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The TV Writer's Symposium

How to break into the television writer's room...from the people who live there

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The TV Writer's Symposium

DURATION/TIME
6 weeks
Thursdays, 7-10 pm
June 7 - July 19

LEVEL
Intermediate

LOCATION
West Hollywood, CA

MORE INFO
Email us, or call (310) 659-5668.

PRICE
$425 ($400 for )
more info

Course Details

This class is a follow-up to last fall's blockbuster series of panels that put you in the room with industry heavyweights such as former NBC president Warren Littlefield, legendary sitcom director Barnet Kellman, award-winning Lost writer Drew Goddard, and Weeds producer Mark Burley.

We will take the symposium deeper into the heart of TV -- the writer's room. For the first time, get the inside scoop directly from TV's top writers, producers, and showrunners. You wanna hear the truth about what goes on in the writers rooms of 24 and Heroes? Wanna know how the Ugly Betty and House writers flesh out a season? Now's your chance.

Class begins with Chad Gervich's acclaimed Walking Tour of Television, a 3-hour seminar detailing the infrastructure of the industry: how networks, studios, and production companies interact with each other and the writers that create their shows. Each remaining week will then present a panel focusing on a particular genre of television.

Whether you're an aspiring writer, producer, director, or executive, this is the seminar you've been waiting for.

Panelists will include:

--Diane Ademu-John Medium, Producer
-- Brad Copeland My Name is Earl, Supervising Producer
--Duppy Demetrius The Closer, Story Editor
--Sanford Golden & Karen Wyscarver Boston Legal, Executive Story Editors
--Tracy Grant Lincoln Heights, Staff Writer
--Kip Koenig Grey's Anatomy, Supervising Producer
--David North NCIS, Executive Story Editor
--Naren Shankar CSI, Executive Producer
--Janet Tamaro Bones, Supervising Producer

...and many more to come

Here's a breakdown for the six weeks (feel free to enroll in these a la carte by visiting the hyperlinks of the seminars that interest you, or by signing up for the series on this page):

In this class, you can expect to learn:

  • How TV shows are developed and progress through networks, studios and productions
  • What showrunners look for when hiring writers
  • How to create your own show
  • Why comedy rooms work differently than drama rooms
  • What makes pilots different than episodes
  • How writers deal with notes and changes from executives
  • What happens when a finished script goes into production
  • How writers get their agents
  • How to navigate the diverse world of alternative programming -- game shows, talk shows, and reality
  • Where to find that first, entry-level job and how to move ahead as fast as you can

Instructor Bio

Chad Gervich's Courses

No courses available at this time.

Chad Gervich
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

AvantGuild* Discounts on mediabistro.com offerings are just one of the wonderful benefits of being in AvantGuild, our premium membership program. For just $55 a year, you'll receive instant access to our How to Pitch articles and other premium articles, transcripts from selected seminars and panels, and discounts on virtually everything we do (including eClasses and the Freelance Marketplace)! Click here to join now.