TV Writing: Core Elements

With: Angela LaManna
$375

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8 weeks
92
TV Writing: Core Elements
92
TV Writing: Core Elements

About this Self-Paced Course

Create an outline for your episodic TV pilot idea in eight weeks with an accomplished TV writer as your guide. In this introductory level self-paced course, you will take this important first step for your original pilot script and learn a set of tools to help you ask the important questions of every scene and character that will get you past "stuck" when writing future episodes.


This is a self-paced course. Self-paced courses allow you to watch pre-recorded lectures at your own pace, while working on deadlines to get individualized feedback on your work.


Along the way you will:

  • find your most effective creative writing process.
  • develop and hone your characters.
  • learn how character drives plot.
  • be able to identify three-act structure and have it be the backbone of your pilot.
  • identify A/B/C stories and break story in your own pilot.
  • create the tableau and tone for your pilot.
  • write your beat sheet.
  • develop your beat sheet into an outline.
  • understand how to receive notes and approach a rewrite.
  • identify a longer story arc for your series.

This course is ideal for:

  • television writers with an idea for a series or pilot who could use help with structure, world building, character development, and deadlines.
  • creatives new to TV writing who want structured direction for crafting their project with a flexible schedule for completing weekly lectures and exercises.

You will submit your work to a Sundance Advisor for written feedback at two points throughout the 8-week course. For an additional fee, you may elect to meet with your advisor for a 60-minute 1-on-1 session during the course term.


Do you have an idea for a feature film? Check out our course, Screenwriting: Core Elements (Self-paced).



A limited number of need-based scholarships are available and are considered on a rolling basis as they are received. Those who apply earlier will have a greater chance of getting support. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the course registration form.


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.

Self-Paced Course
Beginner to Intermediate
Self-paced course
Group office hours
Individualized feedback
1-on-1 meeting with advisor (for additional fee)
Certificate of Completion
Access to course for one year

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

Topics covered include:

  • Introduction to TV Writing: Core Elements
  • What makes a great pilot?
  • Finding your creative process


Topics covered include:

  • What is character?
  • Analysis of character: Walter White from Breaking Bad
  • The interior monologue


Topics covered include:

  • How character drives plot
  • Introduction to structure
  • Three act structure in practice


Topics covered include:

  • A/B/C stories
  • Breaking story and beat sheets


Topics covered include:

  • Establish your tone
  • Understanding tableau
  • Developing a visual system/visual grammar
  • Using voiceover


Topics covered include:

  • Writing an outline
  • Writing a good scene
  • Creating a satisfying sequence


Topics covered include:

  • Revisiting your outline with a checklist to help you rewrite


Topics covered include:

  • How to take notes
  • Writing is rewriting
  • Developing long story arcs


Team

Angela LaManna

Instructor

Angela LaManna grew up in Syracuse, New York. She was an English major at The University of Texas at Austin, where she took courses in creative writing for fiction, poetry and screenwriting.

She worked in the nonprofit sector as well as a story producer for reality TV before she landed her first television gig as the showrunner’s assistant on HANNIBAL. She sold her first script that same year to A&E. Her credits include CHANNEL ZERO, MARVEL’S THE PUNISHER, the upcoming British limited series BEHIND HER EYES for Netflix and THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR (THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE season two).

FAQ

Sundance Collab’s Self-paced courses provide flexibility to complete the work on your own time, but also within a structured timeline that helps you to advance your project. You will travel through the course with a cohort of creators like yourself, and - if applicable - are given assignments with due dates during key weeks of the course:  

  • Each week you will view pre-recorded lectures by the instructor structured around key topics.
  • Post-Video Activities after each session are designed to apply concepts to your own work, and move your project to the next stage.
  • If assigned, a course advisor will give you feedback on elements of your work.
  • You will have the opportunity to join live class exercises or group office hours, hosted by Sundance Collab Advisors, at critical points in the course to ask questions and discuss concepts.
  • In some courses, you will have the opportunity to purchase a 1-on-1 Zoom session with your assigned course advisor.

All members of the Sundance Collab community are welcome to take Sundance Collab Self-paced courses. Please review the course description to ensure the course is a good fit. If you have any questions about a course, please email collab_courses@sundance.org.


Note that each Self-paced course has a registration deadline, so please check the date and time to ensure you don’t miss the cut-off. If the registration window is open, you will see a "Register” button on the course page.

We do not allow creative partners to do our Self-paced courses as a team. However, both creators can individually register for the course.


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 above and selecting the scholarship option, 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.

Yes, we offer two or three-part payment plans for Self-paced courses, depending on the length of the course. In all cases, the first payment is due at the point of registration. The remaining payment(s) are spread out throughout the course term. For specific payment plan dates for a course, please reach out to our team at: collab_courses@sundance.org. 

In courses with live class exercises or group office hours, the 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 lecture recordings and course materials for one year following the last class session.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion. The certificate will include the name associated with your Collab account.


You can find any courses that you are enrolled in or have already completed in the profile section of your Collab account under “Courses.”


You can access the course videos via a computer or mobile device. All of our live class exercises and group office hour sessions are conducted via Zoom. 


Download and set up the Zoom software (https://zoom.us/download) 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:

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

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Payment Plans:

  • A three-part payment plan is available after you register.

  • Payments are spaced two weeks apart with the first payment due at the time of registration.

Scholarships:

  • A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.

  • Scholarship applications are available up to one week before the registration deadline and do not stack with discounts or promotions, including early registration.

  • To apply for a scholarship, complete the registration form by clicking the REGISTER button above and selecting the scholarship option, if available.