Workshops
Guided by an accomplished television writer (Apple TV+, Amazon, CBS, Showtime), learn and practice the dynamics of creating and pitching a TV series.
Dates:
Nov 2, 2024 - Dec 14, 2024
Levels:
Intermediate,
Advanced,
Workshop Fee: $975
Workshop Duration: 18 hours over 6 sessions (Saturdays, 10am-1pm ET (skips meeting on 11/30)
Workshop Location: Online
Class Size: 10
Note: This workshop will be held in a live, online format utilizing the Zoom platform.
Class meets on 6 Saturdays, Nov 2, 9, 16, 23 (Skips Nov 30), Dec 7 & 14 from 10am-1pm ET.
Most of the episodic series currently on television began their lives as pitches: carefully crafted presentations that communicate the show’s DNA to a potential buyer. Developing a pitch for a scripted show can be a way to discover the story you want to tell.
Led by Laura Marks, an accomplished television writer whose credits include series for Apple TV+, Amazon, CBS, Showtime and Paramount+, this six-week workshop will help you identify the essential elements of your TV show—logline, characters, world, tone, etc. We’ll explore how these drive not only a pilot script, but an entire first season and ideally, many seasons to come. Along the way, we’ll analyze examples of successful pitches and students will get a real world view of how the industry works. In the safe and supportive environment of our virtual room, we’ll discuss your projects and you will leave each session with notes that will help you in the next stage of developing your pitch.
Students should come prepared with at least one idea for a scripted TV show (any genre or format is fine, although this workshop isn’t intended for those looking to develop a multi-camera live audience sitcom.) This idea can be as minimal as a one-line concept, or as extensive as a fully realized pilot script. Weekly homework assignments will guide you through writing a pitch document that summarizes your entire vision for the show. The course concludes with opportunities to practice delivering sections of your pitch, and additional guidance for future development.
PLEASE NOTE: Students may incur modest expenses ($10-20) to stream episodes recommended by the instructor.
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Instructor: Laura Marks
Laura Marks is a New York-based writer/producer, a PEN award-winning playwright, and comic book writer. She was a Co-Executive Producer and writer on both LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (Showtime) and SERVANT (Apple TV+, for which she wrote the series finale). Other writing credits include THE GOOD FIGHT for Paramount+, THE EXPANSE for Amazon, RAY DONOVAN for Showtime, THE EXORCIST on Fox and BRAINDEAD on CBS, in addition to various original pilots and projects in development. Her play BETHANY (Lucille Lortel nomination for Best Play) starred America Ferrera in its off-Broadway run. BETHANY and her other published play, MINE, have garnered acclaim from critics and been produced across the US and overseas. Her graphic novel, DAPHNE BYRNE (with art by Kelley Jones), was published by DC Comics under Joe Hill’s horror imprint, Hill House Comics. She’s a graduate of Juilliard’s playwriting program, an alumna of New Dramatists and the Public Theater’s Emerging Writers Group, and a native of Kentucky.