WRITING A SUCCESSFUL - Online, May 25-28, 2020 - How to Pitch and Develop Projects For Television and Online Streaming - May 2020 ...
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WRITING A SUCCESSFUL
How to Pitch and Develop
Projects For Television
and Online Streaming
An Advanced Development Workshop
Designed by Emmanuel Oberg for
Online, May 25-28, 2020
(Draft schedule: dates, content, case studies and film clips might change)
Screenplay Unlimited TV Series 2-day Workshop – Copyright Ó 2019-2020 Emmanuel Oberg – All Rights Reserved
What’s In It for You?
We are delighted to offer Irish TV and film creative professionals our
workshop Writing a Successful TV Series, delivered online over four days.
This module is an extension of our 3-day Advanced Development
Workshop, which has been delivered successfully on many occasions in
the UK as well as in Germany, Finland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Belgium,
Ireland, Norway, France, Croatia and The Czech Republic.
Based on Oberg’s innovative Story-Type Method®, this workshop explores
the crucial distinction between conventional TV Series formats and the
actual story structure lying underneath.
The aim of the workshop is to equip storytellers (writers, directors,
producers, showrunners, story editors, development execs) with a detailed
understanding of the principles at play in the development of a TV Series
for broadcast or online streaming.
The workshop puts a strong emphasis on each project reaching the widest
possible audience, both at home and abroad, without compromising the
storytellers' creative ambition.
Using clips, examples and exclusive case studies from successful TV series
such as Stranger Things, Killing Eve, Breaking Bad, Sex Education,
Occupied, Game of Thrones, Money Heist, Big Little Lies, Fleabag, Happy
Valley, Mr. Robot and many others, we’ll look at the flexible yet powerful
tools and techniques needed to master this fast-evolving medium.
Finally, we’ll explore how to create an irresistible bible, a compelling pilot,
unforgettable characters and addictive storylines that audiences around
the world will want to watch week after week once they’re hooked on the
first episode...
Important note: participants are expected to have either attended our
3-day Advanced Development Workshop (from October 2014 onwards)
or read Screenwriting Unchained (www.screenwritingunchained.com),
as this 2-day module builds on the theory introduced in the book and the
main workshop.
For more information please visit: www.screenplayunlimited.com
-2-
Screenplay Unlimited TV Series 2-day Workshop – Copyright Ó 2019-2020 Emmanuel Oberg – All Rights Reserved
Workshop Overview:
Over the first two afternoons, we’ll explore how the Story-Type Method
can be used to develop a successful TV SERIES. We’ll talk about
conventional paradigms focused on a logistical format, and then look at a
more powerful and flexible approach based on story structure. We’ll
discuss how managing information is used to generate an ideal balance
between identification, suspense and mystery, all key elements for a
successful TV Series.
The following two afternoons, we’ll go through case studies of successful
TV Series. Although most series tend to have a strong theme-led element
and to be multi-stranded in some way, we’ll see how it’s also possible to
develop TV Series that are more clearly character-led or plot-led, as well as
hybrids or exceptions.
Throughout the workshop, we’ll use many clips from produced series to
illustrate various tools and techniques.
To make the most of the course, the following series/seasons should be
watched before the workshop:
· Occupied (2015-2019): Season 1, 10x45min, available on Netflix in
most countries and Amazon.
· Sex Education (2019-): Season 1, 8x60min, available on Netflix.
· Stranger Things (2016-): Season 1, 8x60min, available on Netflix.
In addition, if you can find the time, please watch at least the first episode
of the following series:
· Fleabag (2016-2019): Season 1, 6x30min, available on Amazon
Prime and on DVD/Bluray from Amazon UK.
· Happy Valley (2014-2016): Season 1, 6x60min, available on
DVD/Bluray from Amazon UK.
· Mr. Robot (2015-2019): Season 1, 10x45min, available on Netflix.
· Killing Eve (2018-): Season 1, 8x60min, available on Amazon Prime
and on DVD/Bluray from Amazon UK.
-3-Screenplay Unlimited TV Series 2-day Workshop – Copyright Ó 2019-2020 Emmanuel Oberg – All Rights Reserved
Workshop Schedule:
Day 1 – Monday (14:00 – 18:30)
DEVELOPING A TV SERIES WITH THE STORY-TYPE METHOD®:
Introduction, Trends and TV Series Design
In this first session, we look at the way the Story-Type Method can help us
to develop a TV Series, specifically:
· Different Types of Series: Serial, procedural, limited etc.
· Superficial Series Design: It's All About a Logistical Approach.
It’s important to understand this conventional approach because it
still shapes most of the discussions around TV Series development.
· Underlying Series Design: Let's Talk About Dramatic Structure!
Especially the importance of the fractal aspect of story structure in
TV series design, and how managing information is often what makes
or breaks a series.
Group work: What’s Your Type?
Clips: Brent Forrester on Comedy Writing, Transparent (J. Soloway),
Stranger Things (The Duffer Brothers), Friends (D. Crane and M.
Kaufmann)
Day 2 – Tuesday (14:00 – 18:30)
DEVELOPING A TV SERIES WITH THE STORY-TYPE METHOD®:
In this second session, we’ll focus on project development:
· Pitching and Developing an Irresistible Bible
· Writing a Compelling Pilot / First Episode
· World Building in a Series
Clips: Brent Forrester on Comedy Writing, Transparent (J. Soloway),
Stranger Things (The Duffer Brothers), Friends (D. Crane and M.
Kaufmann), Killing Eve (P. Waller Bridge)
-4-Screenplay Unlimited TV Series 2-day Workshop – Copyright Ó 2019-2020 Emmanuel Oberg – All Rights Reserved
Day 3 (Wednesday, 14:00 - 18:30)
DEVELOPING A PLOT-LED SERIES
Most procedurals fall into this category, but many serials too. Let’s see
how we can handle the most classical story-type without being formulaic.
Case Study: To be revealed during Group Work “What’s Your Type?”
DEVELOPING A CHARACTER-LED SERIES
Although less common than plot-led and theme-led series, character-led
series are alive and well. A series based on the transformation of a main
character can be just as gripping as one based on a tense plot. Plus, the
two are not incompatible!
Case Study: To be revealed during Group Work “What’s Your Type?”
Day 4 (Thursday, 14:00 - 18:30)
DEVELOPING A THEME-LED SERIES
In this session, we’ll take an in-depth look at a theme-led (multi-stranded)
series, which tend to dominate the modern series world. Many
contemporary series are theme-led or have a strong theme-led element.
Case Study: To be revealed during Group Work “What’s Your Type?”
Group work: Getting Stranded
DEVELOPING A SERIES AS A HYBRID OR AN EXCEPTION
Some of the most successful series are hybrids or exceptions. In this
session we’ll explain how they successfully break the “rules”.
Case Studies: To be revealed during Group Work “What’s Your Type?”
Bringing It All Together (if time permits)
THE REWRITE STUFF: 12 WAYS TO A STRONGER SERIES
Conclusion
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