Production Bible Template: What to Include in Every Section

Why use a production bible template?

Staring at a blank document is the enemy of progress. A production bible template gives you the structure — the section headers, the prompts, the organization — so you can focus on what matters: the creative work of building your show.

But not all templates are equal. A good production bible template is opinionated about structure while flexible about content. It should guide you without constraining you.

Section 1: Overview & Premise

This is your bible's front door. Include:

• Title: working title is fine at this stage.
• Logline: one to two sentences. The concept in its most compressed form.
• Genre: be specific. Not just "drama" but "serialized character-driven crime drama."
• Format: half-hour, one-hour, limited series, feature film. Include target episode count for series.
• Tone statement: two to three sentences describing how the show feels. Reference comparables.
• Extended premise: one to two paragraphs expanding the logline into a fuller picture of the show.

Section 2: World & Setting

Every great show lives in a world that feels real. Your world section should cover:

• Where: the specific location(s). Not just "New York" but the neighborhood, the building, the corner.
• When: time period, and whether the timeline is linear or non-linear.
• Rules: what's possible in this world? What's not? Especially important for genre projects.
• Culture: the social dynamics, power structures, and unwritten rules that govern your world.
• Visual palette: reference images that capture the look and feel of the world.

Section 3: Characters

For each main character, include:

• Name and role: who they are in the story.
• Age and description: physical description plus the intangible quality that defines them.
• Backstory: the key events that shaped who they are today. Focus on what's relevant to the show.
• Want vs. need: what do they think they want? What do they actually need? The gap between these drives their arc.
• Voice: how do they talk? What's distinctive about their dialogue?
• Season arc: where do they start, what challenges do they face, where do they end up?
• Relationships: how do they connect to the other characters? Where's the friction?

For supporting characters, a shorter version: name, role, key traits, and relationship to the mains.

Section 4: Story & Structure

This section varies by format:

For series: - Season 1 overview (the macro arc) - Episode-by-episode breakdown (one paragraph each) - Major plot turns and cliffhangers - Season 2+ direction (brief)

For film: - Three-act (or five-act) structure - Scene-by-scene breakdown or beat sheet - Key turning points - Theme expressed through structure

Section 5: Tone & Style

This is the section that separates amateur bibles from professional ones. Include:

• Visual references: specific films, shows, photography, art that captures your aesthetic.
• Color palette: the dominant colors of your visual world.
• Camera language: handheld? Composed? Long takes? Quick cuts?
• Sound and music: original score? Licensed music? Silence as a tool?
• Dialogue style: naturalistic, heightened, poetic, sparse.
• Comparable titles: what existing work shares DNA with yours, and specifically what you're borrowing.

Section 6: Notes & Research

A catch-all section for:

• Research materials and sources
• Technical consultants or subject matter experts
• Legal or rights considerations
• Production notes (location ideas, budget considerations)
• Unanswered questions to resolve in development

Using this template in The Greenlight Bible

All six sections above are built into The Greenlight Bible as your default project structure. When you create a new project, every section is ready for you to fill in — with the structure handled automatically.

For series projects, the Story & Structure section includes a season/episode breakdown with per-episode fields. For film projects, it switches to an act-based structure.

Create a free account and start building your production bible with a professional template today.