Showrunners

Display Schedule

Code Completion Credits Range Language Instruction Semester
305SRU exam 2 2 hours (45 min) of instruction per week, 32 to 42 hours of self-study English, Czech winter

Subject guarantor

Name of lecturer(s)

Tomáš HRUBÝ

Contents

Course Description

The term “showrunner” appeared in the US at the turn of the 20th century to denote a new type of profession that came into existence simultaneously with the rise of the Second Golden Age of Television, and its content is, simply put, the manager of the show.

The role of the showrunner as a specific profession at the intersection of producing, screenwriting and directing is not established in the Czech Republic yet. While we do not see the role listed in the end credits in the Czech TV environment or discussed by the academia, showrunners do exist in the Czech environment – primarily in the sense of being the final creative decision makers. Most of them are referred to as ‘creative producers’ and employed in TV channels or private firms. The purpose of the subject is to explain and understand the reality of the current showrunners and try to live it in practice.

Learning outcomes

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students will:

-learn about the various practical and theoretical models of showrunnership, general procedures for producing TV shows home and abroad, the functioning of screenwriting teams (writers’ room) and the historical developments in TV and Internet series

-develop their own series, from the theme all the way to the presentation of the show to the broadcaster

Prerequisites and other requirements

Literature

Recommended Reading

BENNET, Tara. Showrunners, The Art of Running a TV Show book. London: Titan Books, 2014.

DOUGLAS, Pamela. Writing the TV Drama Series: How to Succeed As a Professional Writer in TV. Studio City: Michael Wiese Productions, 2014.

KEATING, Gina. Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America’s Eyeballs. New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2013.

EDGERTON, Gary. The Columbia History of American Television. New York: Columbia University Press, c2007.

SEPINWALL, Alan. The Revolution Was Televised: The Cops, Crooks, Slingers, and Slayers Who Changed TV Drama Forever. New York: Simon & Schuster, c2015.

WOLK, Alan: Over The Top: How The Internet Is (Slowly But Surely) Changing The Television Industry. [New York, New York] : Alan Wolk, [2015] c2015.

SHAPIRO, Seth: Television: Innovation, Disruption and the World's Most Powerful Medium. New Amsterdam Media LLC, 2016.

STRUNK, William, WHITE, E. B.: The elements of style with revisions, an introduction, and a chapter on writing. Toronto: Longman, 2000.

Important links:

https://en.epi.media/tv-lab/

https://serial-eyes.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJkMlOu7faDgqh4PfzbpLdg

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCErSSa3CaP_GJxmFpdjG9Jw

https://blcklst.com/

http://www.flyingwrestler.com/2011/04/what-makes-a-good-tv-series-idea/

http://scriptshadow.net/

Evaluation methods and criteria

Students will be evaluated on their contribution and efforts to the class, practical work and the colloquial examination. Mandatory attendance 75%.

The course grade will be calculated as follows:

Participation in discussion - 30%

Practical project development - 50%

Colloquial examination - 20%

Note

The course is taught in English.

Further information

This course is an elective for all students of this school

Schedule for winter semester 2023/2024:

06:00–08:0008:00–10:0010:00–12:0012:00–14:0014:00–16:0016:00–18:0018:00–20:0020:00–22:0022:00–24:00
Mon
Tue
Wed
room 241
Room No. 3
(Lažanský palác)
HRUBÝ T.
18:10–19:45
(lecture parallel1)
Thu
Fri
Date Day Time Tutor Location Notes No. of paralel
Wed 18:10–19:45 Tomáš HRUBÝ Room No. 3
Lažanský palác		 lecture parallel1

Schedule for summer semester 2023/2024:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

The subject is a part of the following study plans