Writing for Film/TV

Learn to create stories for television, film, and stage. Weekly writing assignments and in-class exercises will help generate material and establish a regular writing schedule.

$365/$335 early registration each term, 7 weeks, 3.5 hours

Prerequisites: Open to all students unless otherwise noted. These courses may be taken in any order.

Writing for Late Night TV TBA
This workshop is not offered every term. If you would like to be informed when it becomes available, please click here.

Late Night TV and Talk Shows - This class will teach you how to write comedy for television talk shows. Write desk bits, monologues, & a variety of segments for shows like Conan, Letterman, Kimmel and many more. Create original scripts to strengthen your writing samples.

Writing for Sketch TV TBA
This workshop is not offered every term. If you would like to be informed when it becomes available, please click here.

Sketch Comedy - Learn to write sketches for TV shows like Saturday Night Live. Explore satire, character based sketches, commercial parody, and more. Create scripts for viral videos to promote your writing samples online.

Sitcom Spec Writing Level 1 TBA

From Idea to Script: The Sitcom Spec - In this class students will complete a rough draft of a spec script while learning the essentials of comedic storytelling including: what makes a good spec script, sitcom story structure format, how to match the voice and tone of the show they have decided to spec, how to give and take notes, and what agents, executives and showrunners look for in a good spec.

Sitcom Spec Writing Level 2 TERM 4 2013

From Rough Draft to Professional-Level Spec - Students who already have a rough first draft of a spec script will work to bring their script up to a professional level final draft by: receiving notes on their rough draft, rewriting, honing in on character voices and show tone, and punching up jokes all while using the classroom as a simulated writers room. The level culminates in a table read of each spec at the Second City Hollywood that students can invite friends, family, and industry to attend. 

Prerequisites: Level 2 acceptance is through application only and is script dependent (first rough draft of a spec must be completed to apply).

Developing Your Pilot for TV TBA
This workshop is not offered every term. If you would like to be informed when it becomes available, please click here.

Television Pilots - Discover the fundamentals of creating a pilot pitch for television. Understand what the market is looking for how to pitch and present your idea, and make them laugh in the room. You will pitch your idea in class as if in a network meeting, be given punch up, and help to make it even better. You will complete this course with an original pilot pitch packet--from log lines to character breakdowns to future episodes.

Completing and Presenting Your Pilot TBA
This workshop is not offered every term. If you would like to be informed when it becomes available, please click here.

This 14-week class will build on the 7-week "Developing Your Pilot for TV" class by teaching students about story structure, dialogue, how to create a beat sheet, outlining, script formatting, and much more. Students will leave this class with a completed pilot and a timeslot on the Second City Hollywood stage where they can invite friends, family and industry to watch a staged reading of their new, original pilot.

Prerequisites: Developing Your Pilot for TV

Constructing Your Comedic Screenplay TBA
This workshop is not offered every term. If you would like to be informed when it becomes available, please click here.

Comedic Screenplays - Understand the keys to making your screenplay sell-able in Hollywood. This class will help you create your own story outline, character breakdowns, and treatment. You will leave with a head start and scheduled plan to finish your original comedic screenplay.

Completing Your Screenplay TBA
This workshop is not offered every term. If you would like to be informed when it becomes available, please click here.

So you're solid on the idea for your screenplay. You know the characters, the situation, the acts, and maybe even the end. You even have a step outline. Now you actually have to write it! Completing Your Screenplay is for students who have already taken Screenplay or for those who already have a step outline. Writers will bring in pages from their screenplay each week and get detailed feedback in a workshop environment. Exercises will deepen existing work and help writers develop the comedy and narrative arc. At the end of the course, you will have your first draft in hand.

Prerequisites: Developing Your Screenplay

Sketch Writing for the Stage 1 TBA

Sketch Writing for the Stage 2 TERM 4 2013

Comedy Writing Basics - brainstorming ideas, creating environment, writing dialogue, and working with story.