5.0
(5 ratings)
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.
5.0
(5 ratings)
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
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.
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.
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 ratings)
Michael DiMartino
George Strayton
Sebastien de Castell
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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. 😃
01
Crash Course in Narrative Structure
Great TV shows are not just one story, they're many stories. But first, we need to cover the structure of one complete story. In this first module, you'll learn everything there is to know about story structure from a unique, objective, point-of-view (unlike any other paradigm).
02
Episode by Episode
Starting with the pilot episode and working our way to the season one finale, we will work our way through the first season of Succession, a phenomenal series from HBO. Each week will center on one episode: students will watch the episode on their own time, and then we'll gather together to cover that episode's unique narrative structure.
03
Previously On
Wrapping up the first season, we will take a look back at ALL the episodes and see how each works together to tell the ONE COMPLETE STORY of the first season. We'll even get glimpses into what storylines were setup for the following season.
By the end, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of how several stories flow into one story.
04
Creative Strategies in Other Genres
Having thoroughly examined one of the best seasons of TV ever produced, we turn our attention to other great series: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Cobra Kai, Stranger Things, True Detective, and Westworld. While different and unique in their own respects, these series work because they tell complete stories through a thematically-rich Storyform.
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A quick snippet of what you'll learn in this class!
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
What happens if I can’t make a live session?
What is the course schedule?
I work full-time, what is the expected time commitment?
What app are you using?
Is the homework really just watching TV?
Are you obsessed with Succession?
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