STANDARD COMPETENCIES

 

 1. Demonstrate an understanding of essential core elements of successful TV shows, including but not limited to:  TV structure,

    character design, theme, premise and marketability.

 2. Generate an original idea for 1-hour or ½-hour TV series that can sustain itself for at least 50 episodes or is a full-realized

    narrative for a “closed” series.

 3. Demonstrate the ability to apply professional-level screenwriting techniques to the planning, plotting and execution of an

    original television pilot episode.

 4. Demonstrate the ability to create a properly-formatted show bible for an original TV series.

 5. Demonstrate the ability to develop and pitch sustainable concepts for television.

 6. Demonstrate an understanding of the business fundamentals of the television industry.

 7. Demonstrate knowledge of the differences and similarities between various broadcast media. including, but not limited to,

    network and cable television.

 8. Demonstrate ability to revise written work based on feedback and an understanding of the television medium.

 9. Demonstrate use of critical thinking, aesthetic perception and written communication skills to identify strengths and weaknesses in the

    works of others and to synthesize these analytical techniques into   self-reflection and self-evaluation of personal work.

 

 

 TOPICAL OUTLINE

 

 I. Overview of the Television Medium

     A. History of television.

     B. Current trends in television.

     C. Television as a story-telling medium.

     D. The business of television.

     E. Analysis of the elements in successful TV series.

 II. Developing Successful Television Concepts

     A. Brainstorming concepts for television pilots.

     B. Concept development and marketability.

     C. Identify concepts for expansion into writing a TV pilot.

 III. Writing the Television Pilot

     A. Developing concepts into loglines.

     B. Pre-writing the TV pilot.

     C. Narrative elements in the television medium.

     D. Creating original characters and character mixes.

     E. Character development for TV.

     F. Theme, tone and genre.

     G. Writing effective TV dialogue.

     H. Plot and story arcs within episodes and series.

     I. Write and workshop original TV pilot.

 IV. Bible Creation for Television Series

     A. Analysis of TV bibles.

     B. Developing an original TV series bible.

     C. Creation of original TV series bibles.

     D. Evaluate and workshop TV bibles.

 V.  From Script to Screen

  A. Developing TV pilot pitch.

  B. Venues for marketing TV pilot scripts and original series.