Sketch Comedy Writing Intensive with Ryan Harrison (June 7th-8th @12pm-3pm)

In sketch comedy all rules can be broken, but not until one masters the fundamentals. In this two-day sketch comedy writing intensive, participants will learn these tools by watching and analyzing examples of stellar concept and execution. Writers will then have a chance to use these tools to write a sketch of their own. Sketches will be read aloud for feedback and students will leave the first class with a roadmap for the next draft.

Concepts covered include: sketch structure, creating a great premise, ways to heighten, the beauty of the backoff, straight vs absurd characters, working with status in scenes, tools for brainstorming, best practices for giving and receiving notes and working in a writers’ room. This class is open to writers with all levels of experience.

NOTE: This is a writing intensive and participants will be expected to write on their own between the first and second class.

Instructor:  Ryan Harrison is a comedy writer based in Los Angeles. His sketches have been featured on NBC’s Bring The Funny, TruTV’s Late Night Snack with Rachel Dratch, and Live From Here with Chris Thile. He has written for McSweeny’s magazine and is a season regular on The Joe Schmo Show on TBS. He is the head-writer for the sketch comedy troupe Lost Moon Radio, two-time winner at the Hollywood Fringe Festival for Best Comedy. His pilot The Adventures of Lewis and Clark was produced by NBC and his webseries Heron & The Hen was produced by Abso Lutely. He is in the comedy band Roger Wodehouse & Chelsea Telegram and has written music for film and TV, including The Joe Schmo Show and the indie comedy Faith-Based. Ryanharrisonthewebsite.com