AFTRS: TV Writing and Directing courses

Yesterday I noted The Secret River as my top local drama for 2015 -which was directed by Daina Reid.

She is soon giving a Masterclass at AFTRS, one of several industry creatives leading short courses in TV Writing and Directing.

Working in television requires a specific skillset. Deadlines are tight and networks are demanding! AFTRS Open has a number of courses at AFTRS in Sydney over the summer break to help you skill-up and stay current in this rapidly changing industry, all taught by experienced practitioners currently working in the industry.

Writing for TV Intensive (11-15 January)
This five-day course with highly experienced TV writer and showrunner Vicki Madden (The Bill, Water Rats, Blood Brothers, The Kettering Incident) will help you take your great TV ideas to the next level. Vicki will take you through the fundamentals of creating viable and original TV drama or comedy series concepts, including working in a team writing environment.

Over the five days you’ll learn about the process of concept creation, the structure of a TV series, how to run A, B and C storylines using theme and structure, how to create a written pitch, writing as part of a team, the role of a story producer and how the plotting room works.

Student feedback for Vicki’s course is great: “I learned a lot! Would recommend this to anyone interested in TV writing and series development.”

Sketch & Short Form Comedy Intensive (1 – 5 February) 
If you want to write, direct and perform sketch comedy or create original online / multiplatform short form comedy and need some help toning your comedy muscles this brand-new, five-day intensive is ideal. Writer/producer Mark O’Toole (Black Comedy, Totally Full Frontal, Spics and Specs, You’re Skitting Me, Tractor Monkeys) will give you the know-how to help make you, and your screen ideas, funnier!

During the workshop you’ll discuss what makes a successful comedy sketch/series (and why some fail), brainstorm sketch and short form ideas, explore how to write razor-sharp dialogue and instantly recognisable characters, plus how to get your funny idea on the screen. Plus you’ll be able to pitch your work to Rick Kalowski, Head of Comedy for ABC for feedback.

Directing Masterclass with Daina Reid (20 – 21 February) 
This intensive and practical weekend course for emerging directors, with hugely experienced TV director Daina Reid, focuses on tools that every director should know in order to feel confident in directing TV series drama: breaking down a script, rehearsal techniques, cinematic tools for scene impact plus working creatively and collaboratively with actors and crew.

One of Australia’s most sought-after directors of premium event television, Daina Reid’s impressive list of credits includes: The Secret River , Ready For This, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Offspring, Rush, City Homicide, Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo, Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War, Paper Giants: Magazine Wars, mini-series Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS, so this is an amazing opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business!

Student feedback for Daina’s previous course was outstanding: “Love Daina’s style of sharing her experience & giving practical tips about the reality of working with actors and also departments.”

AFTRS Open runs TV courses throughout the year in all aspects of TV from writing and directing to production, post production and presenting. You can check out all their current courses at the AFTRS

www.aftrs.edu.au/short-courses/television

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