SYLLABUS

This 8 week writing workshop will help you find and decide on an original idea, develop that idea into an outline, and guide you as you write the teleplay. Learn about story structure, scene structure, scene description, dialogue and everything in between, finishing the class with the first draft of a completed teleplay. The lab not only contains seminars to the entire class, with ample time for Q and A’s, but it also consists of one-on-one sessions with Todd where he will give you constructive notes and share his thoughts on your story, outline and script pages. These sessions will mirror the experience you would have working with a showrunner on a pilot and allow you the opportunity to be mentored by a kind, thoughtful professional. A must experience for any level of writer looking to harness their talent into a strong pilot/writing sample that will help further their career. Hand-outs include outlines and scripts from sold pilots.

October 13, 2024 - December 8, 2024

Saturdays, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm (PST)

WEEK ONE - THE IDEA

INTRODUCTIONS 

·      Todd’s Story

·      Your Story

THE IDEA

·      Pre-existing? What is it?

·      Still Searching? How do you find it?

·      Commerce versus Art 

IS IT A TV SERIES? 

·      What does that mean?

·      Does it matter? 

YOUR PERSONAL CONNECTION  

·      What it means to you

·      Passion, passion and more passion 

·      The Story That Won’t Go Away

CHARACTERS

·      Who are they?

·      Be specific

·      Details Matter

BEATING IT OUT

·      Moments

·      Scenes

·      Structure

·      Index Cards

TO DO: Submit Your Idea or Several Ideas in three sentences or less, schedule a zoom for feedback

TO READ: Outline for Sold Pilot

WEEK TWO - THE OUTLINE

DISCUSSION ABOUT OUTLINES YOU READ 

·      What did you like?

·      What did you not like? 

·      Was it clear?

·      What was the tone?

STRUCTURE

·      Teaser

·      Push Off 

·      Four Acts?

SHAPE OF A SCENE

·      The Nut

·      The Judo

·      Beginning, Middle and End

·      Unpredictability

THE WRITING

·      Language Counts

·      Clarity

·      Flow

·      Tone

DO YOU NEED? 

·      A map is helpful

·      Beat Sheet as alternative

·      Index Cards are fine

WEEK THREE - WRITE YOUR OUTLINE

CHECK IN WITH TODD IF YOU’D LIKE

·      Schedule a zoom meeting 

·      Any questions or thoughts

·     He’s here for you

TO DO: Submit your outline, schedule zoom for notes

WEEK FOUR - THE TELEPLAY

WHAT MAKES A GREAT SCRIPT

·      The story

·      The dialogue

·      Scene description

·      Your voice

DIALOGUE

·      Conversational

·      Naturalistic

·      Listen and record others

·      Use funky punctuation and grammar if need be

SCENE DESCRIPTION

·      Words and language convey tone

·      Economy matters

·      No more than three or four lines

YOUR VOICE

·      Make it fun to read

·      Only you can write this

THE LOOK OF THE PAGE

·      Easy reading tips

·      Character names begin with different letters

·      Resist the checkerboard

FINAL DRAFT TUTORIAL

·      If needed 

TO DO: Begin writing your script (and have fun!)

TO READ: Teleplay for Sold Pilot

WEEK FIVE - WRITE YOUR TELEPLAY

CHECK IN WITH TODD IF YOU’D LIKE

·      Share pages if you’d like for feedback

·      Receive his thoughts

·      Ask questions

WEEK SIX - THE REWRITE

THE ROUNDTABLE IN A WRITER’S ROOM

·     Thoughts on scripts

·      Compassion and kindness

·      Keep your mind open

REWRITE IDEAS

·      Is the story working?

Is the dialogue conversational?

Can it be better?

IF IT WORKS, DON’T FIX IT

WEEK SEVEN - KEEP WRITING

Submit script when you’re ready. Schedule a zoom for notes.

WEEK EIGHT - CONGRATULATIONS

·      The polish

·      Tweaking forever

·      No more

USE YOUR PEERS

·      Writer groups

·      Feedback is gold

DEVELOPING THE SERIES

·      The treatment

·      The pitch

·      Seasons 2, 3, and 4

REPRESENTATION

·      Managers vs. agents