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Writing Comedy for TV
Course DetailsMaybe you're a lawyer. Or an accountant. Or maybe you sell batteries on the 1/9. And you think to yourself: Hey. I'm funny. There's got to be a way I can make a living off this. Like writing comedy for television. But how the hell do you write comedy for TV and get paid for it? Well, this course is for you. The building block of comedy is the joke, and in this class, you'll learn how to analyze news stories and current trends to create material, then hone these jokes so they're ready for the air. Building off this knowledge, you'll learn to nail the unique voice of any show out there, how to write sketches by generating comic characters and premises, and even how to write comedy when you're not feeling funny. We'll also analyze what networks are looking for, how to get in to see the executives, and how to pitch to them. In this class, you can expect to learn:
A completed joke submission package, two complete sketches for a sketch package, and a completed pitch for a TV show. Admission Requirements You must submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history) as well as a writing sample (less than 2,000 words). Instructor BioAlan Cross's Courses No courses available at this time.  Testimonials"Alan is more than a teacher -- he is a motivator. Since class, I've been creating quality material at a blistering pace. His critiques are direct, comprehensive, and honest. The skills I learned in this class will benefit me throughout my career." -- Jonathan Cohen  Alan went above and beyond in this course, helping us whip our comedy into shape for a real, live show. As a result, our sketches got a lot of laughs when the actors performed them in front of an audience. -- Tom Carter"Alan definitely knows the field of comedy writing, especially the little ins and outs that are virtually impossible to discover on your own. The class was definitely worth my time and money!" -- Laurel Brown "Alan is a witty and welcoming instructor who truly wants his students to get their fingers good and messy in the many different pies available to those looking to write comedy for TV." -- Paul Hagen "Alan is great because he explains what you need to do to improve your writing and why you need to do it." -- Adam Ullian "Alan was refreshingly easygoing, encouraging, supportive, helpful, and honest. Imagine my surprise and pleasure at seeing some of those exact headlines used in last Saturday's SNL Weekend Update! Receiving timely info like that and seeing it come to life rocked!" -- Jennifer Anderson "Alan covered the basics of joke writing and gave everyone confidence. He explained how to use this ability to break into a business that seems very intimidating. I found the class very rewarding and inspiring." -- Eric Kabakoff "Alan is a gifted comedy writer and an equally gifted instructor. His enthusiasm for his craft is contagious! Alan's instruction and encouragement have provided the impetus for what I'm hoping will be an effective career transition." -- Matt Nelko "Alan's brilliant sense of humor, first-hand knowledge of the industry, and unwavering support of beginners makes his class essential for those interested in writing comedy." -- Serena Schonbrun Connelly "Alan provided excellent guidance and information that would take forever to uncover for yourself." -- John Emery "It's one thing to impart knowledge, it's quite another to inspire passion in others. Alan is a genuinely gifted teacher and I hope he continues giving to successive groups of writers, because what he gives is a lot." -- Russell Smith "A writing class is only worth what you put into completing the writing assignments. The assignments Alan offered and the way he uses the assignments to build on each other were quite valuable, and his advice is priceless." -- David Nieker, mediabistro.com instructor |
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