Web Series Essentials

There are countless commercial, artistic, and career benefits to making a web series. Web series can be a standalone success or act as a springboard to bigger projects, like it did for Broad City, Insecure, and High Maintenance. This workshop emphasizes developing a powerful concept, pilot script, and series structure — all of which are fundamental to creating a solid foundation for the rest of the process.

At this one-day workshop, you’ll first create your series bible, including: logline, main character bios, season 1 arc, and summary of the first three episodes of the season. You’ll learn how to structure your series and create an outline. Next, you’ll learn essential, in-the-trenches tips for web series production, including casting, locations, budget, scheduling, cameras, lighting, and more. We'll also touch on successfully marketing your web series, developing a full season, and adapting your series into a TV show or feature film. 

The workshop will be taught by award-winning filmmaker Timothy Michael Cooper, who wrote and directed the digital sitcom Concierge: The Series, starring Kate McKinnon. The series was nominated for the first-ever Writers Guild Award for Original Short-Form New Media.

You’ll need to come to this class prepared with between one and three series concepts, including each concept's title and a one-paragraph summary.

Space is limited to 12 workshop participants. The 10am–5pm class time includes a 1 hour lunch break.

What You Will Learn

• You’ll come away with the beginnings of your series bible, including: logline, main character bios, season 1 arc, and summary of the first three episodes of the season.
• Practice for the entire filmmaking process. Hone your skills in writing, directing, casting, lighting, sound recording, shooting, editing, and marketing.
• Create a broad outline of your pilot episode and first season.
• Gain an understanding of the web series production, marketing, and development process, with an eye toward converting your series into paid projects and/or finding representation.