Writers Room Workshop: Writing Jokes for Sitcoms + Participate In a Mock TV Punch Up Room
Reviews Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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Erin Leigh Neumeyer I found this workshop to be not only super fun, but truly useful. Kirill did a great job organizing the workshop, so there was a little bit of a writers room glossary and structure at the top then we launched right into to looking over a script and working together to punch it up. I really enjoyed the collaborative nature of the class. We ran into many of the same obstacles you'd have in a real writers room, like pitching a half-baked idea or getting stuck on the same concept for too long because it's so funny, for example - and he was able to help us identify those things and how to tackle them. If you get the opportunity and you want to up your comedy writing game, then definitely take his next workshop! Plus, we all need to laugh more and comedy writing, is pretty funny!
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Stage 32 Television Workshop: Writing Jokes for Sitcoms + Participate In a Mock TV Punch Up Room
**Learn the art of TV joke writing from long time TV comedy writer Kirill Baru and participate in an actual episode punch up room, working to improve scenes from a notable TV comedy.** Jokes don’t just come out of nowhere, and their success is completely reliant on the medium. Things that are funny in conversation or in front of an audience might not be funny on a television show. This is why being “naturally funny” just isn’t enough to make a funny series with great jokes. It takes an understanding of the medium and insight into the types of jokes that work on television. It also usually takes a team of people in a punch up room setting, utilizing multiple perspectives and senses of humor to arrive at the best joke for each situation. Understanding how to find the best jokes in an episode script and learning how to operate successfully in a punch up room setting will help make your own comedy pilot funnier and can give you the tools to be a more desirable member of any TV comedy writers room. Kirill Baru is a sitcom writer and executive producer who has staffed on and sold a variety of live-action and animated comedy shows like Freeform’s BABY DADDY and the critically acclaimed animated show DAN VS. on the HUB. He’s also written and produced several comedies in the kids space, from Disney’s SYDNEY TO THE MAX to Cartoon Network’s MAD: THE ANIMATED SERIES. When Kirill isn’t staffing on shows, he’s developing projects with networks such as Disney and Netflix. He attributes his career to writing comedy that finds a way to have a lot of edge without ever losing any of its heart. Kirill is very familiar with punching up TV scripts, finding ways to make them funnier and finding success in a TV punch up room. In this special extended workshop, Kirill will teach you how to craft effective jokes for any TV comedy. He’ll break down where good jokes come from and the elements needed to make a joke work. Kirill will also lay out the main types of TV jokes you can draw from and walk you through important comedy terminology that’s used in every writers’ room and punch up room. He’ll also go through how to make jokes work with an eye towards scene construction and explain what makes a great punch up room for any TV comedy. Kirill will then lead a TV comedy punch up room, similar to how real TV comedies run them. Everyone who signs up will be able to participate in this room and work with the group to add jokes, fill in pitches, and create alt docs for two scenes of an episode of an actual notable TV comedy. Kirill will provide feedback and analysis or all of the joke pitches. If you’re interested in breaking into TV comedy, it’s so important that you know how to craft great jokes in this specific medium. This workshop is the perfect way to help you get there. Praise for Kirill's Previous Workshop "The workshop was awesome! Going through this workshop and seeing the end result produced by our team of writers (classmates), not only shed light into how the sausage is made, but also showed me that this is something I can actually do. Well worth the investment!" -Kane B. "Kirill's workshop was a great experience. He's a natural teacher, professional, insightful, and encouraging. It was not only educational but practical, allowing the attendees to punch up an actual script as if in the writer's room, followed by him, putting on his showrunner hat and reviewing what had been created by the group. I would highly recommend anyone interested in working as a professional writer, with dreams of being in the writer's room to attend one of his classes." -Dave W. "This was the best online class tv writing class I’ve ever taken. There is only so much the brain can grasp and retain in a lecture format. Kirill did an amazing job structuring the class and providing an in the moment experience — the best way to learn. Thank you." -Barbara G.
How to Develop, Pitch and Sell a Kids TV Series for a Streamer or Network
If you've watched Netflix regularly, you are familiar with their top 10 list and more than likely noticed that kids TV content like COCOMELON, CARMEN SANDIEGO and HENRY DANGER tend to dominate the platform. The truth is there's never been a better time to get involved in kids' TV, especially since networks and streamers are actively looking for new content. Yet in order to write successfully in this space or find success with your own show, you have to know who you are writing for in order to do it well. When writing for kids, you need to be just as knowledgeable and intentional on your approach as you would with any other audience. Just like adults, there are certain aspects to master on how to craft a good and engaging story that younger audiences will latch on to. When writing for kids, you may feel limited in the elements you can include in the story. However, it’s important to remember that when you are writing for kids, you are really writing for a family experience. Kids often watch television with their parents, therefore, it is important to get an understanding of how to write engaging stories that will appeal to all viewers. In order to do this, you need to know what kids are looking for, and how your story aligns with the market’s demand. You not only need to have a compelling story that connects but the tools to pitch and sell your story to producers to get them interested in bringing your project to life. We have the tools and strategies to help you venture across this bridge. Kirill Baru is a sitcom writer and executive producer who’s staffed on and sold a variety of live-action and animated comedy shows and has written in the adult space, where he’s produced series like Freeform’s BABY DADDY and the critically acclaimed animated show DAN VS. on the HUB. He’s also written and produced several series in the kids space, from Disney’s SYDNEY TO THE MAX to Cartoon Network’s MAD: THE ANIMATED SERIES. When Kirill isn’t staffing on shows, he’s developing projects with networks such as Disney and Netflix. He attributes his career to writing comedy that finds a way to have a lot of edge without ever losing any of its heart. Kirill will provide you with a wealth of knowledge and resources on how to successfully craft your TV series for Kids. Kirill will give you an overview of Kids Comedy series and where your series fits in today’s market and discuss some unforeseen obstacles you may face. He will also give you tips on writing for Kids TV such as what kids are drawn to, how not to talk down to them, the difference between Nickelodeon and Disney, how to use POV to your advantage and much more. In addition, Kirill will also teach important aspects of pitching and selling your Kids TV - what makes it different from pitching adult TV, how to create something that kids have never seen before but that is familiar, and the power of co-viewing. Once you have completed this webinar, you will feel much more confident about writing and packaging your Kids TV series and making it market ready. Plus! Kirill will walk you through the pitch document he created for his show EAGLETON ESTATES that he successfully sold to Netflix Kids and provide you with homework of what your next steps should be to sell your own project.
Developing and Pitching Kids Programming
Have you ever wanted to see what it takes to sell a kids show successfully in today’s market? In this webinar, you’ll learn from an executive producer in kids programming what today’s audiences are looking for, how to deliver a great script, and how to pitch and sell your project successfully. Do you have a fantastic idea for the next great kids show? Do you want to inspire and shape the next generation? Or make their day a little brighter with relatable stories with heart? Some of the best comedy writing and storytelling on television comes from kids programming, but the space is rapidly changing as more platforms and networks arrive, each with their own unique needs. These networks need you and your stories to meet their programming demands. In this Stage 32 exclusive webinar, you’ll find out exactly how the pros create and sell their stories to the biggest networks and streaming platforms in town by creating projects with humor, heart, and knowing what kids are watching today. You’ll learn: Tips and current trends in kids television Obstacles and constraints How not to talk down to your audience The difference between Nickelodeon and Disney How to use point-of-view to your advantage Essential elements to seeing your pitch The differences in pitching for kids shows vs. adult shows The power of co-viewing And so much more You’ll be learning directly from executive producer and sitcom writer Kirill Baru. He has worked on and sold both live-action and animated comedy shows in both the adult and kids space, including Disney’s SYDNEY TO THE MAX and Cartoon Network’s MAD: THE ANIMATED SERIES. Kirill also sold the series EAGLETON ESTATES to Netflix Kids and, using this project as a case study, Kirill will walk you through creating his pitch that sold the show, providing you with the steps to sell your own. By the end of this webinar with Kirill, you’ll be confident about writing and packaging your kids television series as a market-ready project. PRAISE FOR KIRILL'S TEACHINGS: "Good information from a successful writer of children's comedies! " -Deborah J. "Loved Kirill and his openness and enthusiasm." Katy D.
TV Writers Room Workshop: Writing Jokes for Sitcoms + Participate In a Mock TV Joke Punch Up Room
**Learn the art of TV joke writing from long time TV comedy writer Kirill Baru and participate in an actual episode punch up room, working to improve scenes from a notable TV comedy.** Jokes don’t just come out of nowhere, and their success is completely reliant on the medium. Things that are funny in conversation or in front of an audience might not be funny on a television show. This is why being “naturally funny” just isn’t enough to make a funny series with great jokes. It takes an understanding of the medium and insight into the types of jokes that work on television. It also usually takes a team of people in a punch up room setting, utilizing multiple perspectives and senses of humor to arrive at the best joke for each situation. Understanding how to find the best jokes in an episode script and learning how to operate successfully in a punch up room setting will help make your own comedy pilot funnier and can give you the tools to be a more desirable member of any TV comedy writers room. Kirill Baru is a sitcom writer and executive producer who has staffed on and sold a variety of live-action and animated comedy shows like Freeform’s BABY DADDY and the critically acclaimed animated show DAN VS. on the HUB. He’s also written and produced several comedies in the kids space, from Disney’s SYDNEY TO THE MAX to Cartoon Network’s MAD: THE ANIMATED SERIES. When Kirill isn’t staffing on shows, he’s developing projects with networks such as Disney and Netflix. He attributes his career to writing comedy that finds a way to have a lot of edge without ever losing any of its heart. Kirill is very familiar with punching up TV scripts, finding ways to make them funnier and finding success in a TV punch up room. In this special extended workshop, Kirill will teach you how to craft effective jokes for any TV comedy. He’ll break down where good jokes come from and the elements needed to make a joke work. Kirill will also lay out the main types of TV jokes you can draw from and walk you through important comedy terminology that’s used in every writers’ room and punch up room. He’ll also go through how to make jokes work with an eye towards scene construction and explain what makes a great punch up room for any TV comedy. Kirill will then lead a TV comedy punch up room, similar to how real TV comedies run them. Everyone who signs up will be able to participate in this room and work with the group to add jokes, fill in pitches, and create alt docs for two scenes of an episode of an actual notable TV comedy. Kirill will provide feedback and analysis or all of the joke pitches. If you’re interested in breaking into TV comedy, it’s so important that you know how to craft great jokes in this specific medium. This workshop is the perfect way to help you get there. Praise for Kirill's Previous Workshop "The workshop was awesome! Going through this workshop and seeing the end result produced by our team of writers (classmates), not only shed light into how the sausage is made, but also showed me that this is something I can actually do. Well worth the investment!" -Kane B. "Kirill's workshop was a great experience. He's a natural teacher, professional, insightful, and encouraging. It was not only educational but practical, allowing the attendees to punch up an actual script as if in the writer's room, followed by him, putting on his showrunner hat and reviewing what had been created by the group. I would highly recommend anyone interested in working as a professional writer, with dreams of being in the writer's room to attend one of his classes." -Dave W. "This was the best online class tv writing class I’ve ever taken. There is only so much the brain can grasp and retain in a lecture format. Kirill did an amazing job structuring the class and providing an in the moment experience — the best way to learn. Thank you." -Barbara G.
How to Create Compelling TV Characters with the Emmy-Nominated Writers of "The Handmaid's Tale" + Get a Copy of the Pilot Script
An Exclusive On-Demand Webinar! Learn directly from the Emmy-nominated writers of THE HANDMAID'S TALE PLUS! Get a free download of the series pilot script Your project is only as good as the characters in it. Character drives everything in television. They’re the reason shows can last for dozens and sometimes hundreds of episodes, as audiences fall in love with these compelling lead characters and crave seeing their evolution. A gripping character’s most memorable moments will be felt by the audience as if they’re living it themselves. Now it's time for you to learn how to craft compelling characters that will leap off the page and into your audience's hearts. In our continued commitment to bringing you world-class education, we're bringing in the Emmy-nominated writers of THE HANDMAID'S TALE, Nina Fiore and John Herrara. In this exclusive webinar, they will take you behind the scenes of how professionals develop characters at the highest level, as well as go over case studies of hit shows and give you tools you can use when crafting your own characters. PLUS! Everyone who registers will get a copy of the THE HANDMAID'S TALE pilot script!This is a webinar you do NOT want to miss. Praise for Nina and John's Stage 32 Teaching: "Nina and John are fantastic. Not only as writers on one of my favorite shows ever, but as educators. I really learned so much from them. Thank you." -- Martina M. "It's easy to see why these two are Emmy-nominated!" -- Morgan L. "Wow. I'm blown away by the quality of teaching with this one. Some of the best educators on Stage 32." -- Rishi L.
How to Begin Your Career as a Writer/Director and Direct Your Own Content
All of us are storytellers. Are Your Ready To Write & Direct Your Feature Film? No matter what part of the film or TV making process you are involved in ultimately your job is to tell your story in the best way possible - on the page or on the screen. And, sometimes, if you get a story on the page you realize that there is no one better than you to be able to direct that vision. Maybe you have a vision for the way your characters look or how they talk. Maybe you have a vision for a set piece that you just know, if shot just right, will make a scene perfect. Ultimately what's in your Mind's Eye can catapult you to be an excellent director for your project. But, where do you begin? Becoming a first time writer/director takes a lot of risk on both sides creative and professional. Creatively, you may not have the experience to be able to correctly execute your vision in the way your mind sees it. Professionally, a producer or financier has to take a risk on you and believe in you to make sure that they make back the money they invest in you. Although this isn't an easy scenario for either side, the great news is that it can be done. And, we've brought in a Stage 32 Educator who has helped do just that for first time writer/directors Britt Poulton and Dan Madison Savage whose film THEM THAT FOLLOW got produced by Gerard Butler, starred Oscar-winner Olivia Colman and screened at Sundance! Josh Sathre is the Production Executive at Amasia Entertainment, where he was the executive on WILD MOUNTAIN THYME starring Jamie Dornan, Emily Blunt, Jon Hamm and Christopher Walken. He is also in active development on many of Amasia's projects with major studios. He is actively working with newer writer/directors and has seen incredible success...as long as they are prepared for the opportunity. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, Josh will teach you the ins and outs of what it takes to stand out as a writer/director in order for you to effectively get your shot at making your first feature film!
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