The Rewrite Stuff: 12 Ways to a Stronger Series
Spend an intensive week working on twelve key aspects of your TV series design while perfecting your pitch, get feedback from experienced peers through a series of group and individual meetings led by Emmanuel Oberg and be ready to take the market by storm within 12 weeks!
Highly Recommend
Emmanuel Oberg’s The Rewrite Stuff helped my co-writer and I to crack open our project, Killfluencers, and detect where it needed work. Examining it under twelve topics led to great clarity. The programme offered an incredibly opportunity to spend a significant block of time together, really diving into our TV series, taking onboard feedback from other teams and Emmanuel himself – who would make a great showrunner. We have come away with a great clarity and focus and look forward to a review of our results by Emmanuel in twelve week’s time. Thanks Emmanuel!
Enjoyable and Inspiring. Definitely worthwhile
No matter how experienced or how much you (think you) know, this immersive, intensive, and interactive 12-step course is a brilliant way to dig deep into your original TV drama series. The daily structure is well-organised and focused on individuals within the wider group improving development, editing & re-writing skills alongside re-evaluating the strengths/weaknesses of their overall project. The extra plus is teaming up with like-minded writers and the core takeaways are lifelong lessons for the future. If you are an ambitious screenwriter with a well-developed concept apply, enjoy & learn from Emmanuel, the other individuals in your group & most of all from the constant re-appraisal and challenges you need to set yourself each day and afterward going forward. Hard work but enjoyable and inspiring. Definitely worthwhile.
Give Your Series a Total Makeover in 12 Weeks
Apply all the tools explored in the TV Series Workshop or Course to your own project, with feedback from a group of experienced peers led by Emmanuel Oberg
Workshop Profile
The Rewrite Stuff follows on from Emmanuel's acclaimed TV Series Workshop, which has been delivered successfully across Europe since 2019 and was recently adapted into an interactive online course. You can read more about the last edition of The Rewrite Stuff here.
Based on Oberg’s innovative Story-Type Method®, this rewrite workshop builds on the flexible tools and principles explored during the TV Series Workshop/Course and puts them into practice through an intensive process that tackles both the story design of an existing TV Series project and how to best pitch it and sell it. Note: For Feature Film projects, please see The Rewrite Stuff: 12 Ways to a Stronger Screenplay. This rewrite workshop can also be adapted to follow a genre add-on module focusing specifically on thriller, comedy or animation projects.
The Rewrite Stuff is project-based, so up to twelve projects are selected at least a month before the beginning of the workshop. The initial week takes one of the final topics in the course/workshop — "12 Ways to a Stronger Series" — as a framework to focus on twelve key areas of series design through project work. It ends with a series of individual meetings to define the aims of the rewrite. An optional follow-up meeting within the next 12-24 weeks can be offered to assess the revised series and provide final feedback.
The aim of the workshop is to give each project a complete makeover. By the end of the first four days, participants will have a clearer understanding of their series design, they’ll have received constructive feedback from their peers through group work led by Emmanuel and they’ll have refined their pitch (both written and verbal). After the first individual meeting with Emmanuel immediately following that, they’ll have a clear action plan for a rewrite. Following that rewrite, after a final meeting with Emmanuel, they should have a project ready to go to market, whatever that market is according to the project’s development stage: attaching an agent or a producer, raising development or production finance, etc.
Video Testimonial
Denise Deegan is an Irish novelist & PAGE Award-winning screenwriter who did two TV Series workshops with us during 2021-2022 and whose career has since seen a meteoric rise! She took part in the previous edition of 'The Rewrite Stuff' (for TV Series) and she discusses her experience with Emmanuel in the interview below. After the video, you'll find links to the parts directly related to 'The Rewrite Stuff':
- 08'31'' - Why did you apply to 'The Rewrite Stuff - 12 Ways to a Stronger Series'?
- 11'22'' - How did 'The Rewrite Stuff' help you move your project and your career forward?
- 13'18'' - Was the training (TV Series workshop and 'The Rewrite Stuff') worth it and would you recommend it?
Participant Profile
The Rewrite Stuff is aimed at experienced creative professionals working in script development in the TV series sector:
- Development Teams (writer / director / creator / showrunner / producer / story editor developing the same project). A team cannot apply without a project and the associated writer / creator. Min. 2, max. 4 applicants per team.
- Co-writers developing the same project together as team, who haven't attached a producer yet.
- "Solo" writers developing a project on their own, as long as they are happy to be paired with another solo writer for the duration of the main workshop (4 days). When working as a team, both solo writers will have read each other’s project and will work on both projects during the project work sessions. Solo writers might also be paired with a solo director / producer / story editor (see below).
- In some cases, "solo" story editors / producers / development execs can apply without a project. If selected, they will be paired with a solo writer to help them on their project during the project work sessions and might be invited to attend the initial and follow-up individual meetings with the writer.
The ideal participant is experienced, has preferably done our TV Series Workshop or online course, and is looking to develop a project with an international potential for a worldwide audience.
Note 1: Applicants must be available for the entire duration of the workshop (4 full days + 1.5 hours on day 5/6 or online the following week). They should be happy to read up to six projects from other participants (each project being 15 pages max.) and be happy for other participants to read their project. Confidentiality & Non-disclosure agreements will be issued.
Note 2: Participants are expected to have attended our TV Series Workshop or online course, so that everyone speaks a common language during the workshop. Access to the interactive online course can also be provided for selected participants (please see options in the Fees section). Ideally, this hands-on rewrite workshop immediately follows a TV Series Workshop.
Eligible Projects
Applicants with a project (solo writers, co-writers or development teams) should have a TV Series project with a treatment / bible / pitch deck describing the whole series (if limited) or at least the first season (if serial / procedural). This working document should be at most 15 pages long.
Once selected, participants with a project can also submit a draft of the pilot / first episode (max. 90 pages) before the workshop for feedback during individual meetings. However, having a pilot ready isn't necessary to apply.
Submitting an outline of each episode for the first season and arcs for future seasons is welcome but not necessary as these can be added during or after the workshop.
Any series type (procedural, serial, anthological, etc.) or genre is eligible, except non-fiction / documentaries.
Workshop Overview
The workshop starts with a 'meet and greet' and a short introduction, immediately followed by a pitching session so that everyone gets to know all the other participants and their projects.
Emmanuel then introduces the first of the “12 Ways to a Stronger Series” (series type, story-type and genre) to the full group so that participants can start working on their projects, while meetings led by Emmanuel take place to discuss projects in split groups (4 to 6 projects per group). Project work on the first topic is then debriefed with the full group at the end of day 1.
Over the next three days, project work continues in small teams on the remaining eleven topics, each session starting with a short brief and ending with a debrief with Emmanuel, before a final pitching session and conclusion at the end of day 4. Emmanuel remains available at all times to answer questions arising during project work on days 2, 3 and 4.
A series of individual project meetings with Emmanuel will take place on days 5-6 or online the following week, to wrap things up and define a clear action plan for the rewrite of each project. An optional follow-up meeting can be held within 12-24 weeks to provide final assessment and feedback before the project goes to market.
Like the TV Series Workshop, this hands-on workshop puts a strong emphasis on each project reaching the widest possible audience, both at home and abroad, without limiting the storytellers' creative freedom.
This live, interactive workshop can be fine-tuned to the specific needs of a production company, regional / national funding body or studio. For example, the number of projects, participants and meetings can be adjusted as needed and optional access to the online course can be offered to participants before, during and after the workshop. Please see the fees and options below for more details.
It is delivered online as standard to closed groups of ten to forty-eight participants. Travel permitting, it can also be delivered in person.
The Rewrite Stuff - Fees on July 1st, 2024
Excl. 20% UK VAT where applicable
INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION COMPANY
From £9,995
for 4 projects (max. 6)
- Includes preparation and online delivery for one meeting per project
- £695 for each additional project
- Optional follow-up meeting within 12-24 weeks £595 per project
- Travel & accommodation, A/V equipment / Meeting room costs not included
- All individual meetings are Advanced Script Chats (up to 90 min.)
- Maximum 6 projects / 24 participants
This version of the workshop is aimed at independent production companies looking to give an accelerated boost to up to six projects in active development on their slate.
For more than six projects, producers are invited to select the group / studio option.
The main difference between the two options is that there are no split groups for independent producers. Participants read all the projects and we discuss them as one group.
OPTIONAL GROUP LICENSE
From £1,595
For up to 23 participants
- This group license includes 180-day access to the TV Series self-led course for up to 20 participants who have done the TV Series course or workshop in the past and up to three who have not already done it.
- £149 for each additional participant (reduced to £79 if they have already done the TV Series course or workshop in the past).
If the "Rewrite Stuff" hands-on workshop doesn't immediately follow a TV Series Workshop, it can be beneficial to provide access to the TV Series Online Course to participants so that they can go through the content to prepare and access it for reference during or after the hands-on workshop.
If the "Rewrite Stuff" workshop follows a TV Series Workshop before the 90-day window to the online course expires, then the course access is extended from 90 days to 180 days and there is no additional cost for those participants.
FILM FUND OR GROUP / STUDIO
From £12,995
for 8 projects (max. 12)
- Includes preparation and online delivery for one meeting per project
- £695 for each additional project
- Optional follow-up meeting within 12-24 weeks £595 per project
- Travel and accommodation, A/V equipment / Meeting room costs not included
- All individual meetings are Advanced Script Chats (up to 90 min.)
- Maximum 12 projects / 48 participants
This version of the workshop is aimed at regional / national funds or organisations who would like to train a larger number of participants (up to 48, with a maximum of 12 projects).
It's also the option a media group or studio would go for to boost the development of up to 12 series projects.
Participants are split into half-groups during group work so that they don't have to read more than six projects (each 15 pages max).
FAQs From Potential Participants
What People Say About This Workshop
Highly Recommend
Emmanuel Oberg’s The Rewrite Stuff helped my co-writer and I to crack open our project, Killfluencers, and detect where it needed work. Examining it under twelve topics led to great clarity. The programme offered an incredibly opportunity to spend a significant block of time together, really diving into our TV series, taking onboard feedback from other teams and Emmanuel himself – who would make a great showrunner. We have come away with a great clarity and focus and look forward to a review of our results by Emmanuel in twelve week’s time. Thanks Emmanuel!
Enjoyable and Inspiring. Definitely worthwhile
No matter how experienced or how much you (think you) know, this immersive, intensive, and interactive 12-step course is a brilliant way to dig deep into your original TV drama series. The daily structure is well-organised and focused on individuals within the wider group improving development, editing & re-writing skills alongside re-evaluating the strengths/weaknesses of their overall project. The extra plus is teaming up with like-minded writers and the core takeaways are lifelong lessons for the future. If you are an ambitious screenwriter with a well-developed concept apply, enjoy & learn from Emmanuel, the other individuals in your group & most of all from the constant re-appraisal and challenges you need to set yourself each day and afterward going forward. Hard work but enjoyable and inspiring. Definitely worthwhile.
Emmanuel’s insight has totally re-energized my passion and enthusiasm for my project
I recently completed Emmanuel’s “Rewrite Stuff” workshop and I cannot praise it highly enough. Emmanuel’s insight has given me so much to think about and has totally re-energized my passion and enthusiasm for my project and now I can’t wait to get re-writing and pitching. In addition to his own insights Emmanuel also fostered a really warm and open environment in which all the writers and producers in the room felt completely at ease discussing each others projects openly and honestly. The workshop worked wonders for my own confidence in what my project can become. I would absolutely recommend any writer jump at the chance to take part in this workshop!
An intense and rewarding course
I took Emmanuel’s Rewrite Workshop as I had hit a wall with the TV series I was writing. I can honestly say this is one of the best writing courses I have taken. It clarified so much for me around story type, story structure and series design. It gave me real, actionable next steps to reassess my series and take it to the next level. I am excited to get back to developing my series and confident my next pass will be much improved having had my mind slightly altered (in a good way!) by Emmanuel.
A must for any writer looking to take their TV series to the next level
I cannot stress how good this course was. It gave us focus even before the start date of the actual course as we had to write a bible, pitch and read other projects. The course itself was very well organised with an emphasis on group work, collaboration, feedback. It was well structured and each step that was covered gave us great focus in terms of looking at our projects anew. The group dynamic was very open and constructive. Emmanuel managed it all seamlessly and made it a very safe, creative space. I left the course with a clearer vision of what I wanted to achieve and the tools to make it happen.
The follow up meeting has given us a definite timeline to get our project pilot written and the fact that Emmanuel will meet us again in July to see how we are progressing is another great incentive to keep going.
An incredible few days breaking the back of a TV series
I embarked on Emmanuel’s course in an effort to re-write a TV series that was early in development and I am so glad that I did. The core of my story, the why if you will for the main character, was not working and after a few days of working through the 12-step Rewrite model, I cracked it. Everyone in the writersroom setting had a chance to do an elevator pitch on day 1, and then again on day 4, with half the room having read the longer pitch/treatment. I found this a really interesting, revealing process and the pitch practice was fantastic.
Being in the room in-person, with other brilliant writers, after covid, was amazing. I learned a huge amount from the other writers and their projects and from the smaller break-out teams that we were paired into.
I would wholeheartedly recommend both Emmanuel’s online courses and the Rewrite week. It has transformed my TV series, and it is a Rewrite model that I will use going forward, again and again, for other TV series and features.
Thank you Emmanuel, and Eibhlín, at Creative Europe Desk Galway. It was a real gift to be chosen for this development course.
If you are going to do one TV writing course, do this one.
I had the pleasure of doing both Emmanuel’s online course and then experience the rewrite course in person. His online course is by far the most succinct, clear and easy to follow guide to help you in planning/developing or writing a TV series that I have ever completed. It’s also broken down in neat sections so you are not overwhelmed, and you have the slides as a take away so that you can refer to them in the future. In person he has a clear understanding and passion for TV series and he delivers his patented 12 steps in an entertaining, patient and concise fashion. I would highly recommend for people working in development and TV writers to take his course, a lot of the information is stuff you probably know on a subconscious level, but his course clarifies all of that into simple useful tools. I would say if you are stuck writing a TV series and something is not working, his 12 steps will be hugely beneficial, and you will take away methods you can use forever. If you are going to do one TV writing course, do his, it covers everything and will leave you with everything you need to move forward, or to go plan a new TV series. Happy writing.
It helped me see my project in a clearer light than I ever had before
The TV Rewrite Workshop gave me the kick I needed to work through and think about my project in new ways while also getting me completely in touch with what the core of it was this whole time. The discussions led by Emmanuel along with his depth of knowledge on TV and Film helped me see elements of my project in a clearer light than I ever had before. The most rewarding part of the experience was working with a group of other writers and discussing their projects along with my own in the safe and open environment Emmanuel cultivated.
Hugely beneficial to the further development of my project
I found this workshop to be hugely beneficial to the further development of my project. It was a great opportunity to hone my pitch and all feedback received was very positive and constructive. We interrogated each series, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, and I now have a much stronger grasp of my story and the issues I need to address as I proceed to the next draft. Would highly recommend.
Amazing opportunity to focus
The time and guidance from Emmanuel over the four days was really helpful. It allowed us to focus and the feedback from the group was great too. Sometime it’s hard to see the wood from the trees on your own project, when you’re so close to it. So to get the opportunity to dive deep and relook at everything was invaluable.
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