from "plot first, characters second" to "characters first, plot second" is also how I see it. Characters go through the plot, but they disagree, even fight, or threaten to kill each other (programmed assassins be crazy) so it was the first time I saw my own work gaining a real intensity.
Funnily enough, all the action scenes have remained more or less the same since draft 1, so it isn't the fights, shootouts, car chase, and climatic exploding mountain that are the source of tension but the battle of wits between characters.
I now put character disagreements, even between allies, as early as possible in a script. But that's were I learned it.
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Sebastian Tudores I really appreciate the insight! I typically start with the calls for my first drafts (it’s become a habit as I’ve written episodes two and three now) and a more procedural version. I’ve found now as I’ve written, edited and received feedback that it gives me a solid base to play with and determine how each of them would then bring not only pervious trauma or perception to the calls and episodes but also slowly dial in on how each call would affect them personally. I think the procedural aspect of my first draft has become a type of outline, in a way, for each episode.
Also, thank you for your support and insight! I truly appreciate it, Priority One is my first trip into screenwriting. I’m constantly looking for feedback, advice and suggestions to improve as a screenwriter. Prior to this I primarily wrote short stories, novels and stage plays.
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Michael Dzurak That’s a really interesting evolution! It’s great you found a way to balance both the action and the character arcs. I tend to lean heavily on character development or disintegration myself. I’ve started using the “procedural” first draft as a starting approach for other episodes to get a kind of outline. I’ve found it allows me to see opportunities for where to imbed character progression, dialogue, or conflict a bit easier.
I really appreciate the insight into your process. It’s really helpful to see other prospectives as someone new to screenwriting.
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You're welcome, Hannah Augenstine.
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Vision take time from thoughts and ideas. The more you create, the more your skill strengthens. Why I prefer, before writing anything. Try outlining your thoughts and ideas you wish to incorporate from start to finish. Then proceed with your first draft.
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Jermar Jerome Smith I typically keep a word document of key events for each episode before I start writing. Things I want to hit on with the characters specifically and calls I want to use as the sort of walls of the house you could say. It's not perfect and it's certainly not organized the way I'm sure most writers are with it but I have a tendency to "go off script" if you will to begin with. I like having a rough idea but really the characters and their choices drive the story along and so if something just doesn't fit... well, half the episode is different now. That being said it hasn't failed me yet in terms of authenticity or story drive even if it isn't perfect and requires me to do a few more revisions than most. I think the end product ends up better for it. At least that's how it feels as I read it once complete.
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That sounds like a brilliant process/structure for your project Hannah Augenstine - not to be corny, but the calls should definitely be 'priority one' for driving the story :)