Writing TV Drama – Three Months
Applications
Writing TV Drama – Three Months
Our London-based TV screenwriting course, featuring advice from top TV professionals and Curtis Brown agents. Scholarship place available.
Tutor
Marston BloomLength
3 monthsLocation
LondonWriting Goal
Develop your writingFrom pitch to pilot – work on your original TV drama with leading industry professionals.
I am hugely grateful to this course for all I learnt and for introducing me to my now agent. The masterclasses from TV professionals and the tutor led sessions were incredibly informative. As well as helping me learn how best to write TV drama, I was also able to gain a greater understanding of the industry as a whole. A brilliant course for anyone wanting to start TV writing and also for authors like me who want to make the move across.
Former TV student
With weekly teaching and group workshopping on Thursday evenings in the Curtis Brown offices on Regent Street, this course will help you hone your craft and make real progress with your TV script. It’s ideal for those looking for a practical in-person alternative to a postgraduate screenwriting course.
Across three months, 15 talented writers will each develop an idea for a drama serial, write a 60-minute pilot episode and evolve a plan for further episodes – supported by the expert teaching of experienced screenwriter and producer Marston Bloom.
Plus you’ll attend two masterclasses from leading TV industry professionals, including Curtis Brown’s Theatre, Film and Television agents, and an in-depth one-to-one tutorial from an experienced producer/script editor.
Tutor
Marston Bloom
Marston has recently written a film adaptation of Antal Szerb’s Pendragon Legend for Lucky Cape Pictures. Previously Marston adapted The Reunion by France’s bestselling author Guillaume Musso for MGM/ITVX and was sole writer and an exec producer of Netflix original adaptation of Booker Prize Winner Aravind Adiga's Selection Day. Marston has previously written on conspiracy thriller Strangers for Two Brothers Pictures/ITV/ Amazon, and on Rellik for Two Brothers Pictures/ BBC1/Cinemax, and before that Marston was part of the original writers’ room and wrote an episode for Marcella created by Hans Rosenfeldt (The Bridge) and starring Anna Friel. Marston also wrote on Ed McCardie’s cult drama Spotless for NBC Universal/Canal+ co-created by Academy Award-winning writer-producer Corinne Marrinan (CSI) and has written for numerous successful TV series including Hustle, Hotel Babylon, Vera and New Tricks. Marston’s first spec script Harley Street was produced by Carnival for ITV.
What does this course give you?
- Live teaching sessions in London: Marston will teach on topics important for developing and writing a TV drama serial. Topics include character development, structure, plot, endings and more.
- A community of writers: Our selective applications process means that you will be writing your TV drama in a peer group of 15 students working at a high level. We have developed a bespoke learning platform exclusively for our students. Here you can give and receive feedback, and discuss the week’s topics with your fellow students and tutors. Many of our former students have found their trusted readers with us – and form strong working friendships with classmates which go on long after the course is over.
- Group workshops: On 10 evenings, Marston will lead group workshops live in London or on Zoom giving dedicated feedback on 2,000-word extracts of your pilot script. Each student gets two workshops focused on their own work across the course.
- One-to-one tutorials: You'll get a 25-minute one-to-one tutorial with Marston, as well as a 45-minute tutorial with an experienced producer/script editor.
- Two industry masterclasses: Top TV professionals share their expertise during these special in-person sessions. Key leading figures of the TV production process will guide students through the process of drama development, with focus on students' work.
- Agent Q&A: TV agents from Curtis Brown will talk about the agent's role and answer questions on the industry and how to get your work noticed.
- Share your work with agents: At the end of the course all students will be invited to informally share the first fifteen pages of your pilot script (max 2,200 words) plus 50-word pitch and 300-word outline for the series with the Curtis Brown agent team. Agents may request to see more.
- Cuba Pictures mentoring for one student: At the end of the course, one student will be selected by the team at Cuba Pictures to receive three one-to-one mentoring sessions. They will read a full pilot script as part of the mentoring. This additional mentoring will be offered based on the strength of writing and the idea.
Course schedule
All teaching and workshop sessions will take place on Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm (unless otherwise stated below). Classes will be held in the Green Room of the Curtis Brown offices (Cunard House, 15 Regent Street, London, SW1Y 4LR).
In extenuating circumstances, classes may be moved from London to Zoom, with prior notification to all concerned.
Please note that precise dates of sessions and details of course speakers are subject to change.
Introduction
Thurs 14 NovThe Pitch: What’s the Story?
Thurs 21 NovThe Character Journey
Thurs 28 NovStructuring Your Serial
Thurs 5 DecStructuring Your Pilot
Thurs 12 DecWinter Break
Writing Scenes
Thurs 9 JanPoint of View & Dialogue
Thurs 16 JanWriting Action
Thurs 23 JanTime & Place
Thurs 30 JanEndings
Thurs 6 FebPitching
Thurs 13 FebThe Agent Q&A
Date TBDConclusion
Thurs 20 Feb
Course fees
Our selective applications process means that you will be writing your script in a peer group of 15 students working at a high level.
The course fee of £1,990 (inc VAT) per student is payable, in full, by bank transfer. Funds must reach our bank account before the course begins. If you are unable to pay the full fee upfront, let us know and we can arrange an instalment plan.
Ready to apply?
Please apply with the opening of your pilot script (up to fifteen pages – maximum 2,200 words) in industry standard format, 300 words synopsising your entire pilot episode and 300 words synopsising the rest of your serial. All of these materials need to be in the same document, as you can only upload ONE PDF file.
The CBC team will select applicants based on the quality of the writing sample provided. The deadline for applications is midnight, end of day Sunday 13 October and we will respond to applicants by Thursday 17 October.
Please upload your application via the form on this page. If you encounter any problems during the application process, or have any more questions about the course, please email help@curtisbrowncreative.co.uk for assistance.
SCHOLARSHIP PLACE
The Breakthrough Scholarship for TV Screenwriters with Low Income will award one talented writer with limited financial means a place on this three-month course. Deadline Sunday 20 October.
Breakthrough Scholarship for TV Screenwriters with Low Income
