You have developed all the essential elements of a strong TV comedy: a compelling premise, clearly defined characters, an engaging world, and a solid beat sheet. Yet the prospect of actually writing the pilot script feels overwhelming when facing the blank screen. This Online TV Comedy Pilot Draft Writing Workshop eliminates that paralysis by providing expert guidance through every stage of script development.
Instructor Lauren Wells (What We Do in the Shadows) will guide you through the complete drafting process, teaching you to refine your beat sheets into a detailed outline and introduce your characters with wit and personality. You will learn to craft that crucial opening scene that hooks viewers immediately and master the techniques for transforming your detailed roadmap into engaging, professional-quality dialogue and action. By the workshop's conclusion, you will have made substantial progress on your first draft and will understand the revision process for polishing your work into a compelling pilot. The process of becoming a produced television writer begins here.
Instructor Achievement and Alumni Success:
Our alumni have earned 409 staff writing positions on acclaimed television series, including Fargo, Perry Mason, American Born Chinese, The Brothers Sun, Frasier, and Dave. Additionally, our students have secured 185 prestigious fellowships and staffing program placements at major organizations, including Disney, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros., Paramount, and Disruptors.
Prerequisites:
To enroll in this workshop, you must meet one of the following requirements:
- A completed beat sheet for a half-hour comedy or dramedy developed in TV 1 or TV Comedy 1 at Writing Pad
- No one-hour comedy projects or projects that have not been vetted in a Writing Pad TV 1 class are accepted
- Professional television writers who have sold scripts or worked on produced television shows may waive this prerequisite
This course is available for "remote" learning and will be available to anyone with access to an internet device with a microphone (this includes most models of computers, tablets). Classes will take place with a "Live" instructor at the date/times listed below.
Upon registration, the instructor will send along additional information about how to log-on and participate in the class.
