Class

8-Week: Write Your First Television Pilot

Have you ever sat streaming one of your fav shows and gotten the itch to try TV writing yourself? This class is for you! Designed for all levels of writers, including those new to screenwriting as well as experienced writers who want to try their hand at a new medium. We'll delve into what makes some of today's most popular shows addictive, how to create a "story engine" that will serve your series for seasons to come, and how to craft a television pilot that best represents who YOU are as a writer.

Class time will be divided between lecture/discussion, in-class writing exercises, and workshop, with the goal of leaving class with at least 25 pages of your first pilot and a sense of how to pitch it. While the focus of this class is writing a strong pilot, we will discuss the current state of the industry. Class readings will be real-world pilot scripts ranging from Breaking Bad to Reservation Dogs, with room for students to delve into specific genres of interest. Must have access to a free or paid screenwriting software, many available online.

All Classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Time.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.