LAW AND ORDER, NCIS, Fox's LUCIFER, or the CHICAGO franchises are all examples of successful TV procedurals. This genre of TV series is a staple of networks and streamers that hooks viewers and takes them on a multiseason journey. Learn the specifics of how to write a sellable, successful series in this upcoming class led by veteran writer Chris Hazenbush (Hawaii 5-0, MacGyver and EP of the megahit THIS IS US.)
https://www.stage32.com/classes/How-To-Write-Your-TV-Procedural-Pilot-Script
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Just gone back to watching Criminal Minds from the beginning after speaking with someone that worked in behavioral analysis. Its worth remembering how great a strong procedural can be!
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Criminal Minds was a really strong show. I really liked the original CSI, interestingly it spawned lots of kids to study forensics in college and create forensics clubs in high schools and helped make science cool!
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Hi - looking forward to seeing classmates Sunday - right now, I'm bingeing on Cold Case - never watched it the first time around but it's really well done and thinking the music rights must've cost them a fortune ;)
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Should be a fun class and I've been waiting for one like this to work through a procedural concept that's been baking for some time.
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Hi, I am anxious to learn from the best and meet everyone
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Luckily procedurals are not only police and crime but other stories as well. Looking forward to this amazing class! See everyone tomorrow!
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Looking forward to hearing and sharing everyone's concepts for procedural formats...
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Exciting beginning hearing everyone's goals, dreams, and why /what they write!
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Hi all! Great to meet you digitally!
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Hi everyone! Excited for our journey together...
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Hi everyone! Nice to meet you all and hear about all the different things you have done/are working on!
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HI eveyone ,looking forward to connecting !
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Great class — and great to make everyone's virtual acquaintance. FYI - for the Hawaiian residents. A few months ago I discovered an ANCIENT procedural from the 50s that I never knew existed: Hawaiian Eye. Robert Conrad, Connie Stevens - and though there's one comic relief native character, it felt very ahead of its time re: the respect for the Hawaiian culture and the other Asian cultures present in the islands. Anyone else familiar?
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Great low-key very informative class with a down-to-earth executive. Everyone have a safe awesome week and remember to always believe in yourself! Cheers!
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Hi everyone! I had to duck out early, but I'm looking forward to seeing what I missed from the end of class and the weeks to come! Hope to connect with you all soon!
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What a great group of fellow writers and a very cool host! I’m already losing sleep thinking on the info from week one, and Chris is very thorough and incredibly patient!
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So many shows to watch and so little time. Forget about what it takes to create all of the information that was outlined in our first class. Cheers everyone for your ideas!
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Valerie, I heard about that show. It was ahead of its time. Thanks for bringing it back to my memory. I had to duck out early too. I watched the recording--very informative. I can't wait for the next class.
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Valerie, re: Hawaiian Eye, I'm on the older side of life so I do remember it and I probably watched episodes of it when I was young. I realize now that I watched tons of procedurals and didn't even know that's what they were. I watched Perry Mason and that's why I wanted to be a lawyer. Seems ridiculous to me now but, hey, I was young. Lol.
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Hello class, Happy Friday! Hope you all had a great week :). Thanks for bringing your positive energy and excellent questions to our first class and looking forward to our second!
Also love all of these comments and chatter, so keep it up! We're all in it together :)
Per our discussions, posting here a couple quick answers to questions that were brought up:
1. Someone asked about what exactly Sci Fi (Science Fiction) is as a genre. While there are a lot of different definitions, the main tenants or through-lines is that the story incorporates elements of imaginative futuristic concepts or future scientific or technological advances into the fiction, and usually deals with space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, etc. The stories can either use those elements as a backdrop or setting for our characters' journeys, or they can explore how those elements affects our main characters or society as a whole. Hope this helps!
2. Here is a short list of "newer" procedurals I recommend watching. While you of course don't need to watch these before Sunday, I think they have elements in them that are unique or executed to a high quality. I'll be sharing clips from some of these next week to illustrate the points I'll be making - enjoy!
EAST NEW YORK (CBS)
LUCIFER (Netflix)
THE EQUALIZER (CBS)
THE GOOD DOCTOR (ABC)
SO HELP ME TODD (CBS)
CSI: VEGAS (CBS)
Will most likely add to this as well :)
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Thanks so much for the list! Very helpful! See everyone later!
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Hello my friends and colleagues! To Chris and to everyone I regret that I cannot join you today. It is my birthday and I did plan to come regardless but time isn’t as on my side as planned for getting ready for guests later. Grateful for the playback option and I will “see” you all next week! Have a great class!
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happy birthday, Philana! Recording should be sent tomorrow :) Looking forward to seeing you on next week
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Really great 2nd class yesterday 10.23.22 - lots of great advice and direction. to help me finish my pitch deck for my series. It was extremely awesome to hear everyone else's synopsis and plans for their own series in the works. Keep dreaming big folks! See everyone next week!!!
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Hi @All I am joining discussion later and watching classes on catch up due to my travel and work commitments in UK. Over the next couple of weeks I hope to have email questions ready for Christopher. Better late than never!
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Chris excited to dive into your list of procedurals to watch.
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I cannot yet download the two classes I missed, maybe need wait the whole month before Catch Up sessions are available. I'm envious not to be able to attend live but was looking forward to being able to email Chris. Still, the passion for this topic remains!
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Great class on Sunday, everyone - thanks for bringing your energy, questions, and paragraphs! Looking forward to diving deeper with your character bios.
And Debbie, thanks for watching the classes - here if you need anything.
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Many thanks @Chris for your offer of support. I am in process of getting “STAGE 32 Help” to re send email code after which I can review classes so far. Another 2 classes to go yet so hoping can join in at least by email midway thru sessions.
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Let me know if you have any issues, but you should be getting a link in your email to view the classes, as well as get the Zoom links each week for the live classes :)
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HI @CHRISTOPHER YES THANKS! Got links through from Livia Stage 32. Really enjoyed meeting other students although they did not meet me organically cos I work so many hours UK can't attend live zoom. However, anybody in class can contact me via profile. Awesome lectures Christopher, look forward to your next two sessions.
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Fantastic - glad to hear it, Debbie!
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I love the class Chris. I am learning a lot. I love all the interaction between everyone. It's great hearing other people's ideas and processes.
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Thanks so much for the feedback, Traci - it's been such a great experience building this class with you all. Your participation has been phenomenal - keep it up :)
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And for those you in class today, this is the LUFICER teaser scene I mentioned. I was going to play it in Week 2 but ran out of time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSNgYw_K1wI
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@Christopher Thanks for “Lucifer” share. Crisp, witty and intriguing hook/lead in. Until I saw this clip I never watched it cos it sounded naff but now certainly will. Noted use of white text against black screen worked but the final text in clip was lost against other visuals.
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Chris, could you send us the color-coded step sheet you shared last Sun. 10/30?
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Also, I've joined the Stage 32's 8th Anual November Write Club. I'm finishing the rewrite of my first procedural. Write a first draft of my second procedural I created in the Procedural Writing class. I'm starting my Holiday Script Treatment and creating a one pager for my comedy pilot.
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Hi Gayle - I sent the Story Analysis example to everyone via email. Please check your spam filter if you didn't receive it, or let me know if I should send it to a different email :)
And congrats on joining the Write Club! Best of luck finishing all of these great projects up!
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Today's class is going to be simply amazing yet again and with a guest speaker - in case you do not know anything about our speaker here is her IMDB page https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3725616/
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Chris, Please send me the Story Analysis, send to kcpwriter@gmail.com. Thanks for a great class. I like to watch THE CLEANING LADY, has family + crime + fbi = great entertainment.
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Please tell Talia that I have most of the series recorded and will watch her episodes again and take notes.
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Will tell her, thanks :)