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The Sitcom Writer's Room

Two-Day Intensive Workshop

Course is closed.
The Sitcom Writer's Room

DURATION/TIME
2 days
Saturday, April 14
10 am-4 pm
Sunday, April 15
10 am-4 pm

LEVEL
General

LOCATION
New York (Soho)

PRICE
$250 ($225 for )
more info

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 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 you can apply to your own spec scripts, which will help you 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

Ellen Sandler's Courses

No courses available at this time.

Ellen Sandler
Ellen Sandler received an Emmy nomination as a co-executive producer of the CBS hit Everybody Loves Raymond, and is the author of The TV Writers Workbook (Bantam/Dell, 2007). She has worked as a writer/producer for many other network television comedies including ABC's long running series Coach, and has created original pilots for ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox Family, Disney Channel, and Oxygen, which featured stars Kathy Baker, Katey Sagal, Susan St. James and Megan Mullally. She has been a consultant on pilots developed for The Australian Children's Television Network and the CBC, Canada. Ellen is also a playwright and the co-founder of the newly established Jewish Women's Theatre in Los Angeles. Her short play Jewish Roots was recently performed as a fundraiser for the WGA Strike Fund and starred Fran Dresher. You can view more details at www.SandlerInk.com.

Testimonials


Ellen is forthright and generous, giving you an insider's glimpse into sitcom writing. She gives you the right tools to troubleshoot your way out of story problems, constantly reiterating points about structure and offering questions to ask to get yourself back on track. -- Lisa Stockus

"This course is by far the finest television writing class in which I have ever enrolled. Ellen understands how to transform the novice writer into a writer in demand. Kudos to Ellen." -- Rhonda Tenenbaum

"Ellen is approachable and no-nonsense in infusing her passion for great writing in every student. She lays out an easy-to-follow, practical guide on exactly how to do it. Only a real pro like Ellen would so generously share her secrets for success, challenge us all to become the best we can be, and help us believe we can really do it." -- Nancy West

"Ellen did an amazing job with the course. Her professionalism, experience, and love of sitcom writing brought excitement to the class. She gave us no-nonsense advice, and set up the class the same way real writers' rooms are set-up, so we could experience the environment first-hand." -- Donald Capone

"Take this workshop with Ellen! She is knowledgeable, approachable, inspirational, candid, and great! She offered invaluable information. The experience of actually being in a writer's room was extremely insightful. I'm so glad I took this class!" -- Lori Kitun

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