Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
pré-bible
English translation:
pre-bible/mini-bible
Added to glossary by
Jenny Duthie
Apr 28, 2021 11:16
3 yrs ago
51 viewers *
French term
pré-bible
French to English
Art/Literary
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
contract for transfer of rights to a TV series
I know that "bible" can be "copyright" or "writing", but here I think it means "draft", please see the context below:
Le Producteur souhaite confier à l’Auteur, qui l’accepte, l’écriture de la pré-bible de la Série.
also:
A la remise au Producteur de la première version de la Pré-bible de la Série
Le Producteur commande à l’Auteur, qui l'accepte, l'écriture de la pré-bible de la Série (ci-après dénommée la « Pré-bible » ou « les Travaux d’Ecriture ») en collaboration avec XXXXXX
Le Producteur souhaite confier à l’Auteur, qui l’accepte, l’écriture de la pré-bible de la Série.
also:
A la remise au Producteur de la première version de la Pré-bible de la Série
Le Producteur commande à l’Auteur, qui l'accepte, l'écriture de la pré-bible de la Série (ci-après dénommée la « Pré-bible » ou « les Travaux d’Ecriture ») en collaboration avec XXXXXX
Proposed translations
(English)
5 -1 | pre-bible | Tom Weber |
4 | initial pitch bible | Adam Lozier |
3 | brief initial pitch | Shilpa Baliga |
3 -1 | backstory | Dominique Stiver |
References
TV show bible/series bible | Wolf Draeger |
Proposed translations
-1
16 hrs
Selected
pre-bible
I have experience in US television writing, pitching and selling. The French is simply a literal translation of this term in English.
Reference:
https://lfs.org.uk/content/ma-screenwriting-alumnus-selected-series-mania-and-canneseries
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Wolf Draeger
: Your refs are flimsy, your confidence level is unwarranted and it's just rude to disagree when you've also posted an answer. As for the 'literal translation' it's more likely the other way round.
16 hrs
|
I deal with US TV writers, who use this term, and my confidence comes from that. I didn't know it was rude to disagree after posting an answer, sorry. Why is it likely a TV term starts in France and goes to Hollywood? How can native usage be a flimsy ref?
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Tom"
-1
15 mins
backstory
I hope this corresponds:
a history or background created for a fictional character in a film or television programme.
"a brief prologue detailing our hero's backstory"
a history or background created for a fictional character in a film or television programme.
"a brief prologue detailing our hero's backstory"
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Tom Weber
: A backstory is a by-product of screenwriting that is never filmed per se but used by the creative team. It can be part of a bible, but it is not a "pre-bible."
16 hrs
|
I realised that but I did not know how to change or even remove my answer
|
18 mins
brief initial pitch
pré-bibles : elles
proposent un résumé du concept, une présentation des personnages principaux, quelques
intentions de décors, ce que nous appelons l’arène.
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Note added at 33 mins (2021-04-28 11:50:16 GMT)
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Or
Elevator pitch: https://nofilmschool.com/How-To-Write-Elevator-Pitch
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Note added at 1 day 1 hr (2021-04-29 12:26:17 GMT)
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Bible definition here: https://www.film.vic.gov.au/glossary#page-b
A Bible tends to run around 10-20 pages, and provides an overall 'concept' pitch for a television series (usually 1-2 pages), as well as other key sections such as: episode break-down (generally between a paragraph and half a page on each episode), character profiles and major 'settings'. It provides a sense of the key plot lines that are likely to drive the series, as well as outlining the relationships between the characters over the course of the series and each of their individual journeys (or arcs).
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Note added at 1 day 22 hrs (2021-04-30 09:21:16 GMT)
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I have found "mini bible" used in plenty of places:
https://fundsforwriters.com/how-to-create-and-pitch-a-televi...
Create a Series Mini Bible
A mini bible gives a sweeping view of your series from top to bottom. First, it should include the title, logline and synopsis. It should also feature a breakdown of the show’s main characters, including they’re goals, flaws, quirks and motivations. After that, have a synopsis of the pilot episode followed by a list of all episodes for the first season, including a short description of what happens in each one so executives can see where your show’s headed. And feel free to spice it up with photos and illustrations throughout.
https://jillatkinson.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/how-to-success...
What’s a Mini-bible, Bible or Writer’s Guide?
Every TV series has one. But even if your own concept is still to be sold, the process of building a series bible for another series can be a giant step toward your goal of selling your own show.
proposent un résumé du concept, une présentation des personnages principaux, quelques
intentions de décors, ce que nous appelons l’arène.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 33 mins (2021-04-28 11:50:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Or
Elevator pitch: https://nofilmschool.com/How-To-Write-Elevator-Pitch
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 1 hr (2021-04-29 12:26:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Bible definition here: https://www.film.vic.gov.au/glossary#page-b
A Bible tends to run around 10-20 pages, and provides an overall 'concept' pitch for a television series (usually 1-2 pages), as well as other key sections such as: episode break-down (generally between a paragraph and half a page on each episode), character profiles and major 'settings'. It provides a sense of the key plot lines that are likely to drive the series, as well as outlining the relationships between the characters over the course of the series and each of their individual journeys (or arcs).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 22 hrs (2021-04-30 09:21:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I have found "mini bible" used in plenty of places:
https://fundsforwriters.com/how-to-create-and-pitch-a-televi...
Create a Series Mini Bible
A mini bible gives a sweeping view of your series from top to bottom. First, it should include the title, logline and synopsis. It should also feature a breakdown of the show’s main characters, including they’re goals, flaws, quirks and motivations. After that, have a synopsis of the pilot episode followed by a list of all episodes for the first season, including a short description of what happens in each one so executives can see where your show’s headed. And feel free to spice it up with photos and illustrations throughout.
https://jillatkinson.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/how-to-success...
What’s a Mini-bible, Bible or Writer’s Guide?
Every TV series has one. But even if your own concept is still to be sold, the process of building a series bible for another series can be a giant step toward your goal of selling your own show.
Reference:
https://www.sacd.fr/sites/default/files/rencontre_cnc_sacd_bibles_animation_synthese_23_01_2018.pdf
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Tom Weber
: Since the document puts the series under contract, it is past the point of a pitch.
1 day 46 mins
|
Not according to several sources. "Bible" here, for example: https://www.film.vic.gov.au/glossary#page-b (A Bible tends to run around 10-20 pages, and provides an overall 'concept' pitch for a television series (usually 1-2 pages), as well as...)
|
|
agree |
Wolf Draeger
: Maybe "one-page pitch" or "one-sheet"?
1 day 7 hrs
|
Thanks Wolf! I just found "mini-bible" which seems to be used widely.
|
198 days
initial pitch bible
I work for a native French speaker who has decades of experience working in the film industry in Los Angeles. I have translated dozens of press kits for her, and this is the term she has asked me to use here.
A Google search will show that "initial pitch bible" is commonly used.
A Google search will show that "initial pitch bible" is commonly used.
Reference:
Reference comments
1 day 8 hrs
Reference:
TV show bible/series bible
So I'd never heard of this before this question, you learn something new every day.
According to L’Accroche Scénaristes a pré-bible or Bible commerciale is a condensed version of the full bible or Bible littéraire (trust the French to make the distinction in those terms). From what I can tell the closest thing to a pré-bible in English would be a shortened pitch of sorts which is part of the bible proper. See http://www.laccroche-scenaristes.com/guide-bible-de-serie/
The Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC) seems to include more material in a pré-bible but the gist sounds the same: a summary of the full bible. See https://www.cnc.fr/series-tv/actualites/la-bible-moelle-epin...
See also
https://www.commentfaireunfilm.com/bible-serie-tv/
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/tv-show-pitch-bible-templa... (mentions "one page TV show pitch").
https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/tv-show-bible-examples/ (mentions "one-sheet').
https://www.shorescripts.com/what-is-a-tv-series-bible/ (mentions "one-page pitch).
According to L’Accroche Scénaristes a pré-bible or Bible commerciale is a condensed version of the full bible or Bible littéraire (trust the French to make the distinction in those terms). From what I can tell the closest thing to a pré-bible in English would be a shortened pitch of sorts which is part of the bible proper. See http://www.laccroche-scenaristes.com/guide-bible-de-serie/
The Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC) seems to include more material in a pré-bible but the gist sounds the same: a summary of the full bible. See https://www.cnc.fr/series-tv/actualites/la-bible-moelle-epin...
See also
https://www.commentfaireunfilm.com/bible-serie-tv/
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/tv-show-pitch-bible-templa... (mentions "one page TV show pitch").
https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/tv-show-bible-examples/ (mentions "one-sheet').
https://www.shorescripts.com/what-is-a-tv-series-bible/ (mentions "one-page pitch).
Discussion
There's no rule saying you can't disagree with another answerer but it is considered bad form since it lowers their answer relative to yours. No worries if you didn't know. (A neutral comment is a good way to express your reservations with another answer without penalizing the answerer.)