Atlanta Film Festival 365

Writing the One-hour Television Drama - The Basics

Writing the One-hour Television Drama - The Basics
Instructor: Kevin Collins

6 Sessions
Tuesdays, February 23 - March 30

7:00-10:00pm

Price: $195 General, $175 ATL365 Members (Member Number Required)

Limit 15 Students

To break into television, a writer needs a great spec script or the next hot pilot.  Either way, television’s hour-long five-act structure should be understood. This course will guide students through the process of developing a beat sheet and will then focus on the steps needed to finish a rough draft.  Writers’ room brainstorming sessions will be conducted and scenes from produced shows will be screened and dissected in order to illustrate what works or doesn’t work on the small screen. Students should come prepared with ideas. 

Location: Atlanta Film Festival 365 535 Means St. Atlanta, GA, 30318

Registration Links:

General Registration - $195

ATL365 Member Registration - $175


Syllabus

WEEK 1:

Student introductions will include each participant's screenwriting background. Have they written anything before and in what genre? Kevin will then give a brief talk about format and structure, explaining the basics of a screenplay’s 3-act structure and how TV uses 5-6 acts because of commercial breaks.
 
Opening teasers will also be covered and screenings of good and bad examples will be viewed. There will be a mini-brainstorming session at the end of class for students who haven't yet created a story idea. Students' first home assignment will be to work on a beat sheet.

WEEK 2:

Students will hand in their beat sheets. A discussion will follow regarding any problems incurred. Kevin will give a brief talk about Act 1 and what it is meant to accomplish (raising the tension created in the teaser). Students' home assignment will be to finalize their beat sheets and write teasers.

WEEK 3:

Students will hand in completed beat sheets and teasers. There will be a discussion on Act 2 and what it is meant to accomplish (the original story problem is now worse than any of the characters imagined). Students' home assignment will be to write Act 1.

WEEK 4:

Students will hand in Act 1. Class will discuss any necessary fixes for their teasers followed by a discussion on Act 3 and what it is meant to accomplish (a resolution to the original story problem must be devised by the characters). Students' home assignment will be to write Act 2.

WEEK 5:

Students will hand in Act 2. Class will discuss any problems or issues with Act 1. There will be a discussion on Act 4 and what it is meant to accomplish (the resolution devised in Act 3 is put to the test and the characters either succeed or fail). Students' home assignment will be to write Act 3.

WEEK 6:

Class will end with a writers’ roundtable to discuss problems and challenges writers are having with their stories. If the writers would like, table reads of their scenes will be conducted.



 
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