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Turn your pilot idea into a solid one-hour series with potential for many episodes
Develop a cast of compelling characters that viewers will follow
Write a full beat outline for the series's pilot episode
Begin writing your original pilot script
About this course:
Anyone who wants to work as a professional television writer has to be able to submit top-notch original material to agents and showrunners. In this fast-paced course, you take your idea for a one-hour TV series and turn it into an outline, write intensively and get feedback from the instructor and fellow participants every week. Throughout this process, you learn how to envision the world of your show; create characters and conflict; build a storytelling engine; and nail down your show's structure, tone, story and act breaks. By the end of the course, you have strong act breaks, a full beat outline and a critique of the first ten pages of your original one-hour pilot script.
Prerequisites
SCRIPT X 421.3 One-Hour TV I and SCRIPT X 421.4 One-Hour TV II; or SCRIPT X 421.3N One-Hour TV Intensive I and SCRIPT X 421.4N One-Hour TV Intensive II; or department approval.
Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.
This course meets in person at the designated class meeting time and location, including a combination of required in-person and limited Zoom meetings – please check the meeting schedule below for exact dates and location. Students must be present at the course meeting time as each student’s final grade may include scores for participation. Please inform your instructor if you will miss a class meeting. You are responsible for any class information you missed. We suggest you arrange with a fellow classmate to share their notes when feasible.
Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from July 28, 2025 to October 05, 2025
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Discussion
Mon Sep 22, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center in Westwood UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 209
Discussion
Mon Sep 29, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center in Westwood UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 209
Discussion
Mon Oct 6, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center in Westwood UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 209
Discussion
Mon Oct 13, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center in Westwood UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 209
Discussion
Mon Oct 20, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center in Westwood UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 209
Discussion
Mon Oct 27, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center in Westwood UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 209
Discussion
Mon Nov 3, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center in Westwood UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 209
Discussion
Mon Nov 10, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center in Westwood UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 209
Discussion
Mon Nov 17, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center in Westwood UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 209
Discussion
Mon Dec 1, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center in Westwood UCLA Extension Lindbrook Center 209
Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.
This course is held via video teleconference. Instructors use Zoom to offer live class meetings at the designated class meeting time. Students must be present at the course meeting time as each student’s final grade may include scores for participation. Please inform your instructor if you will miss a class meeting. You are responsible for any class information you missed. We suggest you arrange with a fellow classmate to share their notes when feasible.
Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from July 28, 2025 to October 05, 2025
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
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