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The success of ‘Box Set’ TV Drama has created a new appetite among audiences for original and challenging drama series on television.
At the BBC, ITV1 and Channel 4, drama commissioners have emphasised that they are looking to develop drama series of this ambition over the next decade. They will need to identify new talent.
Writing the Pilot is a course designed with this background in mind. It will offer writers, and creative producers, a 'Writers Room' experience with the chance to plan and write a 50-minute pilot episode of an original drama series over an intensive 10 day period.
Be prepared to write and re-write, and fine-tune overnight.
We will encourage the kind of ambition achieved by the best drama series based on the actual practice of working on a script among professionals.
Led by Peter Ansorge whose award-winning career includes: A Very British Coup, Traffik, GBH, The Politician’s Wife, Tales of the City, Brookside and The Camomile Lawn.
We are looking for fresh ideas and the tenacity to bring them to screen!
Previous course participants have said:
'Peter helped us all find the best in ourselves and make this experience truly rewarding, inspiring us every step of the way.'
'I can't believe that I wrote an entire one-hour drama script in just 8 days! And it was Peter's inspiration and knowledge that made that happen.'
'It was one of the most intense and productive writing experiences of my life, that gave me a very clear sense of what it is like to create original TV. Deeply grateful to have been a part of this. The support to be able to do this has sent me on a whole new career trajectory. Thank you!'
"Writing the TV Pilot is the closest thing I've found to being in a real TV writers' room. Not only do you benefit from Peter's wealth of insight and experience, but also by the end of the course - if you work hard - you'll have a complete new script to add to your portfolio. All in two weeks. What a great cure for procrastination!" - David Macpherson, creator of The Rig - NFTS Scotland alumni.
"I highly recommend the Writing the TV Pilot course to writers wanting to make their break in TV drama writing. It's a brilliant way to get a spec script written with Peter's wealth of knowledge behind you plus daily feedback from your peers throughout. My script kick started my career as a full time screenwriter and is still opening doors for me four years later." - Ceila Morgan - NFTS Scotland alumni
Week 1
The challenge of writing the opening minutes of the pilot. We’ll look at landmark series and analyse how you grab an audience. At the end of the week / beginning of Week 2, a group of actors will work on your opening ten minutes.
We will reference great drama series of the past and present.
You will be writing between three and five minutes of your pilot each day, and reworking overnight.
Week 2
We move towards the completion of your pilot, and offer advice on the next stage, how to get your pilot script onto the desks of the right producer and commissioning editor.
During the course, participants will get the opportunity to practise pitch to Heads of Drama at leading All3Media TV drama companies such as Neal Street and Company Pictures who, if excited by your project, will have first refusal in producing and developing it further.
Please fill in the application form, attaching your CV