Unpacking Development throughout the Media + Entertainment Industry

In traditional Hollywood structures, "development" is an umbrella term encompassing multiple stages. This phase involves bringing a project to life by creating and refining the story and gathering the necessary resources (funding, Executive Producers, Champions, etc.) to move into production. A high-level overview of the development process include:

[Story] Development: This phase focuses on concept and idea generation. The writer develops key elements such as characters, story conflict, act structure, and the climax or turning point. The script enters development once these fundamentals are established, often in a script format. Contracts during this phase typically require the submission of an outline—or, in some cases, a broader "story area"—before a writer is officially sent "to script." Revisions may continue through pre-production to address changes in casting, location, or story structure.

  • In certain cases, Intellectual Property (IP) or story concepts are sold commercially without a completed script. Writers often present a treatment during the pitching process, as it serves as a pre-sale document to showcase the story's vision. Once hired, the writer may be required to deliver an outline for approval by the studio, producer, or network. This distinction reflects the treatment's role in securing interest and the outline's function as a deliverable within the development process. Deals of this nature typically occur with pre-existing relationships between the creator (writer, director, or producer) and the decision-makers, ensuring confidence in the creator's ability to deliver on the project.

[Project] Development: This phase involves gathering resources and building the team. Propose this question to yourself:

“who are the champions of your story that you can collaborate with to help evolve the project?”

Creators pitch their concepts to development executives, executive producers, and/or producers, allowing the script to continue evolving. Producers help to secure funding, talent, suitable shooting locations, and visual representations of scenes are created to plan shots and sequences.