BOSTON UNIVERSITY Department of Film & Television COM FT 584E HW - The Creative Life in Television MS-TV Section: How To Develop and Sell Television Los Angeles Internship Program 5700 Wilshire Blvd – Suite 675 Los Angeles, California 90036 Fall 2017 Instructor: Sam Sokolow Office Telephone: 323.852.7100 E-mail: [email protected] Schedule: Thursday 7:30pm-10:00pm
Course Overview:
How does a television show make it to air? Furthermore, how do you define television? This course will explore all the forms of television in the modern era, from traditional broadcast networks to cable to streaming to mobile to the future. We will learn to identify the specific brand identify of each television distributor and what sort of programming they need to “feed the beast” of our ever-increasing societal desire for content. Each student will begin to think like a producer by taking ideas and going through the process of developing, packaging, and marketing material for different formats and channels in today’s marketplace.
Students will receive intensive training and workshopping in the art of pitching, an invaluable and unsung skill, which is critical in the selling and continued production of any television series. Since most television is sold before any footage has been shot or a script even written, being able to convey the essence of a show to potential buyers, in boardrooms, elevators, and backyards, is a crucial skill for producers, writers, and directors.
Each week, the class will include an intensive discussion about a specific genre of television, some basic tenets of the genre, and the networks and outlets that finance and distribute each genre. The class aspires to teach a discipline of creating shows with specific networks in mind so ultimately there is baseline knowledge of how to create shows and sell shows to actual buyers.
Course Requirements:
Active and informed participation (25%) Attendance at class meetings and active, informed participation in class discussions are critical components of the course. Come to class having read and/or watched required material and ready to dig into the inner workings of television development. You will be learning to pitch material constantly, so you may be pushed out of your comfort zone. Grades will be based on effort and progress, so even introverted students can thrive.
Required Reading • Required Reading will be sent to you. It will be articles, analysis, and features I choose to compliment and frame class discussions. You will also be expected to read Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline Hollywood. Suggested Reading • "Writing the TV Drama Series” by Pam Douglas, Michael Wiese Productions; ISBN 1615930582 • “The Hollywood Pitching Bible” by Ken Aguado, CreateSpace; ISBN 1500191760 • “The TV Showrunner’s Roadmap” by Neil Landau, Focal Press; ISBN 0415831679
Weekly Written Assignments (50%) Students will have a weekly assignment of writing a “log line” of a show of their own creation in the genre discussed. Students will identify the primary network/outlet that they are aiming for, and a list of five alternative outlets for their show, and include a brief explanation for why the show and network/outlet are an ideal match. How might the concept change to accommodate each network’s brand identity?
Final Presentation (25%) Students will develop a full oral pitch for a television series idea of their creation. The series can be in any genre or medium, but the pitch should be directed toward an existing content distributor. The important thing is to convincingly sell what the series is, why the particular distributor should purchase it, and how to get it market-ready (e.g. packaging, marketing, etc.). Pitches will be presented in front of the class and should be approximately 7-10 minutes, and accompanied by a pitch deck. Students can work individually or in teams of up to three members. If students choose to work in teams, all members must present part of the oral pitch, and each team member will receive the same grade.
Grading Scale: A: 93 – 100; A- 90 - 92.99; B+: 87 - 89.99; B: 83 - 86.99; B-: 80 -82.99; C+: 77 - 79.99; C: 73 - 76.99; C-: 70 - 72.99; D: 60 - 69.99
Class Schedule Specific topics and genres are subject to change:
August 31 – Introduction to Television Development & Pitching September 7 – One-Hour Dramas (Broadcast) September 14 – One-Hour Dramas (Cable/Streaming) September 21 – Half-Hour Single Cam Comedies September 28 – Half-Hour Multi-Cam Comedies October 5 – Limited Series & Limited Series - Anthology October 12 – Reality October 19 – Game Show October 26 – Talk Show November 2 – BULA Panel Event November 9 – Digital Scripted Series / Digital Lifestyle Series November 16 – Variety/Award Show November 23 – NO CLASS - Thanksgiving Holiday November 30 – Final Presentations
COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION STATEMENT ON PLAGIARISM Plagiarism is the act of representing someone else's creative and/or academic work as your own, in full or in part. It can be an act of commission, in which one intentionally appropriates the words, pictures or ideas of another, or it can be an act of omission, in which one fails to acknowledge/document/give credit to the source, creator and/or the copyright owner of those words, pictures or ideas. Any fabrication of materials, quotes, or sources, other than that created in a work of fiction, is also plagiarism.
Plagiarism is the most serious academic offense that you can commit and can result in probation, suspension or expulsion.