Experiential learning and episodic television : pedagogical practices in writing and producing fictional narratives

Abstract

This project was an experiential learning experience in the creation of an episodic comedy TV pilot that was broken down into webisodes. The project serves to educate and act as a resource for both students and professors. The project provides an immersion-based class in which students collaborate in different positions in a simulation of the fictional television production process. Each student had the opportunity to direct at least one 4-5 minute episode of the web-series. The switching of directors allowed for the students to simulate the TV industry’s rotation of directors per episode. This project's intention was to provide a greater understanding of TV production and to introduce possible future career paths to students. Students were assigned specific production roles and advised by an experienced undergraduate or graduate student in a shadow/mentor partnership. It all served as learning experience for Fernandez, who worked as the show runner.