Quebec Writers' Federation Workshops

Spring Session 2010

Develop your writing with the mentorship of an acclaimed professional writer and feedback from your peers.

Workshops take place at the QWF office, Suite 3, Atwater Library unless otherwise indicated.

WRITING FOR THE SMALL SCREEN

Eight Tuesdays, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (March 2–April 20, 2010)

1200 Atwater Avenue, Suite 3
Workshop leader: Leila Basen

You get a temp job as a receptionist and then one day you realize that the construction company you’re working for is really a front for the Russian mafia and that the parade of women through your boss’ office aren’t really dry-wallers. I mean, seriously, how can you climb a ladder in those platform shoes? And that’s when you think, “This is nuts! It’s like I’m living in a bad TV show.”

Or… maybe…a really good TV show?

Whether it’s a comedy, a drama or a rip-off of The Sopranos, every new television show starts off as an idea in someone’s head. But to turn that idea into a five-year run, it takes writing, research, networking and ass-kissing before you can even convince agents, producers and network executives to take your phone call.

But don’t get discouraged. Everyone has to start somewhere.

You can start by taking this course where you’ll learn

• How to tell a story with a beginning, middle and end

• How to break your story down into a dramatic structure

• How to write a script in the proper format

• Understanding the act structures of a one hour drama and a half hour comedy

• The interweaving of multiple story lines and capturing the voices of characters

• How to write a scene

• How to structure an act

• What is story equity?

• And finally, how to write to a pitch that sells your show

For too many years to even mention, Leila Basen has worked as a screenwriter, writing countless episodes of shows such as Street Legal, Road to Avonlea, Max Glick, Ready or Not and Bliss. Her credits as supervising producer/writer include Emily Of New Moon for CBC, Blackfly for Global, Tales of The Neverending Story, winner of the Grand Prize for Best Program, All Categories (2003 Awards of Excellence, Alliance for Children & Television) and Mental Block, broadcast on YTV which she co-created with David Preston. She also co-wrote the award winning, boffo box office feature Bon Cop/Bad Cop starring Patrick Huard.

In a couple of months, Leila is once again packing up the truck and heading out to Calgary for the fourth season of Heartland. With over a million viewers per episode, Heartland is the highest rated drama on CBC.

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