The Secret Structure of Episodic Television
5.0 (5)
10 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Become the kind of writer who expertly weaves several storylines at once, by analyzing the first season of HBO's series, Succession.
The Secret Structure of Episodic Television
5.0 (5)
10 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Become the kind of writer who expertly weaves several storylines at once, by analyzing the first season of HBO's series, Succession.
Course overview
Master long-arc storytelling
Learn the secret structure that separates good television from great television, because knowing why a story works is more valuable than knowing how a story works.
Who is this course for
01
Any writer who has felt overwhelmed at the idea of having to weave the multiple storylines needed to craft a compelling television series.
02
Any writer who thinks there is a different kind of structure to TV than there is to feature-film writing.
(There isn't 😊).
03
Anyone who dreams of writing epic stories with multiple characters and multiple storylines. Even in a format other than television.
Key outcomes
The Ultimate Story Structure Paradigm
Saving cats and heroic journeys are great when you're first learning story structure, but if you really want to take your understanding of story to the next level you're going to need something a bit more comprehensive. We'll make sure you learn it all. 🤓
The Structure of an Episode
While an episode might contain traces of other storylines, the best way to make a single episode feel complete is insure it contains one clear and persuasive dramatic argument. 💥
The Structure of a Season
Think the story structure of a season works differently than individual episodes, or a single feature-film?
We'll show you how it's all the same. 🤯
The Structure of a Series
Can you see where this is headed? Stories within stories within stories. If you want to pitch a series, you'll want to know what happens in every season.
You'll learn how to plan out years of storytelling by telling that one big story of the entire series. 🏆
The Secret Structure of Episodic Television
5.0 (5)
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Michael DiMartino
George Strayton
Sebastien de Castell
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The Secret Structure of Episodic Television
Meet your instructor
James Hull
Former animator/director turned story consultant
With over 25 years of experience in the animation industry as an animator, storyboard artist, and director, I know how important it is to get the story working as soon as possible.
My credits include writing & storyboarding for the legendary Warner Bros. director Chuck Jones, animating on at least 15 films for Disney and Dreamworks (Tarzan and Enchanted, Shrek 2, and How to Train Your Dragon), and directing for Sony Pictures Television and Dreamworks TV.
As a story consultant I helped develop the Disney animated series Tangled, consulted on Over the Moon and The Mitchells vs. The Machines for Netflix, and worked with several other novelists and screenwriters with their individual projects (Avatar: The Last Airbender's Mike DiMartino, Sebastien de Castell's popular book series, and Dave Collard's Blacklist 2020 spec script (#3), Neither Confirm, Nor Deny).
I'll share with you what I've learned working with these professionals to weave several stories together in the service of one big story. 😃
Course syllabus
Week 1
Feb
23
Crash Course in Narrative Structure
Week 2
Mar
2
"Celebration" - Episode 1 Analysis
Week 3
Mar
9
"S**t Show at the F**k Factory" - Episode 2 Analysis
Week 4
Mar
16
"Lifeboats" - Episode 3 Analysis
Week 5
Mar
23
"Sad Sack Wasp Trap" - Episode 4 Analysis
Week 6
Mar
30
"I Went to Market" and "Which Side Are You On?" - Episodes 5 and 6 Analysis
Week 7
Apr
6
"Austerlitz" - Episode 7 Analysis
Week 8
Apr
13
"Prague" - Episode 8 Analysis
Week 9
Apr
20
"Pre-Nuptial" and "Nobody is Ever Missing" - Episodes 9 and 10 Analysis
Week 10
Apr
27
Season One Analysis
Post-course
May
4
Creative Strategies for Different Genres
Bonus
Crash Course in Narrative Structure
Crash Course in Narrative Structure
Episode 1: Celebration
Episode 1: Celebration
Episode 2: S**t Show at the F**k Factory
Episode 2: S**t Show at the F**k Factory
Episode 3: Lifeboats
Episode 3: Lifeboats
Episode 4: Sad Sack Wasp Trap
Episode 4: Sad Sack Wasp Trap
Episodes 5+6: "I Went to Market" and "Which Side Are You On?"
Episodes 5+6: "I Went to Market" and "Which Side Are You On?"
Episode 7: Austerlitz
Episode 7: Austerlitz
Episode 8: Prague
Episode 8: Prague
Episodes 9+10: "Pre-Nuptial" and "Nobody is Ever Missing"
Episodes 9+10: "Pre-Nuptial" and "Nobody is Ever Missing"
Episode 10: Previously On
Episode 10: Previously On
Creative Strategies for Different Genres
Creative Strategies for Different Genres
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The Secret Structure of Episodic Television
Story structure inside of story structure
A quick snippet of what you'll learn in this class!
Learning is better with cohorts
Active, not passive
This course focuses on live workshops and hands-on projects
Learn with a cohort of peers
You’ll be learning in public through breakout rooms and an engaged community
Learn with a cohort of peers
Surround yourself with like-minded people who want to grow alongside you
Frequently Asked Questions
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