Course Number: H98.1007

Price:  $2,592

Instructor: Dr. Pieter (Pia) Aquilia

Course Description
This 6-week course takes a practical approach to writing the one-hour drama for
television. Suitable for both professional and new television scriptwriters, the course
will familiarize participants with the various formats of one-hour television drama
and serials. The sessions will focus on the development of ideas and story structure;
visual style; characterization; scene writing; sequencing acts and turning points;
submission formats and working with story and script editors.

Course Objectives
1. Understand the nature of one-hour television drama and its different formats
2. Generate ideas for one-hour television dramas
3. Develop ideas into synopses, research plans and scene breakdowns
4. Understand genre and style requirements
5. Writing industry-standard first draft television drama scripts
6. Critically evaluating and revising works in progress.

Course Requirements
The emphasis of this course is on developing the craft skills for writing one-hour
drama scripts. Participants will be asked to work on a script idea from idea stage
through to the first draft. The course will focus on the different stages of television
drama writing as part of the production process. Examples of contemporary one-
hour television drama will be read and screened.

Each week, participants will be required to move through progressive script writing
milestones and meet a weekly deadline. For example, at the second session,
participants will submit synopses for a one-hour television drama. By the end of the
course, participants will complete a revised 1st draft script to industry standard.