Creating a television series requires more than just a script; it requires creating a web of characters, a fully-realized world, a sustainable story engine and a specific voice for your series. In this 15-week online workshop, students already familiar with television format and structure (who either took Television Spec Workshop or have submitted a TV script to demonstrate command of the form) will learn how to write a television pilot. Students will come up with ideas for possible TV series and, working with their instructor and class, will pick one to develop. Students create a series proposal that details the world, characters and themes of their series, and then will break down the story of the pilot before writing a TV script for that pilot.
A live video class is held once a week via Zoom. If time restrictions prevent attendance, students can catch up via recordings of the class and communicate with each other and the instructor digitally. In between sessions, students interact with the class digitally, with feedback provided by the instructor.
Video lessons will be made available for viewing through our course Portals. Written lessons and assignments are posted for critique and the class interacts on an electronic course Portal. Instructors are available electronically for support.
The class meets once per week for 3 hours (two 1.5-hour sessions with a 30-minute break).
Additional video lessons are posted online and may be viewed according to a student’s personal schedule. Outside coursework will vary in time based on the student’s writing speed but usually takes 1-4 hours per week.
Deliverables: Pilot script and series proposal for an original Half-Hour or Hour-Long television series