Directing Television Intensive
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About this Weekend Intensive
Sundance Collab offers a robust collection of online courses in the Sundance spirit of amplifying your independent voice as a storyteller. Join our global community to hone your craft, network with other creators, and develop career strategies to help you navigate the film and television industry.
Television has been growing rapidly as an area of creative expression and employment for directors. Join accomplished director Dan Attias, a five-time DGA Award nominee with 88 screen credits including THE WIRE and THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, as he leads Sundance Collab’s first live, online weekend intensive. Over the course of three days, gain expertise on the world of directing television and how to bring your own unique voice to the job.
You will learn the role of the television director, how to work with a showrunner and a producing director, and how to navigate the politics of showing up on an existing set. As a class, you will analyze television scenes across genres and styles to learn how to create the world of your story, how to use the camera to tell your story and how to get the performances you need. In-class interactive exercises will put you into the mindset of the television director and will allow you to share and connect with other directors in the intensive. There will be time for Q&A and to network with other directors in the course.
This intensive is ideal for:
- directors interested in episodic directing who want to dive deep into the creative and professional landscape of the work with the guidance of an experienced director.
Enrollment is up to 50 participants.
This Intensive is not eligible for any Course Pass discounts.
Sundance Collab provides accommodations and support services to participants with disabilities. Accommodations and services are designed to meet the needs of each participant. Please email us at accessibility@sundance.org to arrange for services.
Scholarships
Sundance Collab offers a limited number of full and partial need-based scholarships for individuals who need assistance.
Due to limited scholarship funds available, we prioritize one course scholarship per participant in a 12-month period. Scholarship applications are available up to one week before the registration deadline and do not stack with discounts or promotions, including early registration.
Outline
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (PT):
- Opening remarks
- Introductions
- Break-out networking sessions
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PT):
- The role of the director in series television production
- How a director works with a showrunner
- How to connect to the story you are telling
- Finding answers from within and deeper layers of the story
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. (PT):
- Break (optional social hour for Directors)
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PT):
- Context: creating the world of your story
- Using the camera to tell your story
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PT):
- Making a scene makeable with time and budget constraints
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PT):
- Breaking down a script
- In-class exercise
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. (PT):
- Break (optional social hour for Directors)
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (PT):
- Working with actors in television
- Getting the performance you need
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PT):
- Closing Circle
FAQ
In Sundance Collab’s Intensives, participants attend live, virtual class sessions in a condensed time period. These sessions are led by an instructor and supported by the Sundance Collab courses team.
All members of the Sundance Collab community are welcome to register for Sundance Collab Intensives. Some Intensives require an application. Please review the description and any eligibility requirements to ensure the Intensive is a good fit. If you have any questions, please email collab_courses@sundance.org.
For application-based Intensives, note that space is limited. Applications are considered as they are received and applicants are accepted on a rolling basis until the Intensive is full or the deadline has passed, whichever comes first. If the application window is open, you will see an “Apply” button on the course page.
We send our application acceptance notifications on a rolling basis, starting after the application deadline. You will be notified of your acceptance status no later than three days before the first session. At any point, you can check the status of a course that you have applied to by logging into Sundance Collab and visiting the course page. You’ll see a purple bar there indicating your status.
When reviewing applications for an Intensive, the Sundance Collab team evaluates the needs and expectations of each applicant. We are also looking to convene a diverse group of participants who will work well together and support each other throughout the Intensive. Finally, we will confirm that the applicant can meet the time commitment necessary and has a strong interest and readiness to complete the Intensive and meaningfully contribute to the group process.
We do not offer any combined applications or discounts for Sundance Collab Intensives.
We often offer a limited number of need-based, full or partial scholarships. Check the course description to see if that course currently has scholarships available. Scholarships are prioritized for one per person per year (from the date of issue). Scholarship applications are available up to one week before the registration deadline. To apply for a scholarship, complete the registration form by clicking the REGISTER button and selecting the option to apply for a scholarship, if available.
Applicants will be notified about their scholarship decision prior to the first day of the course. Due to the volume of applicants, we are not always able to provide a scholarship, but we may still offer a spot in the course. In this case, depending on the course, payment plans may be available and can be selected at checkout.
No, because of the length of the course, we do not offer payment plans for Intensives. However, we do offer a limited number of need-based scholarships which can be applied for within the course registration process.
Yes, you are welcome to take a live, online Intensive even if you can’t make the live sessions. Recordings of each session are available online within two business days.
All sessions are recorded and usually made available within two business days. The videos will also contain the chat and transcript from the session, viewable in the video playbar.
Participants will have access to the recordings for one year following the last session.
All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion. The certificate will include the name associated with your Sundance Collab account.
You can join a course via a computer or mobile device. All of our Intensives are conducted via Zoom.
Download and set up the Zoom software and make sure you have the latest update. Here are some great resources from Zoom’s Knowledge Base to take a deeper dive into using Zoom:
- Watch Zoom's Video Tutorials or review training materials on the Getting Started page.
- Join a Live Training from Zoom.
If you have any further questions, please email collab_courses@sundance.org.
Sundance Collab provides accommodations and support services to participants with disabilities. Please contact us at (435) 776-7790 or email us at accessibility@sundance.org to ask any questions or to discuss your specific needs after you have been accepted into the course.
No currently scheduled sessions
Interested in hearing about the next session of this course?
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