Punch Up Your Half Hour Comedy

Online Classes
Hosted By:
Carley Whitt - Staff Writer, NBC Universal
Every other week, starting: Saturday 11/09 @ 11:00AM - 1:00PM PT
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$199.00

We love a good half hour comedy, but we have to admit that writing them is really hard. You have to establish the characters, set up the series, and show the reader what your central story engine is going to be for the show. And then you have to be funny doing it! 

Punching up a script is the process writers use to make a comedy even funnier and snappier than it already is. Just about every comedy script needs a punch up at some point in the development process, but how does this process actually work? What parts of a script get punched up and how can you spot them and do the punch up yourself? 

Join TV comedy writer Carley Whitt for this two week clinic to punch up your half hour comedy pilot, and learn how to punch up future scripts! 

This Two Week Clinic Will Cover: 

  • Identifying areas of a script that could use a punch up 
  • Writing and pitching jokes 
  • Implementing changes 
  • Feedback on your script 

**Prior to Class #1, Carley will read each writer's script in full and mark up the sections that could use a punch up. Between Class #1 & #2, writers are expected to read their classmates' scripts and prepare joke pitches for the highlighted sections. 

Week One - How to Punch Up a Script

Date / Time
Summary

This week, your Instructor will go over the dos and don'ts of joke writing and pitching jokes. Your Instructor will meet with each writer in class to get a sense of their style/goals. The Instructor will explain the homework. 

Week Two - Pitching Jokes

Date / Time
Summary

This week, your Instructor will lead a discussion on how to punch up the highlighted sections of each writer's script. 

More about
Carley Whitt
Staff Writer
NBC Universal

Carley Whitt is a comedy writer, most recently a Staff Writer on NEVER HAVE I EVER. Before that, Carley served as Showrunner’s Assistant to Lang Fisher (NEVER HAVE I EVER) and the Writers’ PA on Hulu’s FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL. Carley read submissions for the Warner Brothers’ TV Writers’ Workshop where she learned how participants are selected. She is a graduate of USC with a BFA in Writing for TV and Film. Carley has an understanding of what comedy Showrunners look for in writers’ samples and how they decide who to bring into the room. She loves working with fellow writers to help them tell their stories in the best possible way.

How it Works

Cancellation Policy: You may cancel for a full refund up to 5 days prior to the start of the class. Cancellations requested after this period will be ineligible for refunds.

Please ensure you are familiar with our Code of Conduct.

The Roadmap Promise

Roadmap Writers prides itself on the quality of executives we bring to our programs and we work hard to get you the best feedback possible.

Our vetted executives are chosen by the legitimacy of the companies they work for and their ability to evaluate pitches and pages.

Only the executives you sign up for will be provided with your materials.