Workshops

TV Writing: Pilot I

Do you have a TV pilot you've been wanting to write in a creative, supportive environment? This is the perfect screenwriting workshop to launch you towards your goal. Over 10 weeks, participants will focus on the development of an original series pilot - starting with a logline, drafting pitch materials, working on character development and arcs, crafting a series bible, and mapping an outline - the key to your pilot! In virtual workshop sessions, participants will receive feedback from their instructor and cohort, as well as discuss reading assignments and pre-recorded lectures.
Take as a standalone course or follow with TV Writing Pilot II.

REGISTERING FOR FALL 2023.
Meeting times: 9/6/23–11/8/23; 10 weeks, 1 meeting per week; W: 6 pm–9 pm CT

Register by 9/4/23 – See workshop details

Feature Screenwriting I

Do you have a great idea for a feature film? Many have great ideas; only few craft them into screenplays. In this 11-week workshop, learn screenwriting fundamentals as you develop an original feature film idea. You’ll create a pitch, logline, treatment, outline, and first act. While no previous screenwriting experience is required, please come prepared with ideas for a feature film. Having completed a college-level English course is also recommended. Take as a standalone course or follow with Feature Writing II.

REGISTERING FOR FALL 2023!
Meeting times:  9/26/23–12/5/23 (10 weeks-no class 11/21), Tu: 7 pm–10 pm CT. 

Register by 9/19/23 – See workshop details

Feature Screenwriting II

Do you have a screenplay that you've been wanting to finish but haven't been able to? Are you stuck on a plot point or a tough scene? In this 10-session workshop we will take your unfinished screenplay to completion with weekly feedback sessions and tips on how to get your story back on track. Come prepared with a cursory knowledge of screenplay structure and at least a completed first act of a screenplay—which you have either developed independently or in Feature Writing Workshop I.

REGISTERING FOR FALL 2023!
Meeting times:  9/7/23–11/16/23 Th: 7 pm–10 pm CT. (No class 10/19)

Register by 9/4/23 – See workshop details

TV Writing: Pilot II

You've got your series bible and your pilot outline, now what? Over 10 weeks, participants will write the first draft of their pilot as outlined in TV Writing: Pilot 1 Workshop I and begin revisions on their second draft. Virtual classes will offer live feedback and discussion, and pre-recorded lectures will continue to offer in-depth information about pilot scripts and the writing process.

REGISTERING FOR SPRING 2024!
Meeting times: 01/03/24–03/06/24, W: 6 pm–9 pm CT.

Register by 12/19/23 – See workshop details

Video Editing 101

Do you have digital footage and images— maybe from your friends' wedding, a big adventure trip, or segments of a how-to video?

Turn your footage into a story and gain editing skills for future digital projects!

This editing workshop is designed for anyone who wants to tell their own digital story. Work with pre-existing digital material—either your own footage or material provided by the workshop—and have fun learning to use post-production software to craft your own family movie, documentary, personal essay, music video, branded content, etc. In addition to crafting a coherent narrative, you’ll learn to do a basic sound mix, perform some color correction, and add titles to your project.

This workshop combines scheduled real-time virtual class meetings via Zoom, asynchronous material, and independent work.
All meetings are 7–9 pm CT. Six 2-hour meetings & two optional office hours.

Schedule:
Week 1: 6/20, Tu (class); 6/22, Th (class)
Week 2: 6/27, Tu (class); 6/29, Th (optional office hour)
HOLIDAY WEEK OFF
Week 3: 7/11, Tu (class); 7/13, Th (optional office hour)
Week 4: 7/18, Tu (class); 7/20, Th (class)

$375

Register by 6/13/23!

Cinematography Intensive

Photographers and Videographers! In this 2-weekend intensive workshop, elevate your craft beyond the basic principles of camera and lighting and explore the cinematic tools used to create an overall visual approach to storytelling. We'll examine film poetics—genre, color, texture, mood, etc.—as well as lighting, lensing continuity, aspect ratio, color grading, and practical on-set strategies and challenges. The workshop will include hands-on exercises and demonstrations of Steadicam operation and higher-end cinematic camera bodies. Takes place in the UT Radio-Televsion-Film studios.

12 pm - 5 pm each day; 4 days
WEEKEND 1 - Sat/Sun - 7/29-7/30
WEEKEND 2 - Sat/Sun - 8/5-8/6

$695

Register now!

Documentary Filmmaking

Documentary film is a process of curiosity, discovery, and storytelling. In this workshop, we will explore the many different types of documentaries and build the basic technical skills to create successful nonfiction films, including selecting compelling topics based on available resources, pre-production, lighting, sound recording, cinematography, interviewing, finding the story, and editing. Over the course of the workshop, participants will each create their own short documentaries (max 10-12 min) and will leave the course with the skills and experience to make many more.

Dates: Meets 12 times over six weeks between June 12 and July 21.

WEEK 1 (2x): 12-Jun, Mon (6-10 pm); 14-Jun, Wed (6-10 pm)
WEEK 2 (3x): 19-Jun, Mon (6-10 pm); 21-Jun, Wed (6-10 pm); 24-Jun, Sat (9 am-5 pm)
WEEK 3 (2x): 26-Jun, Mon (6-10 pm); 28-Jun, Wed (6-10 pm)
[No class for holiday week]
WEEK 4 (1x): 8-Jul, Sat (9 am-5 pm)
WEEK 5 (1x): 12-Jul, Wed (6-10 pm)
WEEK 6 (3x): 17-Jul, Mon (6-10 pm); 19-Jul, Wed (6-10 pm); 21-Jul, Fri (7 -10 pm) -- Final Screening

$795

Register for workshop!