TV Writing: From Outline to First Draft of Your Pilot

Self-paced course

You’ve got a great idea for a TV series and you have fleshed out an outline for your pilot. Now, it’s time to start writing that script that grabs your reader’s attention - whether it’s an agent, an executive, or a showrunner.

In this course you will move from outline to completing a draft of your original pilot (under 60 pages).

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.

What you bring to the course:

a completed beat sheet, outline or draft of your original pilot.

We recommend that you complete Sundance Collab’s TV Writing: Core Elements prior to taking this course.

What you’ll get from the course:

A review of the foundations of serialized and episodic storytelling, including different structures and A/B/C storylines.
How to sharpen your main and secondary characters.
How to set up character conflicts that will keep your viewers watching.
How to effectively use dialogue to bring your characters to life and move the plot forward.
How to manage your pace and story engine for your pilot.
How to rewrite, re-break, and adjust your script.
An approach to season vs. series arcs
Preparing for the pitch
Understanding Pitch Decks, Look Books and Sizzle Reels

This course will:

provide tools and techniques to apply to your project.
use short video lectures and assignments to guide you as you transform your outline into a fleshed-out pilot.
connect you with a Sundance Advisor in group office hours where you can ask questions about core concepts.
connect you with other creators via a discussion board.
provide written feedback from a Sundance Advisor at three points during the course.

This course will include six optional group office hours led by a Sundance Advisor who is an experienced TV writer. During the first and last office hours, the advisor will answer questions related to course content and give you an opportunity to connect with your peers. Four additional sessions will guide you through the experience of building an episode for an existing show you are studying in the course, much as you would do in a professional writers’ room. You may attend these sessions live online or choose to watch the recordings, though to maximize your experience, it is recommended to attend the live sessions.

By the end of the course, you will have a draft of your original pilot and will have had the opportunity to pitch ideas and learn the structure of an existing television show.

You will submit your work to a Sundance Advisor for written feedback at three points throughout the 10-week course. For an additional fee, you may elect to meet with your advisor for a 60-minute one-on-one session during the course term.

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 registration form and follow the instructions on the left side to fill out a scholarship application.

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.