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Film and TV Writing

  • Develops Skills for Film and TV Screenwriting
  • Provides Tips on Selling Your Work
  • Explores Job Opportunities in the Field

These courses provide you with the specialized skills needed to write a screenplay or a pilot for a film or television series. Through hands-on exercises, you will gain an understanding of how the written word is translated to the screen, while becoming familiar with structure, characterization, dialogue, and scene-writing techniques. In addition, you will learn about the business aspects of the field—how to sell your writing and get your screenplay or script produced. Learn more about the Certificate in Television and Screenwriting.

This semester, study in-person or from anywhere in the world from the safety and comfort of your home through online or remote instruction.

Beginning Screenwriting

Learn the basic elements of dramatic writing with an emphasis on theme, dialogue, and characterization.

2024 Spring
+ 1 more semester
2 sections

Selling Your Stories: Representation and the Art of the Pitch for Film and TV Writers

Among aspiring film and TV writers there are many misconceptions and myths about Hollywood and what it means to be a working writer. While the...

2024 Summer
1 section

Writing Great Characters for Film and TV

Through in-class exercises, lectures, television/movie watching, and writing assignments, learn how to create detailed, compelling characters.

2024 Summer
1 section

Introduction to the Media Industry

In this two-session course taught by a senior magazine editor with deep experience in newspaper, magazine, and digital media as well as...

2024 Spring
1 section

Media Literacy: An Overview

When working in media jobs, it’s essential to be both a savvy consumer of the news as well as a thoughtful editor. This class, taught by a...

2024 Spring
+ 1 more semester
2 sections

Write and Prepare to Direct a Three-Act Short Film

Learn the fundamentals of screenwriting and preproduction by writing and preparing to direct a five-minute short film.

2024 Spring
1 section

Writing and Developing a TV Series

Learn all you need to fully develop and professionally present your idea for a continuing or limited series for cable, network, or the web.

2024 Spring
1 section

Advanced Screenwriting

Develop new screenwriting material or revise a completed script, and discuss your work during private interview sessions with the instructor.

2024 Spring
1 section

Writing for the Screen: An Exercise-Based Approach

This complete course in screenwriting teaches you the tools of the trade and gets you writing from the first day.

2024 Spring
1 section

Advanced Television Writing

The collaborative workshop encourages students with prior TV writing or screenwriting experience to write or rewrite a script for television.

Writing a TV Pilot

Learn tools specific to writing an original pilot, whether a network procedural, a quirky web series, or an edgy comedy for cable or streaming.

Writing and Directing the Short Film

Learn the fundamentals of screenwriting and preproduction by writing and preparing to direct a five-minute short film.