Writing for Children's TV Workshop with Barbara Slade

Born in LA and now living in the UK, Barbara Slade is an award-winning television writer, creator and exec producer with numerous credits on much loved children’s shows such as Angelina Ballerina, Winnie the Pooh, Eloise and Rotten Ralph. She has worked for The Disney Channel, created two original series Dead Gorgeous and Hi Opie and received a Humanitas for one of her episodes of Rugrats. She is a voting BAFTA member and works with production companies and channels around the world.

Barbara will lead this fun, yet intensive workshop that will cover all the elements of what it takes to write for Kid’s TV. With a combination of lecture, individual and group tasks, participants will be led through a step-by-step process to build their skills as a writer and gain a firm understanding of how to succeed in today’s exciting and ever-growing Children’s Television industry.

Day 1: Creating and Developing a Children’s TV Series

Selling a series is difficult. Budgets are down, competition is up, and producers and commissioners have little time to wade through the sea of material that arrive on a daily basis. So how do you get your fantastic idea to stand out from the crowd, and how do you get them to read yours in that five-minute slot before an important lunch meeting?

Day 1 is focused on how to create and develop a strong one-page series concept. Having sold three original ideas with a ‘one-pager’, Barbara believes that if you can’t sell it with a page, you’re not going to sell it with twenty.

Participants will arrive with a simple (3-4 sentences only) idea, be carefully guided through a clear and practical system of development and leave with a solid one-page concept ready to pitch.

Day 2: Children’s TV Scriptwriting Workshop

The Industry is always in need of great writers and learning what it takes to succeed can lead to a solid career both here in the UK and abroad. Day Two of this workshop will focus on the fundamentals of how to write a great script and how to write for the most discerning audience of all… children. Topics will include:

• Creating and developing strong characters and the hero’s journey
• How to hook your audience and keep them hooked
• Three Act Structure and scene structure
• The Importance of Action
• How to Write Strong Dialogue
• How to edit your script and the art of rewriting
• How to build a solid career writing for Kids TV

This will be a packed 2 days of learning and idea development aimed at writers who want to build their skills as Children’s TV writers.

Each day will run from 10am-5pm with a 1 hour break.

Tickets cost £50+booking fee.

There are a limited number of subsidised free bursary places. You are eligible for a bursary ticket if you are in receipt of Jobseekers’ Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Asylum Support, or Universal Credit. If none of the above applies but you feel that you are still eligible, please get in touch. Bursary places will be selected at random from valid applicants.

Please email [email protected] with the subject line Children’s TV Writing Workshop Bursary and briefly outline the way in which you are eligible for a free ticket, before 9am on Monday 1 June.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

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