Alan Kingsberg's TV Writing

Alan Kingsberg began teaching TV Writing at Columbia University in 1999. His students have written for YELLOWJACKETS, INSECURE, 30 ROCK, BILLIONS, KIMMY SCHMIDT, STRANGER THINGS, NARCOS, NEW GIRL, MOZART IN THE JUNGLE, ORPHAN BLACK and THE DEUCE. His class is now available to the public.

8 WEEK COURSE

In a clearly defined step-by-step process you will learn how to write an ORIGINAL PILOT script for a TV SERIES you create. A portfolio of pilot scripts is what you need to get a job as a television writer.

First, we will discuss how to create a series concept that can generate engaging stories over multiple seasons. Next you will learn how to brainstorm story ideas, structure an outline and write scenes with dialogue, all in a constructive, supportive workshop atmosphere. The class covers both 1/2 hour and 1 hour shows.

Class size is small, 9-12 students, so there is plenty of individual attention. The course is designed to make you a better TV writer and prepare you to take on your first professional TV writing job. Valuable for both the beginner and the experienced writer.

Meets for 8 sessions, 2 1/2 hours per session. Click below for dates and times of Available Classes.

WRITERS ROOM SEMINAR

Also being offered is an 8-week advanced workshop with a maximum of 10 students. Modeled on a professional writers room, students actively participate in discussing each others' scripts. Open only to those who have taken previous workshops with Alan.

Both workshops include discussions on how to break into the business by creating a portfolio that can get you an agent, manager or job.

ALAN KINGSBERG

In 1999, Alan Kingsberg created the popular TV writing workshop at Columbia University's Graduate Film School where he taught TV Writing and Advanced TV Writing to Columbia MFA students for seventeen years. His students have won many national contests including multiple first place prizes at the Austin Film Festival, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and The Made in NY Fellowship, an HBO Writing Fellowship, a Fox Writers Intensive Prize and a Humanitas Award, all with scripts written in his workshops.

Alan's students have gone on to be showrunners on YELLOWJACKETS and MOZART IN THE JUNGLE and write for 30 ROCK, INSECURE, BILLIONS, KIMMY SCHMIDT, STRANGER THINGS, NARCOS, ORPHAN BLACK, THE DEUCE, NEW GIRL, EXTANT, THE ORIGINALS, WEEDS, ODD MOM OUT, WANDER OVER YONDER, SMASH, THE DETOUR, LAST MAN STANDING, LAW AND ORDER, VEGAS, ALPHA HOUSE, ONION NEWS NETWORK, CONAN O'BRIEN, and CALIFORNICATION.

Alan has written for numerous network and cable shows including NBC's "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" and Nickeloden's "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" He has been a show runner on five animated TV series including the hits "Winx Club", "Pokemon" and "Cubix". As a show runner he produced or wrote over 220 half hour episodes. Alan is now the Director of the MFA in Television Writing at Stony Brook/Killer Films in Manhattan.

TESTIMONIALS

"Alan is a phenomenal teacher, who taught me everything about TV writing, from story structure to dialogue. In his class, I wrote and revised the scripts that launched my career in the industry." – Vanessa Reisen, Supervising Producer, WEEDS, CALIFORNICATION.

"I went into Alan's Workshops clueless and came out with a pilot script that sold to HBO. I landed an agent at CAA and I'm now working with an amazing team of managers and producers. Alan genuinely loves teaching and giving his students the tools and confidence they need to launch their TV careers." – Natalie Prisco, Show Creator/Writer, HBO.

"Alan has some kind of Jedi genius for feedback. He's lightning fast and right on target. This class was invaluable. In all my years working in entertainment, I've never come across someone whose notes are as specific and helpful." – Eden Wurmfeld; Producer: KISSING JESSICA STEIN, THE HAMMER.

"I had the privilege of taking several TV writing classes from Alan Kingsberg. Not only is he able to present students with an effective method for building a great script, but he is also an excellent resource on the television business as a successful, prolific writer himself." – Grace Edwards, INSECURE, UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT, SURVIVAL OF THE THICKEST.

"The script I wrote in Alan's class won first prize at the Austin Film Festival, secured me an agent, and got me my first feature screenwriting job at Fox Searchlight Films." – Martina Broner, Writer/Producer.

"With Alan's guidance, I built the portfolio I needed to get into NYU's MFA program in Dramatic Writing. Alan's emphasis on character, story and structure gets TV Writing into your bones." – Nina Braddock, Writer - BERLIN STATION, THE SINNER

"Alan inspires you to write. He is straightforward and clear. When you take his class, you'll end up writing a spec script for a TV show. He is the real deal." – Beth Einhorn, Writer: THE TONIGHT SHOW.

"The Scrubs Spec I wrote in Alan's class won the Humanitas award ($10,000). Alan's class prepared me to work successfully in the industry." – Chris Carlson, Editorial Director, SPIKE TV