Advanced Media Writing (464-0-20)

Topic

Advanced Sitcom Writing

Instructors

Eliza Bent

Meeting Info

Annie May Swift Hall 219: Tues 3:00PM - 5:50PM

Overview of class

This course is part of the yearlong Advanced Sitcom Sequence.

In the fall writing class, students develop and write original 30-minute comedy pilots that could potentially be produced by students on a small budget. We encourage writers to consider locations in the Chicago/Evanston area and the potential for casting college-age actors.

During finals week, a committee of faculty will select the winning script or scripts, which will move into production during spring quarter.

The writer(s) will become executive producer(s) for the project and receive grant money to produce it the following spring.

If your script is selected, you must complete pre-production on it in winter term 2025 and formally enroll in RTVF 379: Sitcom Production with Erik Gernand in spring 2025.

Students should submit:

· a 10-page comedy writing sample (from a comedy pilot, spec script, short film, or other material that showcases the writer's comedic sensibilities)
· brief statement of interest (A page or less on why you want to take this course)

All materials are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 10th via email to
eliza.bent@northwestern.edu

Questions should be addressed to Eliza Bent or Erik Gernand (e-gernand@northwestern.edu).

All students will be told whether they've been accepted by 5pm on Sunday, May 12th. Students accepted into the class will receive registration information in that message.

Learning Objectives

Over the course of the quarter each student will be expected to draft a treatment, episode outline, and write an original TV pilot script, which totals 30 pages in length. Attention will be paid to three act structure.