The Art and Craft of Television Drama

Undergraduate

This is an advanced seminar on the craft of dramatic television writing. Each week we’ll conduct an intensive review of one or two elements of craft, using scripts from the contemporary era of prestige drama. We’ll read full and partial scripts to demonstrate the element of craft being studied, and employ weekly writing exercises (both in-class and by assignment) to hone our skills on the particular elements under consideration. Students learn how to develop character backstories, series bibles, story areas, and outlines. The final assignment for the class is the completion of a working draft of a full-length script for an original series pilot. Prerequisites: No previous study required, but ENGL 3434 (formerly ENGL 425) and at least one other intro-level creative writing course are highly recommended. Permission of instructor or an application is required for enrollment. HTBA