Abible, also known as ashow bible orpitch bible, is areference document used byscreenwriters for information on characters, settings, and other elements of a television, film or video game project.[1]
Bibles are updated with information on the characters after the information has been established on screen, scripts, or writer's notes.[2] For example, theFrasier show bible was "scrupulously maintained", and anything established on air — "the name ofFrasier's mother,Niles' favorite professor,Martin's favorite bar...even a list ofMaris' [dozens of] food allergies" — was reflected in the bible.[2] The updated bible then serves as a resource for writers to keep everything within the series consistent.[2]
Other bibles are used as sales documents to help atelevision network orstudio understand a series, and are sometimes given to new writers when they join the writing staff for the same reason.[2] These types of bibles discuss the backstories of the main characters and the history of the series' fictional universe.[2]
Television series often rely on writers' assistants andscript coordinators to serve as "walking bibles" in remembering details about a series.[2]
In the United States, writing the bible of a produced series earns that writer the 24 units of required credit necessary to qualify for membership in theWriters Guild of America.[3]