WORKSHOP REQUIREMENTS:
- Class limited to adult writers (18+), by invitation only.
- Applicants MUST FILL OUT the Workshop Form Link.
- Application Deadline: Fri, October 9th (5pm).
- Participants Notified: Fri, October 16th (5pm).
- If selected, you will be notified via email, including payment instructions: $135 Members | $165 Non-Members.
- Participants must commit to attending both workshop dates and be prepared to do the homework.
- Day One: Sat, October 24th (9am – 4pm).
- Day Two: Sat, November 7th (9am – 4pm).
- You must have access to a computer for the workshop and homework. (The Winnipeg Film Group can help provide computer and media lab access.)
INTRO:
Step inside a professional TV writers’ room and learn how episodic television gets made! Led by award-winning showrunner, writer, and producer Rebecca Gibson.
ABOUT CLASS:
$135 Members | $165 Non-Members.
In this two-day workshop, writers will participate in a simulated writers’ room for a fictional half-hour comedy/drama series. Although each writers’ room is different, and rules, parameters, and vibe are set by the showrunner, this workshop will prepare writers for that experience in the real world. Activities like breaking story, developing characters, season arcs, and pitching will give hands-on experience on Day One of the workshop. Participants will be given assignments to bring back to the group for Day Two, which will follow two weeks later, and will provide a sense of how the writing process progresses toward production drafts. If interested, applicants MUST fill out the Workshop Form Link. If selected, you will be notified via email, including payment instructions: $135 Members | $165 Non-Members.
What You’ll Learn:
- Writers’ Room Dynamics: Learn how a professional half-hour comedy/drama writers’ room operates, including showrunner expectations, team collaboration, and room etiquette.
- Story Breaking & Season Arcs: Gain hands-on experience mapping out character arcs, story beats, and season-long narrative structures.
- Effective Pitching: Practice pitching your story ideas clearly and dynamically in a fast-paced room environment.
- Draft Progression: Complete writing assignments between sessions to learn how concepts are revised and transformed into production-ready drafts.
Who Should Attend:
- Screenwriters & Playwrights: Writers looking to transition into episodic TV and gain practical experience in collaborative story rooms.
- Filmmakers & Producers: Creators who want to understand television structure, story breaking, and script development.
- Actors & Performers: Performers eager to understand narrative character development and the behind-the-scenes writing process.
- NOTE: All participants must write throughout this workshop.
ABOUT INSTRUCTOR:
As a writer, director, producer, and actor, Rebecca Gibson’s award-winning work in documentary, drama, and comedy can be seen around the world. Following graduation from the New York Film Academy, a CFTPA International Internship took Rebecca Gibson to Los Angeles at the start of her film career. Early on, she discovered her passion for indie filmmaking and quickly worked her way from a volunteer production assistant/craft services gig on a Canadian Film Centre feature to production managing the feature film Heater, which premiered at Sundance. She became one of Manitoba’s top casting directors for a short period before returning to her first love, acting. Acting credits include her ACTRA Award-winning role in The Pinkertons (Netflix), and her Blizzard Award-winning role in the film that launched The Murdoch Mysteries. With the woman-led collective Red Czarina Entertainment, Rebecca co-wrote and produced the award-winning feature film H&G, and wrote, produced, and directed the documentary Daphne Korol: The Drama Queen of Winnipeg, a tribute to her first mentor. Mentorship has been fundamental to Rebecca’s career, and she serves as a mentor through many organizations, including the CMPA, WIFT-Toronto, and, recently, the Wellington Animation Film Festival. A co-owner of Eagle Vision, Rebecca, with her partners, received nominations for the Indiescreen TV Producer of the Year and the Indiescreen Film Producer of the Year, and won the Banff World Media Festival’s Producer of the Year Award. Their projects have been honoured with several awards, including an International Emmy. Currently, Rebecca is co-showrunning the sixth season of the series Taken, and is executive producing a new animated series and a new factual series, all of which she co-created. Rebecca was honoured nationally as a CAMH Difference Maker, was ACTRA Manitoba’s 2018 Woman of the Year, and in 2025 was inducted into the Order of Manitoba.
PRICING & SUPPORT:
This workshop is part of the Winnipeg Film Group’s 2026 reduced-rate workshop program, made possible through generous support from The Winnipeg Foundation. Their contribution allows us to offer more affordable, hands-on filmmaking opportunities for our community throughout the year.
REFUND POLICY – This workshop requires a minimum of 10 participants to run.
| Notice Given: | Eligible for: |
| At least 7 days prior to start date | Full refund |
| 7 days to 48 hours prior to start date | Full refund less 20% administration fee |
| Less than 48 hours prior to start date | No refund |
The Winnipeg Film Group reserves the right to cancel any course where the minimum registration has not been met. Anyone registered for a course that has been cancelled is eligible for a full refund. Cancelled course fees may also be used towards any other Winnipeg Film Group training programs.
Assistance and accommodations are available to participants with different disabilities. Please call or email us for more information: ben@winnipegfilmgroup.com.
