NOCTI Audio, Video, Technology, and Film (AVTF) COV Practice Test

The initial idea or plan for a television show is referred to as the concept. This term encompasses the central theme or premise around which the entire show is built. It includes the core idea that outlines what the show is about and serves as a foundation for further development of the storyline, characters, and overall structure.

Understanding the concept is crucial as it shapes all subsequent elements of the production process. For instance, the concept informs the writing of the treatment, which is a more detailed document outlining the plot, character arcs, and tone of the series. The treatment expands upon the initial concept, but it begins with this fundamental idea.

In contrast, focus groups are used for audience testing to evaluate response to potential concepts or pilots, and storyboards visually represent scenes or sequences in order to assist in planning production, but they are created later in the development process and are not the initial idea.