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Writing Comedy for TV
Make money from your funny
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 TV Writing: Sketch Comedy – New York (Class starts March 19)
Writing Comedy for TV – New York (Class starts February 9)
Writing Comedy for TV – (Class starts February 10)  Testimonials"Alan is more than a teacher; he motivates. Since I started using his methods, I've been creating quality material at a blistering pace. His critiques are direct, comprehensive, and honest. Ambitious writers will find a mentor figure in Alan. 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 "I found Alan refreshingly easy-going, encouraging, supportive, helpful, and honest. Some of the material that was provided was real news headlines that we were encouraged to develop into jokes. Imagine my surprise and pleasure at seeing some of those exact headlines used in last Saturday's Saturday Night Live Weekend Update! Receiving timely info like that and seeing it come to life rocked!" -- Jennifer Anderson "Alan covered the basics of joke writing to give everyone confidence, and then explained how to use this ability to break into a business that seems very intimidating. This was all new to me, and I found the class very rewarding and inspiring." -- Eric Kabakoff, research manager, ABC "Alan is a gifted comedy writer as well as 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, Broadcast Producer, CBS New |
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