Running the Show is an advanced training course for head writers, producers, established writers, or those in similar creative roles who have experience working in TV production.

It’s suitable if you’re:

• Looking to accelerate your career and take the next step into the lead creative role
• Interested in the US showrunner model and want to know how to apply it to your work as a writer or producer from wherever you are in the world
• Seeking a greater understanding of the producorial process for scripted TV drama.

This professional training allows you to:

• Understand the multiple roles and functions of a successful showrunner within the constraints and specific opportunities of the studio system
• Become familiar with the development process and the vocabulary, business models, production set-up and team structure of this system
• Identify and suggest good story solutions, in outlines and scripts and when giving and receiving notes
• Practise the range of creative, practical, management and critical-thinking skills required to run a show
• Understand how to apply the theory to practical tasks within your own professional context
• Develop a plan to accelerate your career.

Each course is divided into sessions. These sessions are released one by one (weekly or fortnightly, depending on the course). 

There’s no need to log on at a set time. You can work through the learning materials whenever suits you, day or night, wherever you are in the world. Just complete the assignments and join forum discussions by the session deadline. 

Our teaching method is based on the science of active learning: you read/listen/watch, try out, share and reflect. It’s a social experience – you become part of a small group, feeding back on each other’s writing to build a supportive bunch of readers you trust. Find out more here.

Session 1: From Writer to Manager

Gain an overview of the role of showrunner, explore the business models and psychological, personal and cultural transition required to step up from writer to writer-producer.

Session 2: Managing Writers and the Writing Process – Part One

Learn how to set up a productive writing room and writing process, with emphasis on how to apply the fundamentals of storytelling and analysis.

Session 3: Managing Writers and the Writing Process – Part Two

Take an in-depth look at outlines and the script-drafting process, giving effective notes, and handling writer-related problems. As an exercise you’ll create a writers room schedule based on projected production and air dates.

Session 4: Managing Production and Budgets

Gain an overview of the key players in your production team, how to manage them, and how to make shows on time and on budget.

Session 5: Managing Executives and Crises

Develop effective strategies for building constructive relationships with executives, and to learn how to handle the unexpected.

Session 6: Managing Directors and Actors

Gain a working understanding of directors and actors, and how to communicate effectively with both.

Session 7: Managing Postproduction

Understand the work flow in postproduction and how to take an episode from director’s cut through final mix.

Session 8: Managing Yourself

You’ll apply all the learning to assess the skills you have and those you need to develop further as you compile a personal game plan to take your career forward. Jeff explains why there’s never been a better time to write for television and looks at work-life balance.

Join our alumni

After your course, you can join our online alumni community where you’ll meet our growing network of past students. You’ll be able to.

• Rejoin your classmates in a private forum
• Continue to access an archived version of your course materials
• Meet alumni from other courses and share work for feedback
• Join discussions about production accounting and the industry
• Attend live chats with guest writers and industry folk

Mentoring and one-to-one feedback

The John Yorke Story tutor team offer mentoring, script reads and reports. We are happy to quote by job or script, or to arrange a longer mentoring scheme as you work on a specific story idea. We’ll create a package to suit you, so for more information please email [email protected]

Taking things further

If you’d like to take another John Yorke Story course, we’ll give you a discount. Please get in touch for more details.