2.Main Content
Training
TV Forum 2011
Aim high: exceptional TV drama, Jack Thorne's This Is England 86
Wednesday 13 & Thursday 14 April, 10.15am-4.45pm
Soho Theatre, Dean Street, London W1
SEE YOUR NAME IN THE CREDITS....
The Script Factory TV Forum is a two-day training and networking event devoted to writing for the small screen (or even the plasma HD-ready widescreen...). While Film and Theatre traditionally require the audience to come to you, television reaches them right where they sit. If you are serious about a career writing drama - and want to actually make some money doing it - then spend two days with us finding out how to get your work into living rooms across the land.
Through a combination of training and guest speakers TV Forum aims to inspire participants to consider how their talents, ideas and aspirations may be suited to the wide range of TV drama opportunities, from soap writing to original single dramas or innovative sitcoms. Over two days, we aim to give screenwriters an essential overview of the current TV landscape coupled with the language, resources and industry knowledge required to further explore how to forge their own TV writing career.
The Programme
Clerkenwell Films' MisfitsBoth mornings of TV Forum are devoted to four practical lecture sessions, each taught by Rob Ritchie, a regular Script Factory tutor who has extensive experience as a TV script editor and story consultant. Afternoons are reserved for a range of working industry guests who will talk about their work and take questions.
The 2011 Guest sessions include a case study of the TV series phenomenon, Misfts, from its brilliant writer Howard Overman, and executive producer, Petra Fried; 
Holby City, under discussion from writer/series producer Justin Youngan in-depth exploration of the relationship between the BBC and writers from Paul Ashton, from the BBC Writersroom; a discussion of writing and series producing on soaps and long running serials from Justin Young, whose entry to the prestigious BBC Academy led to credits on Casualty, Doctors, Eastenders and now sees him in a steering role on Holby City as lead writer/producer; and a chance to explore the world of a working TV writer in an interview with the super talented Jack Thorne, whose career began writing for Skins, moved to This is England, 86 and whose writing slips between TV, feature films (The Scouting Book for Boys) and theatre (his Greenlands opened at the National Theatre last month).
WORKSHOP SESSIONS:
Workshop session: Small Screen Stories
Writing for TV involves skills and techniques unique to the medium: from handling multiple storylines to structuring a story in four acts. This session explores the challenges facing writers working in a medium where deadlines are immovable, the audience may have missed last week's episode and dialogue is perhaps more important than pictures.
Workshop session: What's On Tonight? Examining TV Formats
TV drama embraces a variety of different styles, genres and formats - everything from ten-minute plays to serials that run for years. This session examines the rules and conventions of the major British TV drama formats from daytime soaps to prime time series and serials.
Kudos' phenomenally successful Life On Mars
Workshop session: Story of the Week - Drama Series
How do you create characters an audience will return to week after week? Why is the precinct of a series so often a police station or hospital? This session illustrates the role of story bibles, pilot episodes and research in creating characters and a world that will generate an endless supply of stories.
Workshop session: What's so Funny? The challenge of writing Sit-com
Sit-Com is one of the most challenging and popular forms of TV drama. This session identifies the premise of a range of comedies and explains why a family of characters sharing a flat or a workplace remains the essential formula for both British and US shows.
Booking Information
The fee for TV Forum is £225.00 plus VAT (Total £264.38).
Script Factory Members are entitled to an extra discount, making the fee £202.5 plus VAT (Total £237.94). Click here for more information about joining as a Member.
To book your place by credit or debit card either call Sheena on 0207 851 4890 on weekdays from 10am-6pm or book now via Paypal by choosing from the following options:
TV Forum - Full Price
TV Forum - Member's Price
Please note that once paid, Script Factory course fees are non-refundable. Click here for full details.
The programme is supported by a full training pack.
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