Script Writing: Write a Pilot Episode for a TV or Web Series (Project-Centered Course)

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Script Writing: Write a Pilot Episode for a TV or Web Series (Project-Centered Course)

Coursera (CC)
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Description

When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan

  • Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
  • Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.

About this course: What you’ll achieve: In this project-centered course*, you will design a series bible and write a complete pilot episode for your own unique television or web series, be it drama or comedy or something in between. You’ll learn to break down the creative process into components, and you’ll discover a structured process that allows you to produce a polished and pitch-ready script in just a few weeks. Completing this project will increase your confidence in your ideas and abilities, and you’ll feel prepared to pitch your first script and get started on your next. This is a course designed to tap into your creativity and is based in "Active Learning". Most of the actual l…

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When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan

  • Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
  • Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.

About this course: What you’ll achieve: In this project-centered course*, you will design a series bible and write a complete pilot episode for your own unique television or web series, be it drama or comedy or something in between. You’ll learn to break down the creative process into components, and you’ll discover a structured process that allows you to produce a polished and pitch-ready script in just a few weeks. Completing this project will increase your confidence in your ideas and abilities, and you’ll feel prepared to pitch your first script and get started on your next. This is a course designed to tap into your creativity and is based in "Active Learning". Most of the actual learning takes place within your own activities - that is, writing! You will learn by doing. "Thank you so much for your direct way of teaching this course. It was encouraging for us all to creatively flow and find our own voice in writing and developing our scripts. This aspect was very important to me." Ingrid The course curriculum is simple: you’ll write, revise your work, and share feedback with your peers. I am a proponent of Experiential Learning (active learning). My lectures are short (sometimes just two minutes long) and to the point, designed in a step-by-step process essential to your success as a script writer. I will guide you but I won’t "show" you how to write. I firmly believe that the only way to become a writer is to write, write, write. “David's lecture style for this course is inspired. The videos are succinct and engaging. When I watch the lectures I feel David’s sincere desire for me to create something truly amazing. He is teaching us how to write a script, and he is providing wisdom and tools that will help us do so in a compelling way - by writing; not by watching him talk at us.” - A R Adamson What you’ll need to get started: To begin with, any basic word processor will do. During week two, you can choose to download some free scriptwriting software such as Celtx or Trelby or you may choose to purchase Final Draft, or you can continue to use your word processor and do your own script formatting. Learner Review: "I am in love with this course. Having never written a script before, or any substantive fiction since college (15 years ago) I had a small idea in my head that has now exploded into something I really believe in. David's guidance is spot on, he's his own compelling story teller, he gives you enough, and then you have to figure it out, make it happen, WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! " *About Project-Centered Courses: This is a ‘project-centered course’, which means it is designed specifically to help you complete a personally meaningful real-world project, with your instructor and a community of learners with similar goals providing guidance and suggestions along the way. By actively applying new concepts as you learn, you’ll master the course content more efficiently; you’ll also get a head start on using the skills you gain to make positive changes in your life and career. When you complete the course, you’ll have a finished project that you’ll be proud to use and share. Time: 1-2 hours of study, 30+ hours of active project work

Created by:  Michigan State University
  • Taught by:  David Wheeler, Creative Research Faculty, The Hub for Innovation

    Media and Information
Commitment 1-2 hours of study, 30+ hours of project work Language English, Subtitles: Arabic How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.3 stars Average User Rating 4.3See what learners said 课程作业

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Michigan State University Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 150 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Develop your TV series concept



In Module 1 you will: 1. create a brief outline of your pilot episode, 2. revise your outline following peer review, 3. create a bible for the series: that is, you will develop your original idea for a series into a document that defines the concept, the major characters and brief descriptions of the episodes for season one.


4 videos expand


  1. Video: Why reading books on scriptwriting will not help you
  2. Video: Creating an idea for your Series
  3. Video: Define your characters
  4. 同学互评: Create a Logline
  5. Video: The story arc a full season

Graded: Submit your series concept and review the concepts of your peers
Graded: Post your Season One mini bible and review the bibles of your peers.

WEEK 2


Write Act One of your pilot episode



In Module 2 you will complete the 1st act of your episode (or the 1st installment of your Web Series) You will: 1. create a brief outline of your pilot episode. 2. revise your episode outline following peer review, 3. create a detailed outline of your first act, 4. revise your Act One outline following peer review, 5. write your first act in screenplay format, 6. revise your Act One script after peer review.


7 videos expand


  1. Video: Why watching shows and reading scripts will not help you
  2. Video: Your episode - the Pilot!
  3. Video: The Three act half-hour TV episode
  4. Video: Story Structure
  5. Video: Scene Structure
  6. Video: Screenplay format and film grammar
  7. Video: Becoming familiar with the Software (Celtx)

Graded: Submit your episode pitch and review the episode pitches of your peers
Graded: Submit your Act One outline and review the Act One outlines of your peers
Graded: Submit your first act and review the first acts of your peers

WEEK 3


Write Act Two



In this module you will complete the second act of your episode (or the 2nd installment of your Web Series). You will: 1. write a detailed outline of the second act, 2. revise your outline following peer review, 3. write the second act in screenplay format, 4. revise your second act following peer review.


3 videos expand


  1. Video: Write a detailed outline of Act Two
  2. Video: Write Act Two
  3. Video: Giving your characters a voice

Graded: Submit your Act Two outline and review the Act Two outlines of your peers
Graded: Submit your Second Act and review the Second Acts of your peers

WEEK 4


Act Three



In module 4 you will complete the 3rd act of your episode (or the third installment of your Web Series). You will: 1. write a detailed outline of Act Three, 2. revise your outline following peer review, 3. Write Act Three in screenplay format, 4. Revise your act following peer review


2 videos expand


  1. Video: Write your Act Three outline
  2. Video: Write Act Three

Graded: Submit your 3rd act outline and review the 3rd act outlines of 5 of your peers
Graded: Submit your Final Act and review the Final Acts of your peers

WEEK 5


Polish your script, create a Cold Open and finish the Season One Bible
In Module 5 you will 1. polish the completed script of your episode (or your three Webisodes), 2. create a Cold Open, 3. revise the Series Bible based on your finished script, 4 submit the Final Script and Series Bible for final review.


3 videos expand


  1. Video: Polish your script
  2. Video: Write a Cold Open
  3. Video: The Bible

Graded: Submit your final, polished, Pilot Script, with a Cold Open, and season one bible and review the final work of your peers.
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