Pilot Writing Workshop
by Laura Davis

A workshop designed to take you from rough idea to outline and first draft

8 sessions, approximately 2.5 hours each, plus one individual hour-long consult*
Class size: 4-6 
Price:  $450
Class start date: July 18th
*to be scheduled during the course or in the two months immediately following

Note: There will be a 3-week break in the second half of the class during which you’ll write your first draft.

THE IDEA:

I’m a writer/director who also teaches story development at AFI and works as a script consultant. I love to talk story. I love to help writers see their stories come to life and to help shepherd them closer to the finish line. 

I started in indie features but have gravitated towards television over the past decade or so, and, in the process, I’ve discovered a surprisingly slim landscape of resources. Which doesn’t make sense, given it’s a massive undertaking to create an entire world, craft a story engine, and deliver a pilot script that launches us into a story with the potential to continue for seasons… 

So I decided to create a course to help you do just that, the kind of class I would have wanted to take before tackling my first pilot script. 

In it, you’ll have a chance to develop and test your idea for an original series. You’ll be supported by a clear structure (deadlines!) to advance your script at a steady pace. The workshop will provide you with rigorous, reflective feedback to help you coax out the most compelling story and it will also build community for encouragement and accountability.  

For more details see below!

FAQ

But who are you, really?

There are so many ways to answer that question but, for here, I’m a writer/director who has taught screenwriting and worked as a story consultant for over a decade. I earned my MFA as a Michener Fellow in screenwriting and fiction writing at UT-Austin but I got my start slugging through the trenches on my own, wrestling with my early feature scripts and consulting every available resource to figure out what wasn’t working and why. That deep dive into all aspects of craft and structure continues to this day.

I currently teach screenwriting to producing and directing fellows at AFI, and I’ve consulted on countless scripts and manuscripts. My second feature as a writer/director premiered at SXSW and is currently streaming on Amazon. 

Who is this for?

This course is intended for screenwriters with professional experience though it’s open to writers of all genres. It’s designed to be intensive but not manic. My hope is that we can jump into the deep end.  

What is your approach to screenwriting? 

After teaching and studying so many approaches, I have come to the conclusions that a) there is no one approach for everyone or even every story; b) many of the screenwriting/story gurus are saying the same thing in different ways; and c) all of the approaches offer something of value. 

Over the years, I’ve realized that there are only two questions that really matter: Do you (as a watcher/reader) want to know what happens next? And, as importantly, do you care?

Getting to “yes” on both of those isn’t easy, and it helps to have a solid understanding of “classical” story structure and to develop a diagnostic tool kit to help you address problems or to get unstuck. That’s where I come in and that’s where this class will help. 

What’s the vibe of this workshop?

I like to establish an honest, empathetic, and supportive atmosphere. Because, let’s face it, writing can be hard and isolating at times, and I know I do my best work when I’m in a place where craft and a flow state meet and not when I’m in a self-doubting spiral. I find creativity to be a semi-mystical state that can be cultivated through discipline and practice. My best work always feels like channeling; when the characters write their lines themselves or have strong opinions about what they do and don’t want, I know something is going right.  

What do I need to bring to this course?

You need to bring an idea for an original pilot that you could write out as a rough one-page or pitch verbally in 2-3 minutes. It can be rough and unformed or you could even have a draft that you know you want to reassess from scratch. 

How much time will I need to devote to this course?

It depends on your working style and speed so it’s hard to say for certain. It also depends on how developed the idea is at the outset (though conceivably you may get even more from the course the rougher it is). Keep this in mind: the more you put into this course, the more you’ll get out of it. I would plan to write every day. My hope is that you’ll finish with new understandings and practices that you can draw on going forward. 

How do I sign up? Any other questions or concerns?

Just reach out!