Script Writing: Write a Pilot Episode for a TV or Web Series (Project-Centered Course)

Michigan State University via Coursera

Coursera based on 772 ratings

Likes

Overview

What youll achieve: In this project-centered course*, you will design a series bible and write a complete pilot episode for your own unique television or web series, be it drama or comedy or something in between. Youll learn to break down the creative process into components, and youll discover a structured process that allows you to produce a polished and pitch-ready script in just a few weeks. Completing this project will increase your confidence in your ideas and abilities, and...

Syllabus

Develop your TV series concept

In Module 1 you will: 1. create a brief outline of your pilot episode, 2. revise your outline following peer review, 3. create a bible for the series: that is, you will develop your original idea for a series into a document that defines the concept, the major characters and brief descriptions of the episodes for season one.

Write Act One of your pilot episode

In Module 2 you will complete the 1st act of your episode (or the 1st installment of your Web Series) You will: 1. create a brief outline of your pilot episode. 2. revise your episode outline following peer review, 3. create a detailed outline of your first act, 4. revise your Act One outline following peer review, 5. write your first act in screenplay format, 6. revise your Act One script after peer review.

Write Act Two

In this module you will complete the second act of your episode (or the 2nd installment of your Web Series). You will: 1. write a detailed outline of the second act, 2. revise your outline following peer review, 3. write the second act in screenplay format, 4. revise your second act following peer review.

Act Three

In module 4 you will complete the 3rd act of your episode (or the third installment of your Web Series). You will: 1. write a detailed outline of Act Three, 2. revise your outline following peer review, 3. Write Act Three in screenplay format, 4. Revise your act following peer review

Polish your script, create a Cold Open and finish the Season One Bible

In Module 5 you will 1. polish the completed script of your episode (or your three Webisodes), 2. create a Cold Open, 3. revise the Series Bible based on your finished script, 4 submit the Final Script and Series Bible for final review.