I Just Came Up With It / Kill Your Darlings?

Serial story development in reality check.

The Fishbowl discusses how series development works today, balancing market logic with creative vision. The focus is on questions of risk, timing and decision-making: when is an idea too early, and when too late?

Practical tools such as the one-sentence test or mini-bibles demonstrate quick assessment methods. Topics include efficient development, AI-supported analysis and dealing with ‘dead projects’. Central to the discussion is the question of when it makes sense to persevere and when to let go. The outcome is concrete guidelines for practical application.

Before the discussion, Seriencamp Conference is introducing a new pitch format in collaboration with ENCOURAGE FILM TALENTS’ project: “I just came up with it!”. The format is specifically aimed at emerging filmmakers and creatives at the beginning of their careers, offering them a space to develop ideas in an experimental setting. It centres on exchange, collaboration and creative spontaneity, inviting participants to explore new directions together with experienced industry professionals.

At the heart of the format is a matchmaking process, pairing selected talents in teams of two with professionals from fields such as screenwriting, producing or commissioning/editing.

Following a short kick-off workshop, each team enters an intensive creative sprint – a playful and alternative approach to story development – to shape a pitch together. The aim is not perfection, but speed, openness and a willingness to present ideas while they are still in progress.

The resulting pitches will be presented to an international audience and will receive constructive feedback from an international industry expert, Alan Greenspan.

Hosted by ENCOURAGE