Running the Show

Running the Show is an advanced training course for head writers, producers, established writers, or those in similar creative roles who have experience working in TV production.

It’s suitable if you’re:

• Looking to accelerate your career and take the next step into the lead creative role
• Interested in the US showrunner model and want to know how to apply it to your work as a writer or producer from wherever you are in the world
• Seeking a greater understanding of the producorial process for scripted TV drama

This professional training allows you to:

• Understand the multiple roles and functions of a successful showrunner within the constraints and specific opportunities of the studio system
• Become familiar with the development process and the vocabulary, business models, production set-up and team structure of this system
• Identify and suggest good story solutions, in outlines and scripts and when giving and receiving notes
• Practise the range of creative, practical, management and critical-thinking skills required to run a show
• Understand how to apply the theory to practical tasks within your own professional context
• Develop a plan to accelerate your career

Session 1: From Writer to Manager

Gain an overview of the role of showrunner, explore the business models and psychological, personal and cultural transition required to step up from writer to writer-producer.

Featured guest speaker: Jeppe Gjervig Gram, Screenwriter (Follow the Money, Borgen)

Session 2: Managing Writers and the Writing Process – Part One

Learn how to set up a productive writing room and writing process, with emphasis on how to apply the fundamentals of storytelling and analysis.

Featured guest speaker: Frank Spotnitz, Writer, Producer, Chief Executive of Big Light Productions

Session 3: Managing Writers and the Writing Process – Part Two

Take an in-depth look at outlines and the script-drafting process, giving effective notes, and handling writer-related problems. As an exercise you’ll create a writers room schedule based on projected production and air dates.

Featured guest speaker: Emma Frost, Writer, Showrunner (The Spanish Princess, The Man in the High Castle)

Session 4: Managing Production and Budgets

Gain an overview of the key players in your production team, how to manage them, and how to make shows on time and on budget.

Featured guest speaker: Craig Siebels, Director, Executive Producer (Good Sam, Burn Notice)

Session 5: Managing Executives and Crises

Develop effective strategies for building constructive relationships with executives, and to learn how to handle the unexpected.

Featured guest speaker: Alexander Carey, Writer, Producer (Homeland, A Spy Among Friends)

Session 6: Managing Directors and Actors

Gain a working understanding of directors and actors, and how to communicate effectively with both.

Session 7: Managing Postproduction

Understand the work flow in postproduction and how to take an episode from director’s cut through final mix.

Featured guest speaker: Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul, Director (The Rookie, All American)

Session 8: Managing Yourself

You’ll apply all the learning to assess the skills you have and those you need to develop further as you compile a personal game plan to take your career forward. Jeff explains why there’s never been a better time to write for television and looks at work-life balance.

Featured guest speaker: Sumerah Srivastav, Writer (Lupin, Manifest)

ScreenSkills – This course has been made possible by the support of ScreenSkills, and has been approved as part of an informal or formal continuing professional development (CPD) programme. You may be eligible for a training bursary for this course. Apply direct to ScreenSkills here, at least four weeks before the course start date.

Fully-funded in-house bursary – For each iteration of the course, we will fully fund one applicant’s place who’s in need of financial support. Please use the relevant section of the course application form to explain why you meet this criteria. Please note that the bursary will be awarded 8 weeks before the course start date, so please submit your application before then to be considered for the funding.

As this counts as CPD training, you may also be able to get funding from your employer to do it.

Join our alumni – After your course, you can join our online alumni community where you’ll meet our growing network of past students. You’ll be able to.

• Rejoin your classmates in a private forum
• Continue to access an archived version of your course materials
• Meet alumni from other courses and share work for feedback
• Join discussions about screenwriting, script editing and the industry
• Attend live chats with guest writers and industry folk

Mentoring and one-to-one feedback – Our team offer mentoring, script reads and consultancy. We are happy to quote by job or script, or to arrange a longer mentoring scheme as you work on a specific project. We’ll create a package to suit you, so please email [email protected].

Further learning – Explore other story training courses from John Yorke Story, or industry professional courses provided by our partners MediaXchange.