World, lore & canon · Working
Retcon
Also called: retroactive continuity
ELI5
A later change that revises the established meaning or facts of earlier continuity.
Used in conversation
“The pitch names the retcon, but the story still needs to prove it.”
Pitch context
Use this when a deck or treatment needs to describe the people, world, tone or audience promise precisely.
Why it matters: Helps describe how a story works on the page and how its dramatic parts fit together.
Sources & evidence · 6
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- Film Independent — Episodic Lab Application and Project MaterialsDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- pitch.dog — Pitch Dictionary Deep Research SynthesisDirect source · practitioner · checked 2026-08-14
- Screen Australia — Story Documents: DramaDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Scriptnotes / John August — Pitching Television, or Being a Passionate WidgetDirect source · practitioner · checked 2026-08-14
- Screen Australia — What is a Synopsis? An Outline? A Treatment?Supporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- ScreenSkills — Online Learning Glossary and Job ProfilesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14