Photos from the hugely successful TV Writers Symposium 2012. Register today for the upcoming Animation Workshop.
P.K. Simonds and Jason Cahill, 2012 Symposium.
All photos copyright Woods Hole Film Festival 2012. All Rights Reserved.
Jason Cahill
P.K. Simonds
PRESS COVERAGE OF THE SYMPOSIUM
The Woods Hole Film Festival, in conjunction with the Woods Hole Inn, offers workshops year-round for both industry professionals and the general public.
TV Writers Symposium 2012: “The Drama behind the Drama”
February 17 – 19, 2012, Woods Hole, MA
The TV Writers Symposium 2012: The Drama behind the Drama, will provide a vivid introduction to the creative process of dramatic network television. This multi-day Symposium will explore storytelling for the screen, “pitching,” and other elements of success in hour-long drama writing.
Join TV drama veterans P.K. Simonds (executive producer and showrunner of “Ghost Whisperer” and “Party of Five”) and Jason Cahill, (producer and writer of “ER,” "The Sopranos," "Fringe"), who will lead the Symposium. Although writing for Film gets more attention in teaching programs and in the media, the majority of jobs and income are derived writing for network and cable TV. Simonds and Cahill have combined, over 45 years in the network TV trenches and they will be on Cape Cod to share their collective experience.
The Symposium will go from macro to micro, beginning with an overview of the industry, exploring the differing roles of the writer in TV versus film, then deconstructing the process of writing and producing a single TV episode. Says Simonds, “We want to break the business down and make it more understandable. How does a writers room work? How are stories developed and seasons planned? Who is responsible for a single script? What is the balance of power between the players? Is it possible to do your job in Hollywood without selling your soul?" To illustrate the creative process in action, participants will then be invited to share their stories with the group. Simonds and Cahill will lead a story discussion in the same way it happens in professional writers rooms, to try to help writers develop their ideas. The Symposium will conclude by discussing important first steps for writers to take to break into the industry.
Writers will network, share ideas and enjoy the stark beauty of Cape Cod in winter. The Symposium is a co-production of the Woods Hole Film Festival and the Woods Hole Inn.
Applications are currently being accepted here. The fee to attend is $250 per writer. For more information email info@woodsholefilmfestival.org or call (508) 495-3456.
Discounted lodging at local B&B’s available for attendees.
Participant Bios:
P.K. Simonds was born and raised in New York and New England. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature at Harvard University. After graduating he moved to Los Angeles, where he has spent over 20 years writing and producing network television drama series, including "Beauty and the Beast" starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman, "Doogie Howser, M.D." starring Neil Patrick Harris, "Party of Five" starring Matthew Fox and Neve Campbell, "Ghost Whisperer" starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, and many others. He has written over 100 episodes of television, and served as Executive Producer and "showrunner" on four series. His work has won recognition ranging from Humanitas to Emmy to Golden Globe to Saturn and Prism awards. He currently lives in Woods Hole with his wife and two sons.
Jason Cahill was born and raised in Gloucester, MA. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Yale University. Jason began his television career at WGBH in Boston, before relocating to LA to pursue a career in scripted television. He has written for several hour-long dramas, including "E.R." starring George Clooney, "The Sopranos" starring James Gandolfini, and "Fringe." He is currently working on a pilot for AMC. He lives in Los Angeles, with his Boston-born wife and three kids.