TV Writing Workshop: The 1-Hour Pilot

This 4-day, two weekend workshop will focus on the core elements of writing an original 1-hour dramatic series pilot script—from premise to outline to completed teleplay.

This workshop might be for you if you:

• Are a writer who has written in other formats and want to learn the fundamentals of creating a one hour series.
• Have taken the TV Writing Workshop: The 1-Hour Spec Script at ESPA.
• Want to write an original 1-hour drama pilot script.
• Are ready to be challenged in a classroom environment that will be conducted like a professional TV series writing room.
• Are a new or returning Primary Stages ESPA writer.

In this workshop you will:

• Learn how to analyze elements of an original television series, including character resumes, storylines, escalating conflicts, stakes, act breaks, and series Bible, which you will then apply to your own original series idea.
• Learn the craft of writing to those goals and outcomes.
• Pitch A and B storylines that are unique to your original series idea, which will be refined into a pilot outline.
• Receive feedback and response to your work from the group and the instructor.

By the end of this workshop you will:

• Understand the craft of escalating stakes, intruding conflict into scenes, building tension, earned behaviors, planting seeds, payoffs and how to create a series template for other episodes to follow.
• Understand how to create story engines for future storylines.
• Be able to give and receive useful feedback to other students’ work.
• Have the tools to write your pilot outline into a fully realized teleplay.
• Have the tools to write a series Bible.

Prior to this class you will:

• Think about your original series idea, characters, and world of your series, and ideas for possible A and B pilot stories.
• Watch as many episodes of similar genre series as possible—at least one whole season and ideally every season produced.
• All students will arrive with an idea for an original series, with at least two stories featuring the star of their series and one for a member of the core cast. Keep it brief and to the point.

Prerequisite: TV Writing Workshop: The 1-Hour Spec Script or permission from the instructor.