Course Details

The sitcom writing experience is different from any other type of creative writing. This intensive two-day workshop is for writers without professional television experience who want to learn how it's really done.

This class will recreate the authentic experience of a professional writers' room to give students the feel of what it's really like to work in the television industry. Students will sit and work together at a long table and collaborate on writing a scene for a current television sitcom. Everyone will be encouraged to participate, to pitch ideas and punch up jokes -- there are no bad ideas.

By the end of class, you can expect to have:
Hands-on experience with the half-hour sitcom writing process and specific knowledge that they can apply to their own spec scripts, which will help them stand out when approaching agents, studios, networks and executive producers.

Admission requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history) as well as a writing sample (less than 2,000 words).

Instructor Bio

Reid Harrison's Courses

Reid Harrison has been writing television half-hour comedies for 13 years, both in live action (Men Behaving Badly, Rodney, and The Mullets) and in animation (The Simpsons, Pinky and the Brain, Duckman, and The PJs). He has had extensive experience running writers' rooms as a supervisingproducer. Reid says, "TV writing, unlike screenwriting, is a collaborative effort. The key to getting the best out of a room of a dozen writers sitting around a table: positive, encouraging feedback, and a ton of snacks."

Testimonials

The class with Reid was great! He gave a great overview of the steps a person takes to become a writer on a sitcom. Reid is a natural teacher. He was very casual but by the end of the weekend I felt no questions had been left unanswered. He genuinely loves his chosen profession and was excited about sending others on their paths. He guided our process but still let the scene be ours. -- Jasmine Pahl, former student

"This class was enlightening, fun, and motivating. A very real look and feel of an industry that runs on more luck sometimes than talent. Great teaching from an experienced TV writer lends the class the authenticity that's worth giving up a weekend for!" -- Rose Reyes, former student

"Reid's class was very worthwhile. He is a very funny and engaging teacher. I'd be delighted work in his writer's room anytime! He shared the realities of the sitcom business in a structured concise way and geared us up to jump in and write a scene. Reid's facilitation skills got our class to the goal of writing a great scene -- using the same process they use in Hollywood! Reid covered a lot of valuable background on the realities of the business." -- Peter Phelan, comedy writer