Inside the TV Writers Room
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About this Weekend Intensive
Have you ever wondered what happens in the elusive TV writers room? How and when do you pitch ideas? Who runs the board? When does one go to script? How are notes handled?
In this online weekend intensive, writer/producer Luisa Leschin (Mr. Iglesias, Gentefied, From Dusk Till Dawn, Just Add Magic, George Lopez) will walk you through who does what in a writers room, finding and owning your role in the room, and navigating the imposter syndrome that sometimes comes with being staffed. Luisa will explain the importance of being a great collaborator in the room and making yourself an expert at something and will give you tips for pitching ideas that land.
Over the course of the weekend, you will apply what you have learned by participating in small simulated writers rooms with your peers during which you will break a new episode of an existing show. Led with the support of additional Sundance Collab Advisors, you will be tasked with developing an episode worthy of being greenlit.
Whether you’re a writer trying to break into TV or you are looking for insight into how American writers rooms function, this course offers insider information and hands-on activities that will help you gain a real understanding of how this creative business works.
PLEASE NOTE: You will need to be familiar with the shows Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Curb Your Enthusiasm. You should watch Season One (eight episodes) of Mr. and Mrs. Smith and at least three episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm to familiarize yourself with both formats.
What you bring to the course:
- An interest in working in episodic storytelling
- An understanding of television writing structure
- A willingness to pitch ideas and work in a group
- A draft of a complete TV pilot (half-hour or one-hour)
What you’ll get from the course:
- An understanding of the rules and dynamics of the writers room
- Interactive group exercises to improve your ability to pitch and come up with ideas on the fly
- Tools for generating ideas and solutions to problems
- Tips for reading the room and giving notes
This course will:
- help you develop your emotional intelligence as a writer
- allow you to collaborate creatively with your peers
- provide tools and techniques that apply to any television project
- connect you with other creators via a discussion board where you can discuss core concepts and share your work
Intensive Schedule
Friday, June 21:
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT
Saturday, June 22:
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT
Sunday, June 23:
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT
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.
Weekend IntensiveScholarships
Sundance Collab offers a limited number of full and partial need-based scholarships for individuals who need assistance.
Please note that due to limited scholarship funds available, we prioritize one course scholarship per participant in a 12-month period.
Outline
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT
- Welcome & introductions
- Weekend overview
- Breakout networking sessions
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT
- Session #1
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. PT
- Break
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT
- Session #2
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT
- Session #3
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. PT
- Break
1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. PT
- Session #4
3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT
- Final remarks
- 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.
We may offer the option of either a two or three-part payment plan for Intensives. If offered, the first payment will be due at the time of registration and the last payment will be due before the halfway point of the Intensive. Due to the length of Intensives, a payment plan option may not be available closer to the registration deadline. For specific payment plan dates, please reach out to our team at: collab_courses@sundance.org.
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 sessions scheduled.
Want to be notified when new dates open for this course?