This third course on scriptwriting guides students through the entire process of writing a television script. It offers methods for planning your script, as well as writing it. 

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The lectures combine theory and practice. Prior to the start of the course, students who want to enroll in this course are advised to submit with their registration a synopsis (an one-page outline or summary) of an idea they want to work on during the course that they would like to develop into a script.

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During the course, we will take a structured approach to developing your script. Students are required to write at home and share their writing with other students during the course in order to gather valuable feedback on their work and to make progress on their script writing. 

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The course is based on an extensive bibliography and offers free detailed notes. Each lesson lasts 3 hours and takes place every 2 weeks. The first part of each lesson offers a presentation of relevant theory and the remainder of the lesson requires students to share their writing with others and give feedback to each other. Exercises are periodically conducted in class with writing prompts. 

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Students who have already taken the 1st or 2nd course are encouraged to enroll. Those who have not attended Course 1 or 2 can register if they wish to attend without writing a script. Prior knowledge of basic scripting principles is desirable.

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To get a sample of the courses, click here for the FREE SCREENWRITING GUIDE where you will find the syllabus for the second lesson of the 1st course that focuses on script format.

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The seminar is not addressed to the general public. You can still attend, however, if you are only interested to learn the theory. Requirements: personal computer, internet connection & free open source software Open Office text editor. 

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To secure a place, registration is required with a 20€ deposit which will be deducted from the total tuition fee. The course will take place once the required number of students has been reached. 

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​For registration and other information contact 9 am - 5 pm daily at:
693 6463 673

email: mathimata.senariou@gmail.com

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For individual lessons go here.

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Schedule - 3rd Course

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       Lesson 1.

       KEYS TO TV WRITING

• TV Writing vs. Screenwriting

• Budgets, AND Locations

• LOCATIONS & SCENES: Location Considerations, TV Scenes Diagnosed

• TV Plots & Film Plots

• TV Acts & Film Acts

• Essential Principles

• Audience: The status of the observer

• Conflict: Violence and sex

• Credibility: What is real and what is ... reel

   

  Lesson 2.

  EXAMINING EXISTING SHOWS AND PILOTS

• Existing TV Shows.

• Spec Pilots example. The cases of Mad Men, and Succession

• Tale Assembly

• Beginnings: Tone, introducing the protagonist, Time Lock

• Exposition: Middles, Wrinkles and Reversals, Predictability, Coincidence, The Big Gloom

• Endings: Ambiguity, Positive and Negative space, Gravity, Cause and Effect, Choices-Subtle and Unsubtle

• Theme: The So-what test

   

  Lesson 3.

  PLOT

• Old is New Again

• Only Edge Matters

• Episode Plots

• One Location Pilot

• Sitcom & Comedy. The case of The wonderful Mrs Maisel

   

  Lesson 4.

  CHARACTERS

• Hero Sells the Premise

• Hero’s Arc in TV

• Series Season and Arc

• Antagonist(s) in TV

• Supporting & Recurring Characters

   

  Lesson 5.

  DIALOGUE

• Talking Heads Medium

• TV Dialogue Subtext

• Dialogue for Dummies

• Dialogue & Visuals Matter

• Case study: Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul

   

  Lesson 6.

  HANDLING EPISODES

• Premise Premiere

• Research Factor

• Teaser

• Cliff hangers

• Act I – Go Beyond Setup

• Act II – Critical Spin Point

• Act III, IV, and V

• Epilogue

• Maintain the Through-Line

• Plot Irony

• Season Finale

   

  Lesson 7.

  BIBLE, SUMMARY & PITCH

• Write the Bible

• Write the Summary

• Write the Pitch

• The writing habit: How to avoid and tackle writer's block

• Ideas - working methods

• Writing Venue

• Outline vs Treatment

• Scene cards and rewriting

• Experimentation

• Choose the word processing method that works for you

   

  Lesson 8.

  ALTERNATIVE MARKETS and FORMATS

• Holiday TV Movie, movie-of-the-week

• Ghostwriting

• Limited Series

• Format Basics: 

• One-Hour Episodic

• 30-Minute Episode

• MOW

• Limited Series

• Sitcoms & Comedies

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​      Lesson 9.

       MARKET THE PILOT

• Pilot Checklist

• TV Bible Checklist

• Pilot Season Secrets

• How to Create a Trailer

• Submission Guidelines

   

  Lesson 10.

  CASE STUDIES

• Manifest Pilot Study

• Towards an Inclusive and Intersectional Practice of Screenwriting

• From Killing Eve to an Eve Who Kills

• Queer and Trans World-building in Sense8

• The Generative Power of Paradigm Destruction in I May Destroy You