• Bell Fund New Media Series
• TELETOON Masters Program: Writing for Animation
• ROGERS Introduction to Producing Documentary and Lifestyle Programming
• Production Management for Producers

TELETOON Masters Program: Writing for Animation

Sponsored by TELETOON
Instructor: Alyse Rosenberg, with industry guests

August 9, 16 & 23, 2005

Level: For professional writers only. Please note eligibility requirements below.

This intensive three-part course introduces screenwriters to the animation medium and explores the principles of writing animated short films, television series and features.

Over three evenings, instructor Alyse Rosenberg leads the class through an in-depth study of the lifecycle of an animated writing project, from concept to ready-for-production script. Topics to be covered include understanding the medium, the application of classic story structure to animated screen-based writing, the golden rules of creating distinctive and believable animated characters and storylines, story development, adapting other mediums to animation and writing dialogue and descriptive elements. A representative from TELETOON's Original Production team and industry guests will provide insight into the expansive range of career opportunities for writers in this dynamic segment of the entertainment industry.

Eligibility Requirements:
This course is intended for professional television and film writers only. Applicants must submit a current resume, including writing credits, along with registration request. Class size is limited to a maximum of 20 students, and will be awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come-first-serve basis. To register, call 416-322-3430 x 21 or email a completed registration form along with your resume to wift@wift.com or forward the same via fax to 416-322-3703. Participants will be notified of acceptance via email within two working days of receipt of application and resume. Course payment will be processed on confirmation of acceptance.

Instructor:
Alyse Rosenberg is a writer, producer, and director currently writing a feature script as well as developing the live action series Harriet the Spy with Protocol Entertainment, Mainframe Productions, and Two Friends Entertainment. She is also developing two one-hour adult dramas with Blueprint Entertainment. Alyse has recently completed executive producing Yummy Mummy—a new half hour parenting magazine-format television series that will be airing on Life Network in Canada and Discovery Health in the United States. In the recent past Alyse developed an animated teen series for Warner Bros. Studio and a live-action ‘tween series for Nelvana. She was Executive Story Editor on Braceface—an animated ‘tween series for Teletoon and ABC/Disney—for the first 52 episodes as well as wrote fourteen episodes. (more...)

Industry Guests:
August 16
Tom McGillis is a writer, series creator, and executive producer specializing in children's and family entertainment. He is the co-creator, Story Editor and Executive Producer of TELETOON's new hit series for ‘tweens, 6TEEN, a co-production with Nelvana. His production credits include the animated series Bob and Margaret (Channel 4/Global Television), Maggie and the Ferocious Beast (Nickelodeon/TELETOON), Stickin' Around (Fox Family/YTV) and Braceface (ABC Family/TELETOON).

Jennifer Pertsch is a story editor, writer, and series creator. She is the co-creator and Executive Producer of 6TEEN. She has written extensively in the animation industry, with more than 100 episodic script credits to her name including Braceface (ABC Family/TELETOON), Franklin (CBS/Family Channel), Little Bear (Nick Jr./CBC/TVO), George and Martha (HBO/YTV), The Berenstain Bears (PBS) and Jacob Two Two (Nelvana Ltd.). Jennifer has also received an Emmy nomination for her writing on the award-winning series Rolie Polie Olie.

August 9 & 23: TBA

Dates: August 9, 16 & 23, 2005
Check-in: 5:30-6:00
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Location: TBA
Fee (3-part Series): $195 + GST Members, $250 + GST Non-members
Space is limited (maximum of 20 participants) so register today.
Registration (with resume) is required by August 1. Please call 416.322.3430 x21 to register or send a completed registration form and resume to wift@wift.com or fax to 416.322.3703.

Alyse Rosenberg (cont.)
Alyse was the writer and associate producer of Virtual Mom, a family MOW for Miracle Pictures, Catalyst Entertainment, and CBC, starring Debbie Reynolds and Sheila McCarthy; it aired on Nickelodeon in the US. Alyse’s previous credits include creating the critically-acclaimed "tween" series Ready or Not, where she served as Executive Producer, head writer, and was a regular director for the first 39 episodes of the series. Among other awards, Ready or Not won the 1998 and 1996 Gemini for Best Youth Series. Alyse has also developed several youth oriented television projects with La Fete/YTV and Catalyst Entertainment as well as been a director on Pet Project. In the past she has developed several adult one-hour series with Alliance Atlantis/CTV and Fox Family as well as written a half hour sitcom pilot for Twentieth Century Fox studios- Television Division.

A native of Kitchener, Ontario, Ms. Rosenberg received her B.A. in English and Philosophy from the University of Toronto in 1983 and her M.F.A. in Film (Screenwriting and Directing) from Columbia University in New York in 1990. A recipient of various fellowship awards from Columbia University, a Canada Council Arts Awards, and several delegate fellowships from the Banff Television Festival, Alyse has a diverse background in film, television, theatre and radio production. She is a former board member of the National Screen Institute, co-founder of the WIFT Studio Workshop, past participant in the WIFT-T mentorship program to help support new writers, and participant on the advisory panel of the Canadian Film Center ‘s television PRIME TIME training program—and was one of three mentor/show-runners for their inaugural year during the winter of 1999. She has also taught a screenwriting course in the New Media program at the Academy of Design in Toronto and conducted various workshops for the Canadian Film Center, WIFT-T, and Telefilm Canada.

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