Join us and learn how to write a TV pilot that sells the whole series, not just the first episode.
One day. Online. Replay for one year
Wed 30 Dec 2026 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM GMT
Do you have a killer idea for a story that you KNOW would make a terrific TV series? It's time to write the pilot.
The pilot is an elusive writing challenge. It has to work as a stand alone story and as the first step into a much larger world. It is also your calling card, a pitch for a much bigger job. Executives are not just looking for a great read, they are looking for ten, twenty, even a hundred hours of television, and they need to see it on page one.
In this one day seminar, Bob Schultz demystifies the TV pilot and shows you how to write one that puts you in the best position to break into the most exciting arena for screenwriters.
By the end of the day you will
Understand what network and streaming executives look for in a pilot, specifically
Know the unique structure that a pilot always follows, regardless of network or genre
Have a world and a cast that can generate stories season after season
Know how and when to layer in the details that make the biggest impact
Leave with actionable strategies to develop your own pilot
Part 1: What Makes A Pilot Work (The Promise)
Why the pilot is unlike any other script, and what a commissioning executive needs to feel by the end of page one.
Outcome: a clear grasp of what your pilot must promise the audience and the buyer
Part 2: The Shape Of A Pilot (Structure)
Mapping the structure that great pilots share, from the opening hook to the final moment that makes us need episode two.
Outcome: a structural map for your own pilot
Part 3: Building The Series Engine (World and Characters)
The world, the returning cast and the central conflict that will keep producing stories long after the pilot ends.
Outcome: a series engine that proves your show has legs
Part 4: Learning From The Best (Case Studies)
Examining and analysing some of the greatest pilots of all time, and what you can take from them for your own script.
Outcome: a set of proven techniques to apply to your pilot straight away
Bottom line: why write one script when you could be employed for years writing many?
Wed 30 Dec 2026 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM GMT
Live online with replay for one year