Build-A-Writer

Classes on Sundays @ 2p PST / 5p EST
Each Class: 2 hours (w/ 10-minute break)
August Dates: Starts August 17th (8/17, 8/24, 8/31, 9/7)
September Dates: Starts September 9/21 (9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/12)

This 4-week lecture course will dive into multiple TV pilots and their scripts. Think of this as a screenwriting lecture through analyzing professional TV pilot scripts. 

Before the first class, you'll be asked to watch a pilot, which will help guide us in the first class to understanding beats and character engine. At the end of each class, you'll be assigned a pilot script to read, where you'll practice identifying the beats, engines, and elements discussed in class. Each class builds on the prior one, teaching new elements and perspectives while watching and reading professional pilots. 

Most writing courses focus on improving the script more than the writer, with less time teaching and more time discussing each student's script. This is helpful for bettering scripts, but not so much for improving as a writer. The goal of this class is to improve you as a writer: to recognize script issues faster, strengthen your writing tools, and force you to read professional scripts more (an important habit to have as a writer).

Each week covers a different stage of your development as a writer:

• Week 1: The Engine
• Week 2: A Character’s World & Conflict
• Week 3: Writing in Style
• Week 4: Different Structures

By the end of the course, you'll be able to take these tools to help you rewrite your script or have the correct structure to start a new script.

Recommended For: 

• Writers who want to improve & expand their writing toolkit/skills
• Writers who want more accountability in reading more professional scripts
• Anyone who enjoys script analysis
• Anyone who wants to improve their script coverage or notes

NOT Recommended For: 

• Writers looking for notes on their scripts
• This course will encourage writers to work on skills and tools taught in class on their current scripts. We will not be giving notes on your scripts, but you will be encouraged to speak about your experiences applying the tools to your scripts and what you've been able to identify in the process.