Breaking Down Hulu’s Paradise Pilot by Dan Fogelman: Teleplay Analysis & Screenwriting Lessons

In this episode of The Screenplay Lab podcast, we analyze the pilot teleplay for Paradise, the Emmy-nominated 2025 Hulu series from Dan Fogelman (This Is Us). If you're a screenwriter, TV writer, or filmmaker, this deep dive into modern pilot structure is a must-listen.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to write a pilot twist that actually works

• Dan Fogelman’s use of nonlinear storytelling and emotional payoff

• Setups/payoffs, mechanics, and pacing in a 55-page script

• Crafting dialogue, formatting tips, and white space usage

• Behind-the-scenes: how Paradise became a $15M-per-episode drama

• Genre blending: sci-fi, political thriller, and character-driven drama

We Break Down:

• Script structure

• Use of time jumps, flashbacks, and visual storytelling on the page

• Clues leading to one of the most effective pilot twists in recent TV

Whether you’re writing your first pilot or refining a series bible, this episode offers practical insights from a modern masterpiece in TV writing.

Video Podcast

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