WRITING FOR TELEVISION
BDCST 360
WRITING FOR TELEVISION
Instructor: Dr. Richard F. Taflinger
Office: Murrow 241 BC
Phone: 335‑1530
Hours: MF 12 - 1, T Th
1:00 ‑ 2:00; OBA
email: taflinge@wsu.edu (office);
richt@turbonet.com (home)
Web Page: http://www.wsu.edu/~taflinge/index.html
OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE:
WRITING FOR TELEVISION is not merely a course in how to write scripts,
although that will be a major part.
Any writing requires creativity (writing without creativity is merely
words in a row), but creativity without structure, direction and purpose is
self‑indulgent, confusing and, let's face it, boring. The objective of this course is to
foster the critical analysis knowledge and skills, as well as the practical
writing skills, necessary to achieve that structure, direction and purpose,
using a hands‑on, do‑it‑and‑critique‑it approach.
Among the areas that we'll examine and discuss are
plotting, characterization, dramatic structure, script and line analysis, and
dramatic and comedic styles and approaches. The styles of writing we'll examine
and write include comedy, drama, and serial drama. To accomplish these goals we'll look at
theories, then write, read and critique our own scripts, applying those
theories. Assignments will include
writing and critiquing 4-page, 6-page, and 10-page scripts (all of them
complete stories), and a final full‑length (24 minute) original TV show
(either dramatic or comedic), the pilot for your TV series.
ASSIGNMENTS
1) Watch an episode of a show. Stop after each act. Describe in one sentence the narrative
arc of each act. Also describe, in
a line or two, what happens in the final scene of each act.
2) Pick a show, identify its franchise, and write
four sample story lines for that show in a paragraph or less each.
3) Write a four page script that tells a complete
story (exposition, problem, crises and complications, climax). The purpose of the script is to
introduce the characters to your audience and have your main character solve
the problem.
4) Write a six page script that tells a complete
story. Have a major twist occur
halfway through.
5) Practice telling friends about the movie you saw
last weekend or the show you watched last night. Pay attention to their reaction. How long did they stay interested? When did they get bored? At what point do they either fall asleep
or run screaming out of the room?
By doing this, you can hone the way you tell the story. Keep asking yourself how you can make
your story more interesting. Are
there details you should leave out?
Plot points that don=t matter?
How about the way you tell the story? Are you talking to
quickly? Too
slowly? Are you energetic,
or low key? Which approach works
best for you? Now try pitching
those four story lines from assignment 2.
6) Write a 10-page script that tells a complete
story.
7) Tape an episode of your favorite show. Now break it down into beats, scene by
scene, act by act. You have now
created a beat sheet.
8) Your final will be the pilot of your own
half-hour TV series. These are the
steps you=ll need to follow:
A) The pitch: Create the leave-behind
for your show and turn it in on the due date. You will then come see me and pitch your
series and episode to me.
B) The beat sheet: write the beat
sheet for your show based on our discussion of your pitch and turn it in on the
due date. You will then come see me
and discuss your story, and how you will turn it into a script.
C) The first draft: write the first
draft of your script and turn it in on the due date. We will meet for notes.
D) Rewrite: rewrite your first draft
on the basis of our discussion, turn it in on the last
day of class, and you=re done!
NOTE: ALL SCRIPT ASSIGNMENTS WILL HAVE TWO
COMPONENTS: A HARD COPY TYPED IN PROPER FORMAT, ACCOMPANIED BY THE SCRIPT FILE,
IN FINAL DRAFT, ON A FLOPPY,
WEEK 1
Introduction. Final Draft. Script Format.
WEEK 2
Dramatic Structure - action.
WEEK 3
Dramatic Structure - action;
beats. Characters. Assignment 1: 4 page
script (due Thursday of week 4).
WEEK 4
Characters. Dialogue. 4-page script due Thursday).
WEEK 5
Critique of 4-page script. Creation and Tricks of the Trade - card system. Assignment 2: 6 page script (due Thursday of week 6).
WEEK 6
Thought/Music/Spectacle. The Franchise. 6-page script due Thursday. Assignment: 10-page script (due
Tuesday of Week 8); pitch. Begin
preparing the pitch for the final project (due Thursday of Week 8).
WEEK 7
Critique 6-page script. The pitch and doing the Final. Assignment: begin writing final projects, to be
worked on and discussed during weeks 9 ‑15. Individual pitch
conferences beginning Monday of Week 9.
WEEK 8
Doing comedy. The business of being a TV writer. 10-page script and pitch due Thursday. Schedule pitch appointments for following
week.
WEEK 9
Critique of 10-page script. Pitch
appointments (Mon - Wed).
WEEKS 10 - 15
Working on the Final. Write
leave behind and drafts, and make appointments for conferences, according to
the following schedule: Leave
behind due Monday, March 21; appointments March 28 – 30. First draft of script
due April 10; appointments April 18 – 20.
Final
Script due no later than 2:00 pm Friday April 29.
This page was created by Richard F. Taflinger. Thus, all errors, bad links, and even worse style are entirely his fault.
Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2011
Richard F. Taflinger.
This and all other pages created by and containing the original work of Richard
F. Taflinger are copyrighted, and are thus subject to fair use policies, and
may not be copied, in whole or in part, without express written permission of
the author richt@turbonet.com.
Disclaimers
The information provided on this and other pages by
me, Richard F. Taflinger (richt@turbonet.com),
is under my own personal responsibility and not that of
In addition,
I, Richard F. Taflinger, accept no responsibility for WSU or ERMSC material or
policies. Statements issued on behalf of