# Pilot > The first episode of a series — the script that proves characters, tone, and the engine that can run for seasons. Often the draft a room or network judges hardest. Also known as pilot episode ## In practice A pilot must work as an episode and as a prototype. Readers ask whether they would come back next week and whether they understand the show's rules from the sample. Cold opens, act breaks, and a clear series promise matter as much as a single brilliant scene that could never recur next week. Unlike a feature, a pilot launches engines — relationships, mysteries, workplaces — that future episodes will run for seasons. Still give the hour (or half hour) a complete emotional movement so the sample feels satisfying, not like a trailer that stops right before the story earns a turn. When you pitch or staff, keep a living series bible beside the pilot so tone, world rules, and character arcs stay aligned across materials. In Inkwell, keep that bible in Plot next to episodes rather than burying it in a disconnected general-purpose document you will forget to update. ## See it formatted - [How to format cold opens, act breaks, and tags in a TV script](https://www.inkwell.software/resources/screenplay-formatting/episodic-act-structure): Match the target show's current template: some episodic scripts label every commercial act, while many streaming specs use feature-style flow without printed breaks. ## Common questions ### How is a pilot different from a feature? A feature resolves; a pilot launches. Pilots still need a complete emotional movement, but they also seed ongoing engines — relationships, mysteries, workplaces — that future episodes will run. ### Should I write a series bible with my pilot? For pitching and rooms, yes — a living series bible beside the pilot helps. In Inkwell, keep that bible in Plot next to episodes rather than burying it in a general-purpose doc. ### How long should a pilot script be? Depends on format: roughly half-hour vs hour norms for your market and network vs streamer expectations. Match recent comps in your lane rather than forcing feature page counts onto TV. The Screenplay Length desk keeps half-hour and hour samples on their own clocks. ### Does a pilot need a cold open? Only if it serves the show. Many pilots use one to prove tone fast; others open on Act One. Empty ritual teasers waste pages — earn the slot with a specific incident. ## Related terms - [Cold open](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/cold-open): A teaser before titles — common in TV pilots and episodes — that hooks the audience before the episode’s formal act structure begins. - [Bottle episode](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/bottle-episode): A TV episode deliberately constrained in locations and cast — often to save budget — that turns limitation into pressure: one room, one night, nowhere to escape the conflict. - [Beat sheet](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/beat-sheet): A short outline of a story’s key moments — the beats — used to plan structure before or during drafting without writing every scene yet. - [Writers' room](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/writers-room): The team that breaks story, drafts episodes, and revises together. Rooms need shared drafts, clear history, and a way to try parallel takes without losing accountability. --- Canonical page: