In-person. 8 sessions: Tuesdays, April 23-June 11, 6:30-8:30 pm

This unique course is designed for creative aspiring writers with no prior experience—as well as those with screenwriting experience—who seek to break into television writing. Learn in an interactive environment the basics of creating, writing, and presenting your first television script for both drama and/or comedy, including how to take your idea to the next step and create a complete half-hour or one-hour television script. The course will cover:

• The steps usually taken for a first-time television writer towards writing the first script (general idea, character development, style, story acts, etc.)
• Structure
• Character development
• The importance of your first script as a calling card
• How to find an agent and get your script read
• Who should you be writing for
• Who does what job on a television series
• The outlets for new shows and new ideas
• Developing your idea
• The best way to write for you
• The Writers’ Room
• The collaboration process
• Overview of winning past and current television show scripts
• Feedback on your current concepts, outline, scenes, and scripts

Students will be emailed several TV scripts in PDF format prior to the first class session (and possibly more during the course) to be read in advance if possible. We’ll also be viewing videos related to the topics throughout the course.

Bo has completely relevant personal experience in the field. His anecdotes, in addition to the coursework, were a real treat. —Winter 2023 student

NOTE: this in-person course is held at FilmNorth, 550 Vandalia Street, Suite 120, Saint Paul, MN 55114. FilmNorth is following CDC’s current COVID-19 variant guidance for Ramsey County:

• People may choose to mask at any time. Masks are recommended for those who are unvaccinated, immunocompromised, or at high-risk for complications associated with COVID-19 variants.
• People with any COVID-19 symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should stay home.

Tuition: $305 regular | $250 member | $205 low-income

Bo Kaprall has been a television show creator, creative director, writer, producer, executive producer, and actor for thirty years. Starting in Chicago as a writer/producer in the advertising business (Post, Keyes, & Gardner), he also worked as an actor at Chicago’s Second City. He is currently executive producing his new television series Outlaw Country for WGN America, and developing reality shows for everyone from A&E to Discovery. Bo recently completed two original half-hour web series for General Mills.

In the late ’70s Bo moved to Los Angeles where he started the Comedy Store Players and joined Kentucky Fried Theatre (Kentucky Fried Movie, Airplane, Police Squad). He then went on to write and produce several network series including Laverne & Shirley, Aaron Spelling’s Friends, Norman Lear’s Year At the Top, and over thirty network pilots. In addition, he has written for variety shows and situation comedies, from The Carol Burnett Show and Cher to Welcome Back, Kotter.

In the late ’80s Bo moved to Minneapolis, where he started his own creative production company focusing on humorous radio and television commercials and corporate communications in addition to reality television series. Over the years Bo has created and executive produced shows for ABC, CBS, NBC, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Discovery, TLC, and HGTV.

Bo has recorded, written, and produced over 5,000 radio commercials, winning several Cleo and Radio Best Awards. He has appeared as an actor on over 75 television shows, the latest being Law & Order and Third Watch.

As a freelance and staff Creative Director (BI Worldwide), Bo has worked with several Fortune 500 companies, such as Best Buy, Rubbermaid, Schmidt Beer, Target, Pizza Hut, Verizon, DirecTV, Starz Network, Northwest Airlines, Sears Optical, Miller Beer, and much more.                                                                         

Class Registration Guidelines & Cancellation Policy

• Space is assigned on a first-come basis. Registrations must include payment in full. Registrations are accepted after registration deadlines if space is available.
• If minimum enrollment has not been reached by 7 days prior to the start date of a class, FilmNorth may cancel it, in which case registrants will immediately be notified and receive a full refund within 2 business days. A check will be issued for registrations that were paid in cash. In lieu of a refund, students have the option of applying their tuition to another class scheduled in the same calendar year.
• For those needing to cancel a registration at least 7 days prior to the first class session, 100% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. For registration cancellations received less than 7 days prior to the first class session, 50% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. As of 5:00 pm the day prior to the first class session, no refunds or credits/exchanges will be given (Friday at 5:00 pm for Sunday classes). 
• Tuition is not prorated for missed class sessions.
• By registering for this FilmNorth class you are agreeing to our Community Values Statement.