DIR101 Intro to Directing for Television
In this one-week course, award-winning film and TV director Jarrett Lee Conaway of NBC’s “Grand Crew” will provide a comprehensive look at the theory and practice behind single camera episodic television directing with a focus on pre-production. Students will learn the fundamentals of script analysis, blocking, and shot-listing, and the programs directors use in prep. They will also be familiarized with the scheduling and casting process. Lectures will be accompanied by case studies from produced TV episodes followed by Q&A with working industry professionals. The course will culminate in students presenting their own director’s prep materials based on a real TV script.
Class Details
Objectives
- How to read a TV script and the differences between TV and film scripts
- Script Analysis: Breaking down A, B, and C plotlines
- Character Analysis: Character arcs, power dynamics, intentions, COW Charts
- Introduction to Scriptation app
- Case Study & Discussion: “Grand Crew” S1 E05 & S2 E06
- Homework: Read and select scenes for final presentation, Watch guest’s episode
- Discuss the fundamental difference between a director’s role in TV vs Film.
- Discuss Guest Director vs. Pilot Director, Single Cam vs Multi-Cam Directing
- Directing Theory: Review the core directing styles with examples and breakdown their
- elements: Traditionalist, Documentarians, Impressionists, Adrenaline Junkies,
- Experimentalist, Paper-Mache
- Mise en scène: Shot composition, camera movement, and lighting
- The Big 3: Character Introductions, Transitions, and Reveals
- Shotdeck tutorial and deck making
- Guest Speaker: TV Director Kayla Compton (The Flash)*
- Homework: Read American Cinematographer article on “Game of Thrones” and review storyboards
- Blocking Actors (in prep)
- Shotlisting: Shotlister tutorial, Google Docs, shot list vs edit list, sched. vs scene order
- Overhead Camera Diagrams: Shot Designer tutorial
- Storyboards: Magic Poser or Shot Pro tutorial (if time allows)
- Pre-Vis, Stunt-Vis, ScreenCraft volume prep examples
- Case Study & Discussion: “Grand Crew” shot lists, “Bite Me” Storyboards, etc.
- Homework: Work on Final Presentation (Shot lists, Overheads, Storyboards – pick 2)
- Discuss the role of the 1st AD, familiarize with Movie Magic Scheduling and schedules
- Director of Photography’s role in prep
- Interacting w/ The Showrunner and how to have a successful tone meeting
- Working with the Writing Producer and what to expect when on set – so you may better prep: levels, must-shoots, alts, notes, etc.
- Casting Directors & Cast-It. Look at auditions for “Grand Crew”*
- Guest Speaker: 1st AD Courtney M. Franklin (The Sex Lives of College Girls)*
- Homework: Work on Final Presentation
- Overview of everything we’ve learned
- In class time to polish presentations
- Students present prep materials for scenes – shot lists, over heads and/or storyboards
- Watch & Discuss the actual scenes in episodes
- Final Q&A: Ask Jarrett anything else you want to know about the film industry!
Audience
This class is designed for anyone looking to grasp the workflow of a professional television director.
Prerequisites
A working knowledge of Windows or Macintosh operating systems. Experience in video production or post-production is recommended but not required. An iPad with stylus is recommended but not required.
