The TV Symposium

DURATION/TIME 7 weeks Mondays, 7-10 p.m. Oct. 16-Dec. 4 (no class on 11/27) LOCATION West Hollywood, Calif. MORE INFO Email us, or call (310) 659-5668. PRICE $475 ($450 for ) more info

Course Details

You've read all the books. You've studied all the shows. You've taken all the classes. And you're still wondering: "How do I break into this thing called television?" This 7-week symposium cuts the bull, cleans up the clutter, and puts you face-to-face with the people who run the show. Literally.

We'll begin with a three-hour seminar detailing the infrastructure of the industry. The remaining meetings will have panels focusing on a particular aspect of the television industry. The panels, moderated by Chad, consist of entertainment professionals sharing their views and experiences in television. We'll meet studio suits, independent producers, and staff writers of all levels.

Here's a breakdown of the seven weeks:

• Allison Gibson, creator, Reba (WB); writer and producer, Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place (ABC), Home Improvement (ABC), and others
• Drew Goddard, supervising producer, Lost; writer and producer, Alias; writer, Buffy and Angel
• Warren Littlefield, principal, Littlefield Company; executive producer, Keen Eddie (FOX), Like Family (WB), Foody Call (Style), and Love Inc. (UPN); former president, NBC Entertainment
• Francesca Orsi, creative executive, HBO
• Leigh Redman, director, Drama Development, Paramount Television
• Matt Shakman, director, Brothers & Sisters, Psych, Everwood, Everybody Hates Chris, Six Feet Under, and Boston Legal
• Lesley Wake, writer/producer, Notes From the Underbelly (ABC); formerly of That '80's Show (FOX) and What I Like About You (WB)
• Robert Zotnowski, vice president, Drama Development, CBS
• ... and more to come.

• How TV shows are developed and progress through the corporate hierarchy of networks, studios, and production house
• How a writers room works and how writers at different levels function
• What happens when a finished script goes into production: how it's prepped, shot, and edited
• How agencies work: How do they sell projects? How do they package? How do they accept new clients? And the all-important question: do you need an agent?
• How to navigate the diverse world of alternative programming. What elements are needed to sell a game show? A talk show? How is reality changing the landscape of television?
• Where to find that first, entry-level job and how to move ahead as fast as you can

Instructor Bio

Chad Gervich's Courses

Chad Gervich is a television producer, author, and playwright who spent five years as a development executive and producer with the Littlefield Company, where he developed pilots and series for NBC, ABC, CBS, UPN, the WB, and FOX. Chad has worked in development and production at NBC Studios, Sony Pictures, CBS Productions, and Twentieth Century Fox where he was involved in the development, production, and maintenance of Love, Inc., Malcolm in the Middle, Like Family, Time Tunnel, Star Search, and Do Over.

Chad has created and produced Style network's hit series Foody Call and executive produced Celebrity Drive-By, a talk show pilot for E! Entertainment. Chad has also developed, written, and produced Dirty Laundry, a soap for FOX TV Studios, Wig Out, a Warner Brothers sitcom, and Fox Reality Channel's Reality Binge. He is currently executive producing Spellbound: The Witches of Orange County for The Weinstein Company.

Chad is the author of mediabistro.com's Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writers Guide to the TV Business and is a contributing editor for Writers Digest, where he writes Script Notes, a regular screenwriting column/blog. He also writes for Daily Variety, Fade In, Moving Pictures, and Orange Coast.

Testimonials

Chad is a very energetic and charismatic speaker with a non-judgmental, supportive teaching style. I left his class with tangible tools to move forward with the next step. -- Sue Karlin, freelance journalist, Newsweek, Forbes, Esquire

"Chad has valuable insights to share about the TV business and the craft of writing pilots. Whether you're a rookie or a professional, you'll feel focused, smarter, and ready to write." -- Wendy Calhoun, staff writer, NBC-Universal/NBC

"The course content was fabulous and exactly what I expected in terms of starting from scratch to getting into the minute detail. It was just perfect." -- Georgia Cassimatis

"Chad is very knowledgeable and is able to present all topics in an informative, logical way with lots of enthusiasm." -- Vanessa Amador

"Chad is passionate about television and very down to earth. I was very impressed with the candid nature of Chad's information and his honest responses to people's questions. He gave them real answers." -- Chayah Masters

"I started this class with a blank writing tablet and ended the course with a spec script that I would be proud to submit to an agent. That's worth the time and the money." -- Dylan Conroy

"Chad was a dynamic speaker and took his time to make sure that everyone in the class participated and got their questions answered. I will definitely take another class with him." -- Angie Truschel

"The presentation of the material was excellent. This is probably the best course I've taken." -- Roberta Cruger

"Chad is a great teacher and brings with him a wealth of information. I learned a great deal and the class is a heckuva lot of fun!" -- Susan Morris

"Chad gives you the edge of really understanding the business, what it takes to get those pitch meetings, and how to leave an impression that gets you the assignment." -- Erica Land

"Chad is one of a kind in the entertainment industry. He really wants others to succeed and shows you the pathway to do so. Take his class!" -- La Mer Walker

"Chad not only gives you the basics, but tells you how everything works when you're entering into TV pilot script territory." -- Jerome Cleary

"Chad is an invaluable resource on the art and business of writing for television." -- Sarah Schreckengaust

"Chad knows his stuff and breaks it down for both the beginner and someone who's already in the business." -- Stevie Mac