I recently completed a five week writing seminar with the incomparable Brent Forrester, writer of The Ben Stiller Show, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and The Office. It was incredibly informative (types of endings, story structure, scene structure, what makes something funny), inspiring, and invigorating. There are parts of his writing process, like “telling the story,” that I can’t believe I never used, and will practice forever.
In five weeks I: created an elevator pitch for a comedy pilot, pitched it orally to a writing partner, got feedback, made character sheets, watched like-minded comedy pilots (Adults, Broad City, Alone Together) and broke them down scene by scene, told my pilot story out loud to a writing partner, got more feedback, made cards of scenes/beats, told the story from the cards, and turned the cards into an outline. I am currently writing my (vomit pass + 2 revision) draft, where the magic happens.
I will post the script in four weeks. Stay tuned.
Have:
*INITIATIVE*
*COURAGE*
*HUSTLE*
*KINDNESS*
And
LEAVE IT ALL ON THE DANCE FLOOR.
Brent outlining one of the funniest scenes of all time in the Office
My scene cards for B.F.A.