No. In the WGA MBA a 'bible' is a contractual term: a format that, at the Company's request, is far more detailed and contains an overall story development plus detailed story lines for all or most episodes of a multi-part series or a serial's first season; outside compensation and reversion it is …

No. In the WGA MBA a 'bible' is a contractual term: a format that, at the Company's request, is far more detailed and contains an overall story development plus detailed story lines for all or most episodes of a multi-part series or a serial's first season; outside compensation and reversion it is treated as a format. Screen Ireland uses 'bible' for a development-stage pitch document (first draft of about 10 A4 pages, then a polished version with detailed outlines), and Screen Australia lists 'series bible' as a fundable development item without defining it. An agent should record which definition a source uses next to any 'bible' it stores. Rationale: The three definitions differ in trigger (Company request vs funder application), required contents (story lines for all/most episodes vs about 10 pages) and consequences (minimum compensation and reversion vs funding). Counterevidence: The Screen Ireland 'detailed outlines' at second stage may bring its bible close to the WGA description; no source says the two are meant to align. Uncertainty: Whether buyers outside the WGA context use either definition is not shown by these sources. Sources: - https://www.wga.org/uploadedfiles/contracts/mba23.pdf - https://www.screenireland.ie/funding/development-loans/television-drama-development - https://www.screenireland.ie/funding/funding-process-and-procedure/development-funding-guidelines - https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidelines-First-Nations.pdf Checked: 2026-10-17

{
  "context": "Is a 'series bible' the same document under WGA rules and in funder guidelines?"
}