Turn your pilot idea into a solid one-hour series with potential for many episodes
Develop a cast of compelling characters that viewers will follow
Write a full beat outline for the series's pilot episode
Begin writing your original pilot script
About this course:
Anyone who wants to work as a professional television writer has to be able to submit top-notch original material to agents and showrunners. In this fast-paced course, you take your idea for a one-hour TV series and turn it into an outline, write intensively and get feedback from the instructor and fellow participants every week. Throughout this process, you learn how to envision the world of your show; create characters and conflict; build a storytelling engine; and nail down your show's structure, tone, story and act breaks. By the end of the course, you have strong act breaks, a full beat outline and a critique of the beginning pages of your original one-hour pilot script.
Prerequisites
SCRIPT X 421.3 One-Hour TV I and SCRIPT X 421.4 One-Hour TV II; or SCRIPT X 421.3N One-Hour TV Intensive I and SCRIPT X 421.4N One-Hour TV Intensive II; or department approval.
Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.
This course meets in person at the designated class meeting time and location, including a combination of required in-person and limited Zoom meetings – please check the meeting schedule below for exact dates and location. Students must be present at the course meeting time as each student’s final grade may include scores for participation. Please inform your instructor if you will miss a class meeting. You are responsible for any class information you missed. We suggest you arrange with a fellow classmate to share their notes when feasible.
Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from July 28, 2025 to October 05, 2025
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.
This course is held via video teleconference. Instructors use Zoom to offer live class meetings at the designated class meeting time. Students must be present at the course meeting time as each student’s final grade may include scores for participation. Please inform your instructor if you will miss a class meeting. You are responsible for any class information you missed. We suggest you arrange with a fellow classmate to share their notes when feasible.
Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from July 28, 2025 to October 05, 2025
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.
This course meets in person at the designated class meeting time and location, including a combination of required in-person and limited Zoom meetings – please check the meeting schedule below for exact dates and location. Students must be present at the course meeting time as each student’s final grade may include scores for participation. Please inform your instructor if you will miss a class meeting. You are responsible for any class information you missed. We suggest you arrange with a fellow classmate to share their notes when feasible.
Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from November 03, 2025 to January 18, 2026
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Discussion
Tue Jan 6, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in WestwoodUCLA Extension Gayley Center
Discussion
Tue Jan 13, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in WestwoodUCLA Extension Gayley Center
Discussion
Tue Jan 20, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in WestwoodUCLA Extension Gayley Center
Discussion
Tue Jan 27, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in WestwoodUCLA Extension Gayley Center
Discussion
Tue Feb 3, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in WestwoodUCLA Extension Gayley Center
Discussion
Tue Feb 10, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in WestwoodUCLA Extension Gayley Center
Discussion
Tue Feb 17, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in WestwoodUCLA Extension Gayley Center
Discussion
Tue Feb 24, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in WestwoodUCLA Extension Gayley Center
Discussion
Tue Mar 3, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in WestwoodUCLA Extension Gayley Center
Discussion
Tue Mar 10, 2026
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in WestwoodUCLA Extension Gayley Center
-
Wednesday 5:00PM - 8:00PM PT
Future Offering (Opens November 03, 2025 12:00:00 AM)
Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.
This course is held via video teleconference. Instructors use Zoom to offer live class meetings at the designated class meeting time. Students must be present at the course meeting time as each student’s final grade may include scores for participation. Please inform your instructor if you will miss a class meeting. You are responsible for any class information you missed. We suggest you arrange with a fellow classmate to share their notes when feasible.
Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from November 03, 2025 to January 18, 2026
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Online
Wed Jan 7, 2026
5:00PM PT - 8:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Jan 14, 2026
5:00PM PT - 8:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Jan 21, 2026
5:00PM PT - 8:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Jan 28, 2026
5:00PM PT - 8:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Feb 4, 2026
5:00PM PT - 8:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Feb 11, 2026
5:00PM PT - 8:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Feb 18, 2026
5:00PM PT - 8:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Feb 25, 2026
5:00PM PT - 8:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Mar 4, 2026
5:00PM PT - 8:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Mar 11, 2026
5:00PM PT - 8:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
This course applies towards the following certificates & specializations…
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