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INTRODUCTION TO TELEVISION WRITING
CTWR – 321 Section 19412
Mondays: 1:00-3:50 SCA 362
Debra Epstein
Emails answered within 24 hours Monday-Friday only
SYLLABUS – Spring 2010
OVERVIEW:
There are, of course, similarities in writing for features and television. Each requires an understanding of character, a sense of plot and story structure and the skilled use of visualization to add to the emotion, tone and mood of the unfolding drama. However, while these similarities are undeniable, there are also specific and marked differences. Unlike most features, a TV series has main characters that have already been created and defined. In television, the amount of time to tell a story is absolute. There is no variance or wiggle room. Most features have a beginning, a middle and an end. Many TV series have arcing stories that can be sustained over a full season or, sometimes, for several years.
This class is designed for students who have an interest in understanding and delving into the art and craft of writing for the one-hour television drama. It will explore the reasons for the rules of TV writing and will give insight into the craft of writing previously established characters and storylines. Students will practice creating plots, dramatic tension and dialogue. Weekly exercises will increase student’s analytical abilities and creative muscles. Television is a collaborative experience and so is its writing. That, too, will be explored and examined over the semester.
PRE-REQUISITE: CTWR 412
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
Write scenes for existing TV drama series that demonstrate skill in several current genres. Understand how to create, pitch and write scenes and eventually episodic storylines for both an “A” and “B” stories and how to interconnect them structurally and thematically. Practice writing dialogue for established characters. Work on scenes with a writing partner to understand the collaborative nature of television writing. Take part in the process of a Writers’ Room, which mirrors as closely as possible what it’s like in the real world of TV drama. As a class, break a story and collaborate on the writing of a complete episode for a current drama. This will serve as the final course project.
COURSE GOALS:
- Exposure to the process of writing episodic TV drama
- Appreciation of outstanding television series writing
- How to choose a spec story from an existing series
- Study of effective scenes from excellent TV scripts and episodes
- Demonstrate understanding of scene and story structure
- Overall development of writing skills through writing scenes
GRADES:
Attendance is mandatory because of the workshop element of this class. Three absences will result in a failing grade for the semester.
10% Participation in discussion of other students’ work
30% First drafts of scenes brought to class.
30% Scene Rewrites—Optional for higher grade.
30% Contribution to final project
CLASS SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS:
Note: Scenes must be written in a scriptwriting format. There are several programs available. Assignments may be read on laptops but a hard copy must be brought in for this professor.
NOTE: NO SCENES WRITTEN IN AN UNPROFESSIONAL SCREENWRITING FORMAT WILL BE ACCEPTED. YOU MAY NOT CREATE YOUR OWN TEMPLATE OR USE AN UNESTABLISHED METHOD FOR WRITING YOUR SCENES.
YOU MUST PURCHASE OR DOWNLOAD A PROFESSIONAL TV SCREENWRITING PROGRAM.
IF you choose to write a scene from a show that is NOT distributed in class, you are responsible for finding a sample script from that show either on the web or through any other means available to you.
Week 1
Introduction to the principles of writing for an episodic TV drama series. How episodic series writing differs from other kinds of screenwriting in conception, intention, characterization and structure. Overview of the business of TV writing.
Assignment: Read the script distributed
Week 2
Screen the episode that was distributed the preceding week. Discuss the differences of what was in the script and what was ultimately on screen. Discuss the structure of a typical hour show (commercial, cable, premium) and identify different types of storylines.
Assignment: Scripts from two additional sample series will be handed out. These sample series will be the basis (until the final project) for the scenes written for this course, unless you get specific permission from me to write a different series. Read the three sample scripts and watch several episodes to understand their genres and structure. Write an original scene for one of the shows, capturing as closely as possible its voice and tone. If you have been approved to write a scene from another show, obtain sample copies of scripts from that show.
Week 3
Workshop and discuss the scenes. Discuss dramatic tension in a two to three minute scene. Discussion of beats, stalls and character moves. Review script format and basics of characterization and dialogue.
Assignment: Write a scene from the show that you feared most to write.
Week 4
Workshop and discuss scenes – how to engage and end a scene, tighten dialogue and avoid exposition. Discussion of sequence and how one scene builds and leads to another.
Assignment: Write two scenes where the first leads to the second and in that scene there is a discovery or revelation for the main character.
Week 5
Workshop and discuss scenes. Discussion of A & B storylines and why they are so common in television drama. Discuss the difference between story and plot. Discussion of arcing storylines and how they can progress over an entire season. Also, discuss the importance of strong guest characters and how they enhance the series.
Assignment: Write an A scene and a B scene. At least one of these scenes should have a strong guest character that you create.
Week 6
Workshop and discuss scenes.Continue discussion of multiple storylines and how they accommodate an ensemble cast.
Assignment: Write three scenes for one of the series. Scenes 1 & 3 will be the A story. Scene 2 will be the B story.
Week 7
Workshop and discuss scenes. Discuss the unique culture of a TV writing staff and the importance of a Writers Room. Class will be divided into pairs.
Assignment: Each team will pick one of the three series and will then write four scenes (two from the A story; two from the B). After each team has written his/her scenes, they will exchange them and give notes to each other so that it appears that all four scenes are seamless and were written by the same person.
Week 9
Workshop and discuss scenes. Discuss the principles of team writing and what it was like to collaborate – advantages and possible disadvantages. Discuss final class project. Class will choose a dramatic series, currently on the air that has not, as yet, been examined or discussed. This will take place in class. Once series is chosen, the following will be the assignment:
Assignment: Watch at least three episodes of the series and make notes on its characters, tone, theme, the world in which it takes place and the format. Write up two concepts to discuss for a possible episode, along with ideas for possible A, B and C storylines.
Week 10
Choose a showrunner (s) and create a Writers Room. Using a whiteboard and note cards discuss and develop concept that will be the episode that the class will write. Choose an A, B and C storyline.
Assignment: Make notes on the concept so that at the next class, we can begin to outline the episode, breaking it down into scenes and acts.
Week 11
Outline Acts One and Two on the whiteboard.
Assignment: Make notes on the first two acts and be prepared to make suggestions on Acts Three and Four the following week.
Week 12
Outline Acts Three and Four on the whiteboard.
Assignment: Assign acts and scenes to writers so that the first two acts can be read the following class.
Week 13
Read and workshop Acts One and Two. Discuss the scenes in terms of clarity and progression of story. Look for inconsistencies and repetition of information. Do the voices of the main characters ring true?
Assignment: Revise Acts One and Two
Week 14
Read and workshop Acts Three and Four. Continue to discuss the principles applied to writing an episode and making it appear that it has one vision and point of view even though multiple writers have had a hand in the creation.
Assignment: Revise scenes in all four acts and have them done in time to send to the showrunner(s) so that a final polish can be completed and a full script printed out.
Week 15
Hand out final completed draft of episode and do a table read of the entire script. Review concepts covered over the course of the semester. Final questions and closing remarks.
SYLLABUS NOTE:
Due to holidays and class pacing, assignments and course content may vary from the written syllabus. However, students are responsible for completion of ALL assignments and every topic regarding scene writing will be covered within our meeting times over the course of the semester.
SUGGESTED TEXT:
WRITING THE TV DRAMA SERIES – SECOND EDITION
By Pamela Douglas
Although we will not be following the text week by week, this is a great book to have in your library and will further elaborate on the ideas we discuss in class.
Remember, you MUST purchase a professional screenwriting program to submit your scenes in class. I recommend FINAL DRAFT. Student discounts are available on the web.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure this letter is delivered to me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 am -5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The telephone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.
STATEMENT OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. SCAMPUS, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A: Students will be referred to the Office Of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The review process can be found at: