WORKSHOP: DEVELOPING A DRAMA SERIES FOR TELEVISION

Fall 2016

                                  Instructor: Alon Aranya

Thursday 12:00 – 15:00            Email: alonaranya@gmail.com

Room TBD                          Tel: (323)377-4453

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course will outline the fundamental components of developing a drama series for TV while working with students on their drama series projects. The course will outline the structure of the current TV marketplace around the world and in Israel. The main goal of the class is for each student to complete a bible / overview of his or her proposed drama series project. As we work on developing student projects, we will practice pitching, giving script notes and learning to asses what makes an idea or premise TV series and not a film.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

You are required to come into the class with two to three brief ideas for a drama TV series. Based on class discussion, students will choose one of their ideas and develop a full bible / overview presentation (15-20 pages) by the end of the course.

Since it is a workshop class, you will be presenting your work to the class for analysis and discussion throughout the semester.

GRADES

-Attendance                           25%

-Class participation                  25%

-Drama series project                 50%

WEEK 1

24/11 Thursday

-LECTURE: Introduction to class/review syllabus / starting    your     story:  Formulating ideas for TV vs. Film. Ideas vs execution. Introduction to TV bibles / overviews

     -DISCUSSION: students’ story ideas

     -ASSIGNMENT: revise story ideas. Read

WEEK 2

1/12 Thursday

-LECTURE: Character vs. plot, The story purpose of the protagonist.

     -DISCUSSION: students’ story ideas       

-ASSIGNMENT: enhance story ideas and describe the world it’s      set in / write the first page of your bible

WEEK 3

8/12  Thursday

     -LECTURE: From idea to story

     -DISCUSSION: three story ideas

-ASSIGNMENT: write the first page of the bible

WEEK 3

15/12  Thursday

     -LECTURE:  The world of a TV series

     -DISCUSSION: First page of the bible

-ASSIGNMENT: revise first page. Write about the world of the show.

WEEK 4

22/12 Thursday

     -LECTURE: structure of a pilot story

     -DISSCUSSION:  world of the show

-Assignment: revise world and story of the show. Begin  writing pilot story.

WEEK 6

29/12 Thursday

    -LECTURE: Characters, dialogue, action and conflict

    -DISCUSSION: Pilot story    

    -ASSIGNMENT: Continue to write pilot story.

WEEK 7

5/1/12 Thursday

   -LECTURE: Season one story and beyond

   -DISCUSSION:  pilot story

   -ASSIGNMENT: start writing season one story

WEEK 8

12/1 Thursday

     -LECTURE: The Global scripted Television industry

     -DISCUSSION: Season one story

     -ASSIGNMENT: continue working on your series bible

WEEK 9 – end of semester

19/1

     -Meetings: Development meetings with each student to enhance his or her project.

     -ASSIGNMENT: Continue working on series bibles and submit by February 2, 2017.