Want to know what happens in a real U.S. TV writers’ room?
Have experience but want to sharpen your skills?
Now’s your chance.
Join us for a rare, behind-the-scenes experience: a Live Online TV Writers’ Room, powered by Netflix, and led by writer/producer Joe Peracchio (The Flash, The Messengers), who is also a script and story consultant on several series with Netflix International in the Middle East, Brazil and India.
Over the course of four sessions, you’ll witness (or be part of!) the collaborative magic that turns a roomful of ideas into a cohesive episode.
Participants will first learn the do’s and don’t’s of how to be successful in a U.S. writers’ room — ways to make yourself indispensable as well as pitfalls to avoid. In the subsequent three sessions, eight lucky writers will work together under the tutelage of Joe (as Head Writer) to break the second episode of an existing pilot — just like in a real writers' room. You’ll get access to the pilot episode in advance to prepare.
REGISTER TO OBSERVE, OR APPLY FOR A CHANCE TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE BY SUBMITTING A SCRIPT.
All of those who apply to participate in the writer’s room will have their script read by industry professionals.
There will be eight writer spots available, but all participants will gain invaluable insight into how professional TV rooms in the U.S. function — from story beats and character arcs to collaboration and creative problem-solving.
All who register will receive a copy of the pilot script prior to the start of the room so they can follow along the brainstorming process. The series we will be working on is a one-hour light crime procedural drama.
ELIGIBILITY
To apply for selection in the writers’ room:
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You must be an Australian citizen over the age of 18.
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You must be willing and available to be an active participant (including any homework between sessions) live online, on the following dates and times:
Tuesday, October 21
3.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. PDT (U.S.) / Wednesday, October 22, 9.00 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. AEDT (AUS)
Monday, October 27
3.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. PDT (U.S.) / Tuesday, October 28, 9.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m. AEDT (AUS)
Tuesday, October 28
3.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. PDT (U.S.) / Wednesday, October 29, 9.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m. AEDT (AUS)
Wednesday, October 29
3.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. PDT (U.S.) / Thursday, October 30, 9.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m. AEDT (AUS)
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You must apply with a full-length original TV pilot script. No pitch decks or treatments.
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You’ll need a 250-word personal statement — why you want to be selected for this program. Let us know who you are!
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The application does not guarantee you will be selected. Only eight participants will be chosen. All submissions will be reviewed by industry professionals.
IMPORTANT
If selected as one of the eight writers in the “room”, you’ll be expected to actively participate and follow the guidelines of a professional U.S. writers’ room, which will be discussed in Session 1.
To participate as an observer
All are welcome!
Applications for writers’ room participation close on Thursday, October 2, 4.00 p.m. PDT / Friday, October 3, 9.00 a.m. AEDT.
SESSION 1 | Inside the U.S. Writers’ Room (90 minutes)
Learn about navigating a typical U.S. writers’ room - the hierarchy of writer and producer roles, the do’s and don’t’s and unwritten rules, ways to stand out and make yourself invaluable, and mistakes to avoid that could hurt your chances of success. You’ll also learn how TV staffing works - how do shows put together their writers’ rooms and make hiring decisions?We’ll also talk about how to prepare for your first day in a room - you got the job, now what?!
When:
Tuesday, October 21, 3.00 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. PDT (In the U.S.)
Wednesday, October 22, 9.00 a.m. - 10.30 a.m. AEDT (In AUS)
SESSION 2 | Breaking Episode Two - Part One (2 hours)
After having read and watched the pilot, you’ll hear from your Head Writer some initial thoughts about the pilot and the direction of the show, based on the studio or network’s needs/desires. Participants will discuss the themes of the show and episode, tone, character arcs, and season arcs to build to before jumping in and starting to break the episode.
When:
Monday, October 27, 3.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. PDT (In the U.S.)
Tuesday, October 28, 9.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. AEDT (In AUS)
SESSION 3 | Breaking Episode Two - Part Two (2 hours)
Participants will continue breaking the episode, building off what was settled on in the previous session, and bringing new ideas to discuss and brainstorm.
When:
Tuesday, October 28, 3.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. PDT (In the U.S.)
Wednesday, October 29, 9.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. AEDT (In AUS)
SESSION 4 | Breaking Episode Two - Part Three (2 hours)
You’ll finish breaking the episode and then have time to reflect on what worked and didn’t work throughout the process.
When:
Wednesday, October 29, 3.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. PDT (In the US)
Thursday, October 30, 9.00 a.m. - 11.00am AEDT (In AUS)
ABOUT JOE PERACCHIO
Joe Peracchio has served as a Consulting Producer / script & story consultant on several series with Netflix International in the Middle East, Brazil, and India, as well as a series with MediaCorp Television in Singapore. In the U.S., he’s written for Deception (ABC) & The Flash (The CW), both for Warner Bros. TV, and for The Messengers (CBS/CW). He was part of the producing team for ESPN's 30for30 documentary Trojan War and was a writer and actor for the Emmy-nominated series Fences on PBS for two seasons. He has worked as a writer/producer on over one hundred episodes of network and streaming television and has been nominated for numerous awards including the Humanitas Drama & New Voices Fellowships.
PRICING
Application to Participate: $150 USD
Price includes the application fee. If you are not one of the eight writers selected, you will automatically be registered as an observer and receive the Zoom links.
Register to Observe: $75 USD
Applications for writers’ room participation close on Thursday, October 2, 4.00 p.m. PDT / Friday, October 3, 9.00 a.m. AEDT.