The Writer’s Room: Writing for Television

THIS COURSE HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FOR 2020 AND WILL MOST LIKELY BE REOFFERED IN SUMMER 2021.

Learn the art of writing for television, from half-hour sitcoms to one-hour episodes.

Actual showrunners will teach you what happens in the writer’s room of a television show.
Learn how to read or watch an existing series to analyze its style, form and content.
Learn how to write a beat sheet/outline. Begin writing your first draft of a half-hour sitcom script and an hour-long episodic television script.
Develop strategies for breaking into television writing and keeping a job once you have it.

COURSE NUMBER/CREDITS

Undergraduate: ENGL 424, 3 units
Graduate/post-baccalaureate: ENGL 624, 3 units

MATERIALS FEE

None

WHO SHOULD APPLY

Undergraduate and graduate writers: film, television and theatre preferred, but poets, fiction writers, journalists, etc. are welcome! It’s not so much the experience you have, but the passion, discipline and willingness you demonstrate to expand your skills.

HOW TO APPLY

Prepare a short statement about why you want to take this course and a 3-10-page writing sample, preferably in script form, though other mediums such as fiction, journalism, poetry, etc. are welcome.
Submit/upload the materials listed in step one when you apply online by May 11, 2020.

COURSE COORDINATOR

Bernardo Solano
(909) 869-3952

Guest Artists

Oliver Goldstick

Oliver Goldstick was an executive producer of ABC Family's, “Pretty Little Liars.” He has written and produced many series for television, including “Lipstick Jungle,” “Ugly Betty,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Everwood,” “American Dreams,” “Popular” and Caroline in the City, among others. His films for television include “Plainsong” (Aidan Quinn/Rachel Griffiths) and the CAMY Award-winning “Crossroads” and Emmy Award-nominated “Bailey's Mistake” (Linda Hamilton/Joan Plowright). Goldstick's television work has earned him a Golden Globe, Writers Guild Award, GLAAD Award, NAACP Image Award and Peabody.

Doug Cooney

Doug Cooney is a staff writer for Disney Junior's animated series “Sofia the First” (nominated for a daytime Emmy) and writer of the short film “Abuelo.” He is also an acclaimed children’s writer whose novels include “The Beloved Dearly,” “I Know Who Likes You and “Nobody’s Perfect.” Cooney’s plays and musicals have been commissioned, produced and toured by the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center Institute, Mark Taper Forum and South Coast Rep.