Master Classes are in-depth, interactive learning experiences focused on craft and career building and led by renowned industry experts. Topics include fiction and documentary filmmaking, TV writing and production, and navigating and succeeding in the entertainment industry.
Do you have an idea for a TV series - or even have a killer pilot episode written - but you’re wondering how to develop the rest of the season? Does the process of “breaking story” in the Writers’ Room seem like a mystery? In our live, interactive three-hour Master Class, seasoned showrunner Dara Resnik (Home Before Dark, Daredevil, Jane The Virgin) will provide you with tools to apply to your work and walk you through the process of breaking story, mapping out character and story arcs, crafting a scene and more - using the series Stranger Things as an example. This Master Class will benefit both TV and feature film writers.
It is recommended that you view the first season of Stranger Things in advance of the session.
Topics covered include:
- An overview of episodic storytelling
- The structure of an episode vs. a season of television
- Breaking story in a writers’ room
- Using a season grid
- An approach to outlining
- How to craft a scene
0:00 - Introduction
4:35 - Dara introduces the master class on story
9:14 - Stranger Things season 1 recap
13:22 - Breaking out Stranger Things season 1
16:03 - Using a season grid
31:26 - Building a “Blue Sky” / INPO story break for a pilot script
1:09:22 - Q&A
1:26:00 - Break
1:26:45 - Ordering the storyline beats
1:46:08 - Blending the story beats into an episode board
2:18:26 - Creating a living outline based on the story beats
2:30:50 - Q&A
2:48:35 - Closing thoughts
2:49:38 - Final announcements
Please download recommended resources here.
Please download reference documents here.
