FAQS for Stony Brook's MFA in TV Writing
What kind of portfolio does each student create while in the MFA in TV Writing program?
Each student writes one Spec and three Pilot scripts during the 2.5 year program. They also polish two scripts, one in a Revision Workshop and one in Thesis so their finished portfolio can be industry-ready. In addition, each student writes, produces and directs a micro pilot for a web series and works on a feature film script.
How many semesters is the TV Writing MFA?
There are four semesters of core classes. During the fifth semester students work on their thesis script to get it industry-ready. Thesis is one-on-one advisement with a faculty member, culminating in a defense with an outside reader, most often from the industry. Students can also teach at Stony Brook undergrad and do Internships during the fifth (and sometimes sixth) semester.
It is easy to graduate in five semesters.
What kind of comedy classes do you offer?
We offer three comedy classes. Intro to Comedy includes sketch and late night comedy writing and the basics of joke writing. In Field Producing, students write and produce short form comedy pieces that can become YouTube content or the type of segments that air on The Daily Show, John Oliver or Kimmel. And lastly Dan Perlman teaches a class where students develop series concepts based on well-known comedians’ material – the comics come to class too.
What is the Showrunner class?
An accomplished showrunner brings in an unproduced pilot and she runs the class like a Writers Room in order to develop the series.
What kinds of Internships are available?
Stony Brook has a pipeline to the industry with ample internships at Killer Films, Levenson/Fontana and others as well as some one-on-one mentoring internships with accomplished writers like Bash Doran and Jason Kim.
What are recent awards or jobs your students have landed?
Students from The TV Writing MFA have brought in FIRST PLACE prizes at all the big contests including the TV Academy (comedy and drama), The Austin Film Festival, Read my Screenplay, The Page Awards and The Nantucket Film Festival. Just this past year, students and alum took home the Best Spec Drama and the AMC One Hour Pilot Awards at the Austin Film Festival and two recent alums were staffed on the new Paramount + series Fear Not, starring Anne Hathaway. Another recent alum got a writing gig on The Diplomat.
What is the Post MFA TV Pilot Incubator?
After graduation alums can apply to our TV Pilot Incubator which is funded by outside grants. Stony Brook provides each project with script mentors like Michael Rauch and Bryan Goluboff and we bring in show creators to work with participants on their pitches. The two goals of the incubator are to get projects ready to pitch to the industry and to fund one project for production.
Who are some recent guests from the industry that have spoken at SBU Manhattan?
Ashley Lyle (Yellowjackets), Debra Kahn (The Diplomat) , Marti Noxon (Sharp Objects), Liz Sarnoff (Barry), Grace Edwards (Insecure), Rebecca Cutter (Hunting Wives), Laura Eason (Three Women).
How can I find out more about the MFA in TV Writing?
Visit our website or write or contact program director, Alan Kingsberg at Alan.Kingsberg@stonybrook.edu
What kind of portfolio does each student create while in the MFA in TV Writing program?
Each student writes one Spec and three Pilot scripts during the 2.5 year program. They also polish two scripts, one in a Revision Workshop and one in Thesis so their finished portfolio can be industry-ready. In addition, each student writes, produces and directs a micro pilot for a web series and works on a feature film script.
How many semesters is the TV Writing MFA?
There are four semesters of core classes. During the fifth semester students work on their thesis script to get it industry-ready. Thesis is one-on-one advisement with a faculty member, culminating in a defense with an outside reader, most often from the industry. Students can also teach at Stony Brook undergrad and do Internships during the fifth (and sometimes sixth) semester.
It is easy to graduate in five semesters.
What kind of comedy classes do you offer?
We offer three comedy classes. Intro to Comedy includes sketch and late night comedy writing and the basics of joke writing. In Field Producing, students write and produce short form comedy pieces that can become YouTube content or the type of segments that air on The Daily Show, John Oliver or Kimmel. And lastly Dan Perlman teaches a class where students develop series concepts based on well-known comedians’ material – the comics come to class too.
What is the Showrunner class?
An accomplished showrunner brings in an unproduced pilot and she runs the class like a Writers Room in order to develop the series.
What kinds of Internships are available?
Stony Brook has a pipeline to the industry with ample internships at Killer Films, Levenson/Fontana and others as well as some one-on-one mentoring internships with accomplished writers like Bash Doran and Jason Kim.
What are recent awards or jobs your students have landed?
Students from The TV Writing MFA have brought in FIRST PLACE prizes at all the big contests including the TV Academy (comedy and drama), The Austin Film Festival, Read my Screenplay, The Page Awards and The Nantucket Film Festival. Just this past year, students and alum took home the Best Spec Drama and the AMC One Hour Pilot Awards at the Austin Film Festival and two recent alums were staffed on the new Paramount + series Fear Not, starring Anne Hathaway. Another recent alum got a writing gig on The Diplomat.
What is the Post MFA TV Pilot Incubator?
After graduation alums can apply to our TV Pilot Incubator which is funded by outside grants. Stony Brook provides each project with script mentors like Michael Rauch and Bryan Goluboff and we bring in show creators to work with participants on their pitches. The two goals of the incubator are to get projects ready to pitch to the industry and to fund one project for production.
Who are some recent guests from the industry that have spoken at SBU Manhattan?
Ashley Lyle (Yellowjackets), Debra Kahn (The Diplomat) , Marti Noxon (Sharp Objects), Liz Sarnoff (Barry), Grace Edwards (Insecure), Rebecca Cutter (Hunting Wives), Laura Eason (Three Women).
How can I find out more about the MFA in TV Writing?
Visit our website or write or contact program director, Alan Kingsberg at Alan.Kingsberg@stonybrook.edu
