This series began when the drug trade was in mid swing in greater Miami. At that time many Cubans found this series stereotypical yet it was real. In the early days of Miami things happened, and trendy South Beach was as depicted in the pilot. This alone made " Miami Vice" appear very real. So real only the movie " Blow" ( 2001) written by David McKenna two decades later fully revealed the effect of the drug trade on South Florida. " Miami Vice", the pilot opens in New York, the streets are desolate and a 1980's tune from the "Rolling Stones" plays as three young men walk down a street looking for action.
The background dialog shows three Puerto Rican kids talking, this is unusual for the main characters are not introduced to the audience. We do see a black male sitting in a black Cadillac. This person a major protagonist is Ricardo Tubbs. But we don't know that yet. We don't even know his name. As in all good drama two worlds collide quickly, the trio of youth attempt to rob Ricardo, they even spit on his car. Tubbs counters with a shot gun. This all occurred at the two minute mark, we next see a man and his entourage exit a building, they enter a limousine and we are treated to the dark and gloomy streets of New York. Notice that their has been no dialog to establish the story line, everything is visual. Tubbs follows the limousine through the darkened New York streets. We see wealthy New Yorkers, walking in furs having a good time. The vehicles stop, cut to the man being followed inside the club, acting very powerful, smiling we see a Rolex watch, Monet Champagne.
This scene has to be written through expository language. The music sets the mood, but the characters have to be described without dialog. At the four minute mark the writer has Ricardo Tubbs pass a hundred-dollar bill to a waiter. The camera spins around to a 180-degree shot and we see the waiter spill expensive champagne on the protagonist. The plot is set, without one word being exchanged between the protagonist and antagonist. This is television and the series "Miami Vice".
How as a screenwriter can you learn to write like this? As suggested above read any book on television writing you can find and tune in here in two weeks as we explore writing the pilot in depth. Until then when we cover Act 1 of the television pilot. Ciao.
