Fall 2024 Film AF9360 section 001

Writing for the Screen

The Pilot

Call Number 14023
Day & Time
Location
W 9:30am-12:30pm
614 Martin Luther King Building
Points 0
Grading Mode Standard
Approvals Required None
Instructor Benjamin Robbins
Type WORKSHOP
Method of Instruction In-Person
Course Description

A great TV series starts with a great pilot episode. You have one chance to intrigue an audience and stand out from hundreds of other series—599 were released in 2022, and that only includes the English language releases! This course will share the building blocks needed to write the next compelling series, starting with the pilot. Not all buyers want to read a finished pilot, but as the creator, you’ll need to know your pilot inside out and become an expert in your series’ genre if you want to sell it. This course will be a combination of pilot outlining and scene writing with an exploration of character and theme. All this through the lens of the marketplace and your authentic, lived experience—the magic combination for a winning series. We will workshop your outlines and scenes in class. Any assigned readings, screenings, and exercises will be focused as much as possible on inspiring material that relates to your pilot/series idea. This course will support you if you want to write a full pilot script. However, the main objective is to finish the course having written a pilot outline and key scenes, as well as other material that's vital to a successful pilot and series such as character and season one breakdowns. You should come to the first class with at least two original logline/elevator pitches for series ideas to which you have a strong personal connection. Existing ideas that you feel would benefit from this coursework are also welcome.

 

 

Web Site Vergil
Department Film
Enrollment 12 students (12 max) as of 9:06PM Thursday, December 12, 2024
Status Full
Subject Film
Number AF9360
Section 001
Division School of the Arts
Open To Schools of the Arts
Note Research Arts
Section key 20243FILM9360R001