STANDARD COMPETENCIES

 

 1. Demonstrate an understanding of TV structure, character and theme, which are the essential core elements of all successful TV shows.

 2. Demonstrate ability to breakdown and analyze existing shows.

 3. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of story and character arcs for the two current TV series for which the student intends to write.

 4. Create, pitch and develop original episode ideas for two pre-selected, existing 1-hour or ½-hour TV series.

 5. Demonstrate ability to apply development and writing processes to achieve two spec scripts, demonstrating insight and application

    of each pre-selected show’s specific format, genre, tone, character design, story arc and narrative parameters.

 6. Demonstrate ability to revise teleplays based on development notes.

 7. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the modern television business.

 8. Demonstrate knowledge of the working expectations for professional television writers.

 9. Demonstrate understanding of how to attain and sustain employment as a writer within the television industry.

 10. Demonstrate advanced 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 evaluation of their own works.

 

 TOPICAL OUTLINE

 

 I. TV Series Analysis

      A. Read, study and analyze at least two existing TV series.

      B. Break down the beats of half-hour and one-hour TV shows.

      C. Identify and differentiate television act breaks, different structures of individual series, differing tones and types of storylines.

      D. Create and present breakdowns of character, theme, franchise, world and story arcs for pre-selected TV shows.

 II. Premise Development for Spec Teleplays

      A. Based on student’s understanding of the studied series, develop appropriate episode premises for workshopping.

      B. Develop and present pitches for premises.

 III. Writing of Spec Teleplays

      A. Beat-sheet creation for each episode.

      B. Plot construction for differing TV series.

      C. Scene-building and escalation of scenes for TV.

      D. Dialogue and capturing voices of existing characters.

      E. Formatting and style for differing series.

      F. Execution of two spec teleplays.

      G. Workshopping of spec teleplays.

      H. Revision techniques and incorporating development notes.

       I. The writing team dynamic.

 IV. The Business of Writing for TV

      A. Understanding roles and hierarchy within the television industry.

      B. Exploring how writer’s rooms function.

      C. Television distribution and production.

      D. Dealing with the network.

      E. Attaining representation as a television writer.