Writing for Reality Television
In this course, you’ll learn what makes great reality shows tick, how they’re produced from pre-production through post, and even what it takes to get started in the often seemingly counterintuitive world of writing for reality television.
Tailored for beginners and mid-career writers interested in exploring the opportunities reality television offers in today’s media marketplace, this course was composed by one of the industry’s busiest and most recognizable reality television writer/producers. The 12-part course covers everything from a basic understanding of the genre to its process, winding down with the development of an original reality television show concept.
The budget-friendly On Demand option (which is for sale here) gives you more in depth material than the Online option, only without instructor feedback. You'll immediately receive our comprehensive course in PDF format, which provides instructions and exercises on specific skills you will need to succeed as a screenwriter. You can purchase the On Demand option here. To get the Online option with instructor feedback and online discussions with other students, please click here.
In this online writing course you will learn:
- The origins of reality television
- An understanding of how it became the global phenomenon it is today
- How to get the best results from your cast
- How to yield compelling source material
- To create your own show
- How to take your show to market
Course Outline
Session One: Introduction to Reality Television
- Story is Story, and Story is Written: The Role of the Hidden Storyteller in Reality TV
- A Brief History of Reality Television
- Reality Genres and Subgenres
- Understanding the Hybrid Series
- How Reality Has Changed Traditionally Scripted Shows
- The Reality Genre as Fodder for Traditionally Scripted Television
- Overview of Production Hierarchy
- Reviewing Past Episodes and Casting Materials
- Downloading With Your Producers
- Sketching Out Your Profile Interviews
- The Preliminary Outline
- Field notes and hot sheets
- Interviews
- Set Etiquette
- What To Do When the Shoot Goes South
Session Seven: Post production
- Adding Stakes in Post
- Composing a stringout (Paper Cut vs. Avid/Final Cut Pro)
- Act Breaks
- Teases
- Rough Cut / Fine Cut / Locked Cut
- Entry Level Positions
- Building a Reputation on an Invisible Job
- Ethics
- Networking in the Reality Community / Broader Television Community
- Professional Organizations
- Maximizing IMDb and other Resume and Credit Websites.
- The Workable Concept
- The Pitch
- The One Sheet
- The Sizzle Reel
- The One Sheet
- The Sizzle Reel
- Closing discussion; Community review of select pitches
Product Details
- Return policy: This item is not eligible for return.