Talent Holding Deal
A Talent Holding Deal is a contract paying an actor to remain exclusively available for a specific project during development — common in TV development when networks secure preferred talent.
Overall Deal
An Overall Deal is an exclusive multi-year contract between a content company and a creator — paying them to develop projects exclusively for that company while prohibiting work for competitors.
Development Deal
A Development Deal is a contract paying creatives to develop a project from concept to production-ready form — most projects in development are never produced, making development the industry’s primary discovery and filtering process.
Pilot Episode
A Pilot Episode is the first episode of a television series produced to test the concept and cast before a full series order is committed — with many produced pilots never making it to air.
TV Spec
A TV Spec is a speculative script written for an existing television series — used as a writing sample by aspiring TV writers to demonstrate craft and the ability to capture an established show’s voice.
TV Spinoff
A TV Spinoff is a new series derived from an existing show — using familiar characters, settings, or concepts to leverage established audience relationships while creating new storytelling opportunities.
One-Off TV Script Deal
A One-Off TV Script Deal is a contract for a writer to write a single television episode — without an ongoing commitment to join the writing staff — used for outside voices or relationship-building.
Staff Writer
A Staff Writer is the entry-level position in a TV writers’ room — the first step on the structured career ladder from emerging writer to showrunner — participating in story development and script writing.
If Come Deal
An If Come Deal is an informal development attachment where a performer agrees to be available if a project is greenlit — with no guaranteed payment unless and until production moves forward.