Television screenwriting: a taster
Course Code: HW096
Duration: 1 session
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What is the course about?
This is an introduction to writing for popular television that offers stepping stones for students to develop their own drama idea.
What will we cover?
- The structure of a television episode
- Synopsis, outlines and treatments
- The development of characters
- The plotting and planning of a storyline.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Recognise the development stages of a drama project
- Start to write a script
- Give and receive feedback with sensitivity.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This an introductory course designed for students who want to start writing TV drama, though it will help if you have had some exposure to screenwriting basics previously. An ability to write and speak fluent English is essential.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
- In class exercises
- PowerPoint presentation
- Original material handouts and samples including storylines and episode extracts
- DVD and video clips.
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.
For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Pen and paper.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
If you're a beginning writer, why not expand your focus by enrolling on Ways into screenwriting? You can also progress to our term-long Television screenwriting course.
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.
Jim Hill is a graduate of the NFTVS. He is both a freelance writer and director and has worked on such popular shows as Minder, Casualty, Lovejoy and Byker Grove. He is the co-creator of BOON and worked for Grundy Europe as a story team leader on soap opera. He is currently a tutor on the MA in Television Scriptwriting at De Montfort University Leicester and at City University.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
