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EPISODIC TV DIRECTING MASTERCLASS

8 WEEK MASTERCLASS INTENSIVE

[25 HOURS OF COURSE CONTENT]

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Episodic television directing is a delicate balance of storytelling, communication, collaboration and politics. Learn the process of prep and collaboration through workshopping a recent episodic script. Participants gain access to script drafts, director’s plan, location photos/videos, design concept boards and more.

 

Participants will experience the prep process of guest directing for television. Each will learn the steps of prep, production and post-production, the terminology and the politics. PREPPING DIRECTORS will receive feedback on their work. All participants will gian a supportive and engaging community where no question is off the table. This class provide hands-on experience, feedback and insight into guest directing for television.

COURSE INFO

REQUIREMENTS: PREPPING DIRECTOR & SHADOWING DIRECTOR participants must have directed a short, feature film, web series or TV episode or taken Dr. Raimist’s INTRO TO DIRECTING course via TPFS or on the Sundance Collab platform. OBSERVERS can be at any level in their creative process and directing.

 

SUGGESTED SOFTWARE: Scriptation & Keynote/ppt or software for blocking & shot listing


COURSE MEETINGS: Saturdays JAN 25- MARCH 29 (no mtg FEB 8) from 9A-12P PST on Zoom

PROVIDED COURSE MATERIALS

- Script Drafts:

  • StudioNetworkDraft

  • ProductionDraft

  • Colored page revisions: blue, pink, green, yellow, buff and gold

- Design Concepts Boards:​

- Wardrobe Concept Boards & Fitting Photos

- Prop Concept Boards 
- Casting documents

- One-Liners

- Location Scout photos and videos

- Tech Pack for Tech Scout

- Directors Plans for stages and all locations

- Location Scout Photos and Videos

- Call Sheet Examples

- pdf of readings and form templates

ENROLLMENT OPTIONS

— PREPPING DIRECTOR —

TUITION: $1250 DISCOUNT RATE  [$1750 after 1/15/25]


Enrollment as a PREPPING DIRECTOR includes:

  • PDF files of the script draft and all new colored drafts

  • PDF files of colored page script draft updates

  • ​Access to all paperwork & show materials (concept boards, wardrobe, props, etc)

  • COW Handout (from Directors Tell the Story by Bethany Rooney & Mary Lou Belli)

  • Feedback on Script Breakdown 

  • Feedback on Scene Blocking, Shot Lists & Prep Plans

  • Feedback on Notes for Directing Actors

  • Ability to ask questions live in the Zoom sessions

  • 1:1 Mtg with Dr. Raimist within 2 months of end of the course

  • Link to session recordings

  • VIP code to Scriptation Trial

  • Access to TPFS Class Recordings that include:

    • Digital Tools for Directors

    • Scriptation Session

    • Keynote for Blocking

    • Basics of Blocking 

    • Advanced Blocking

​

— SHADOWING DIRECTORS —

TUITION: $750 DISCOUNT RATE [$950 after 1/15/25]

 

Enrollment as a SHADOWING DIRECTOR includes:

  • PDF files of the script draft and revised colored drafts

  • COW Handout (from Directors Tell the Story by Bethany Rooney & Mary Lou Belli)

  • Feedback on one scenes’s blocking and shot list

  • Ability to ask questions live in the Zoom sessions

  • Link to session recordings

  • VIP code for Scriptation Trial

  • Discount for TPFS Coaching (Rate: $100/hr. Regular Rate: $200/hr)

​

— OBSERVERS —

TUITION: $400 DISCOUNT RATE  [$600 AFTER 1/15/25]

 

Enrollment as a class OBSERVER includes:

  • PDF files of the script draft and revised colored drafts

  • No assignment feedback for observing directors

  • No questions answered during class; class observation only

  • Live Class attendance only, no recordings will be provided

  • VIP code to Scriptation Trial

  • Discount for TPFS Coaching ($100/hr. Regular Rate: $200/hr)

Enrollment Options

COURSE SCHEDULE

SAT. JAN 25 - SESSION 1: [3 hours]

Topic: The Politics of Guest Directing in Episodic Television

  • The politics and power players of episodic television directing

  • The guest director’s relationship and communication with the showrunner(s)

  • Collaboration with episode writer(s) and the hierarchy of the writer’s room

  • Collaboration with key department heads: DP, AD and Production Designer

  • The role of the producing director & why shows have or don’t have PD’s

  • Understanding the prep schedule and the types of prep meetings

  • Annotating your script draft with Scriptation (ipad or imac only, no PC)

  • Schedules for Drama (1hr) vs Single Camera (½ hr) vs Multi-Camera (½)

Script Draft: StudioNetwork Draft & Materials: Design Concepts (pdf)

Assignment: Annotate script, review concepts & prepare for concept mtg

​

SAT. FEB 1 - SESSION 2:  [3 hours]

Topic: The Process of Director’s Prep

  • Production Paperwork: Understanding the (Timed) One Liner

  • Casting: Process & Politics

  • Location Scouting: Tips, Tricks & Tools

  • Mock Concept Meeting

Script Draft: ProductionDraft

Materials: Revised Concept, Tech Pack, Location photos/videos & casting materials

Assignment: Prep a scene - blocking, shot list, coverage & shooting order

​

NOTE: NO CLASS meeting on SAT. FEB 8

 

SAT. FEB 15 - SESSION 3:  [3 hours]

Topic: Blocking, Shot Listing & Scheduling

  • Blocking & Shot listing using digital tools

  • Planning shooting order

  • Timed One-Liner and the timing discussion w/1st AD + DP

Script Draft: Blue

Assignments: Read new script draft, update your script annotations using Scriptation 

& Prep a scene: blocking, shot list & shooting order (Prepping & Shadowing Directors)

 

SAT. FEB 22 - SESSION 4:  [3 hours]

Topic: Blocking Bootcamp

  • Prepping Director Shares: blocking & shot listing 

  • Feedback: Prepping Director’s shooting plans

  • Lessons in creativity, efficiency & how to make your day

Script Drafts: Pink & Yellow

Assignment: Prepare approach to directing actors. Make notes for scene(s). 

 

SAT. MARCH 1 - SESSION 5:  [3 hours]

Topic: Prep Continues + Directing Actors, Stunts, Action and Set Piece Scenes

  • Wardrobe boards & fittings photos, HMU mtgs & giving feedback

  • All the prep mtgs: props, stunts, sfx, vfx, 

  • Tables Reads

  • Rehearsals

  • Tips for Directing Actors

  • Directing Intimacy

  • Directing Stunts, Actions, VFX, etc

Script Draft: Green & Yellow

Assignment: Prepare blocking, shot list for the most challenging scenes.

​

SAT. MARCH 8 - SESSION 6:  [3 hours]

Topic: Advanced Blocking Bootcamp

  • Prepping Director Shares: Blocking & Shot listing hardest scene

  • Prepping Director Feedback 

Script Draft: Buff
Materials: Tech Pack, Timed One-Liner & Call Sheet

Assignment: Prepare approach to directing actors. Make notes for scene(s).

 

SAT. MARCH 15 - SESSION 7:  [3 hours]

Topic: Production & Prepping Director Shares: Blocking & Shot listing 

  • Feedback on prepping director plans

  • Production Meeting, Tech Scout & reviewing call sheet

  • Tone meeting

  • Tips for “on the day” & working with the production crew

  • Working with your script supervisor

  • Prepping for work with the editor

Assignment: Prepare any final questions for our last session

Script Draft: Gold

 

SAT. MARCH 29 - SESSION 8:  [3 hours]

Topic: Post-Production & Developing a Director’s Reputation

  • The editing timeline & the post-production team

  • Working with music, graphics, titles and stock footage

  • Tips for getting the job and getting asked back (repeat business!)

  • & Ask Anything - final session!

Assignment: PREPPING DIRECTORS - Schedule your 1:1 session before May 30th

Email: ThePeoplesFilmSchool@gmail.com to with best dates/times to meet.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

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Dr. Rachel Raimist is a working episodic television director and a formerly tenured college professor. Her recent directing credits include ELSBETH (CBS), BEL AIR (Peacock) and THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (Roku). She directs drama, sci fi, family fantasy, action, soapy stories, sexy stories, musicals and comedy.

Raimist has been teaching directing and production for 20+ years. SHe currently teaches directing at American Film Institute (AFI) and for Sundance Collab. She frequently offers directing workshops at The Directors Guild of America (DGA), The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), The Television Academy (Emmys).

She has taught directing, cinematography, production and industry courses at: New York University (NYU LA), Syracuse University (SULA), Temple University in Los Angeles, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Elon University in Los Angeles, Macalester College, Carleton College, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Irvine (UCI).


She is a leader at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) where she was the first woman appointed as Co-Chair of the Special Projects Committee. She is also Co-Chair of the Disability Committee and Alt. Co-Chair of the Women’s Steering Committee. She is co–founder of the annual Women’s Day at the DGA, and has served as Alt. Co-Chair of the Latino Committee and served on the leadership team of The WSC Squad mentorship.

​

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1325497/

WEBSITE: RachelMakesMovies.com

https://www.rachelmakesmovies.com/

APPLICATION, OPTIONS & DEADLINES

Upon acceptance in the masterclass, participants have 48 hours to accept the spot in the course and pay the tuition. Participants can opt to register at a later date, but space is limited and cannot be guaranteed. 

EARLY BIRD TUITION DEADLINE: January 15

OPTION 1: PREPPING DIRECTOR  - see details above

DISCOUNT RATE TUITION: $1250 [$1750 after 1/15/25

 

OPTION 2: PREPPING DIRECTOR - see details above

DISCOUNT RATE TUITION: $750 [$950 after 1/15/25]
 

OPTION 3: OBSERVER - see details above

DISCOUNT RATE TUITION: $400 [$600 after 1/15/25]​​

For more information, please email thepeoplesfilmschool@gmail.com

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