The initial, full-time, in-depth session will take place in Toronto end of Janaury/early Feburary 2012 (exact dates TBD).

Meetings with experienced showrunners, producers and expert guests expose the participants to various business, creative and technical practices while analyzing how business is changing domestically and its impact on the role of the showrunner. Different perspectives on producing for TV and approaches to leadership styles are also shared.
 
1. The State of the Industry 

A look at how Canadian television is positioned within the global marketplace, how the experience of television viewing is changing and how this impacts our business models and the creative process.

2. Managing Writers & the Script Process | Creative Leadership Skills

This component will be focused on identifying participants leadership styles and how to strengthen those skills in order to serve one “global” vision. 

3. Overview of Financing and the International TV Marketplace

A financing expert deconstructs how financing works, the different considerations at play in Canada, the role of tax credits, completion bonds, challenges of international co-productions, etc.

4. Managing the Business | Producing Skills Development

Showrunners, Producers and other experts share intelligence through a number of detailed case studies and practical workshops on how various operations are set up with regard to financing, supporting the creative process, and managing production/post. They will also share their perspective on budgets, the international market and partnerships. And we will explore the different kinds of relationships that can be built with producers so the creative and business process is well supported.

5. Managing the Prep, Production & Post Process | Showrunning in Action

Showrunners, Producers and other experts lead practical workshops on the nuts and bolts of the TV making process in order to round out a participant’s working knowledge in all stages of realizing a show.

• Managing the Casting Process.
• Hiring and Managing Key Creatives.
• Understanding Roles. Outlining the various production/post roles, their needs, how they contribute to the process and their relationship to the showrunner.
• Making the process more seamless. How to communicate appropriately/effectively in prep, production and post, including managing meetings, screenings and approvals.
• Establishing a positive on-set environment.
• Managing post production & delivery.

6. Showrunning for The Future
 
Understanding what the latest technological changes are and what is happening in terms of on-line content is critical to showrunning. Guests will demonstrate various new technological applications and innovations and discuss how they impact development, production & post. We will also look at transmedia and exploitation opportunities.

7.  Managing Marketing & Publicity 

This is a practical look at how showrunners work with a broadcaster to develop promotional strategies.

This second full-time commitment will take place in LA in February (exact dates TBD)

Building on the knowledge gleaned in Part 1, Part 2 will offer meetings with top showrunners, producers and key guests to discuss the American showrunning process, how they manage creative and business practices, different approaches and perspectives on producing for tv and on leadership styles.

1. Showrunning In Action

Experienced showrunners along with key guests, lead in depth case studies to deconstruct their approach to showrunning, what it entails and how they have managed the experience including:

• Managing the Story Department. Analyze different story department models, leadership styles and practices, how to manage the development and production process and expectations.
• Hiring and managing Key Creatives. Candid discussions about the various roles and their contributions to the show plus how the casting process works, developing relationships with actors, approvals
• Managing Production & post.
• Managing Marketing & Publicity. A candid look at how our US counterparts manage this process with the networks and what role the showrunner plays in the marketing and promotion of their show

2. The role of producers/production companies and studios
 
Different producers discuss how their operation is set up with regard to financing, supporting the creative process, managing production/post, and network reporting/approvals. They will also share their perspective on budgets, the international market and partnerships