Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus proudly announces the new TV Writers Studio^SM , which will launch in September 2010, with a carefully selected complement of 20 to 25 graduate student writers from across the U.S.A. The students invited to participate will be part of an intensive, two-year program of study during which they will function collaboratively, much like the staff of an ongoing television series; and independently, as writers/creators of their own series pilot. Classes will be held at Steiner StudiosM.F.A. in Writing and Producing for Television upon completing the 48-credit program.

The goal of the TV Writers Studio^SM , a one-of-a-kind program created by Norman Steinberg who is an Emmy Award Winner and screenwriter of "Blazing Saddles," is to educate and to develop highly skilled, experienced professionals with strong portfolios who will be prepared to begin careers in the television industry as writers/producers/entrepreneurs.

"The students chosen to join the TV Writers Studio^SM will find out what it's like to be on the day-to-day writing staff of a TV series where they will experience the joy of collaborating on a pilot script and the agony of eating awful Chinese take-out at two in the morning."

- Norman Steinberg

The M.F.A. in Writing and Producing for Television is a highly competitive program, which seeks to recruit 20-25 students each year, who exhibit the ability to express themselves clearly and creatively in the written form. Applicants need not have a background in writing for TV or film, however, they will be required to submit, as part of the admissions process (see below), writing samples that demonstrate the potential required to write for the television medium.

To be admitted to this program you must submit:

• An application for admission (see below)
• An original dramatic or comedic script written for film, TV or theater, or a sample of creative writing that reflects your story-telling ability to: Norman Steinberg or Kmur Hardeman
• Please be sure to include your name and contact information with these samples.
• A succinct and candid essay (of no more than 500 words), making a case for your acceptance into the program
• Two written recommendations: one professional and one academic. Include contact information
• An up-to-date bio or CV

• Have earned an undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university
• Complete a personal interview, which will be scheduled once the writing samples have been reviewed

All applicants must apply for admission to Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus. Please apply online at My LIU. For more information on the admissions process, visit the Office of Admissions Web site.

The M.F.A. in Writing and Producing for Television is a full-time program. Classes are held during the day, and therefore, students must be able to commit to studying on a full-time basis. Students also must be able to work collaboratively in an environment that requires the exchange of ideas and the highest level of professional courtesy. Most classes are held at Steiner Studios , located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Students are expected to arrange their own transportation for those classes being held at Steiner as well as those held on Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus.

Continued enrollment in this program is contingent upon:

• Regularly attending classes (no more than three missed classes will be allowed)
• Submitting projects and writing assignments by the predetermined deadlines

Since television production demands that writers function as a unit, the TV Writers StudioSM will initially concentrate on developing the skills of working collaboratively in creating a one-hour pilot script for a TV series. In order to further enhance the experience, classes will be held at Steiner Studios, a 305,000-square-foot, Hollywood-style production and support facility.

Students will learn to work in an environment that requires them to share and to support their ideas. They will quickly come to see the benefits of the natural give-and-take that occurs as they create. The collaborative experience will be balanced with the development of the student's individual writing skills in the conceptualization and writing of his/her individual TV pilot script as well as episodes for the jointly written, one-hour pilot script.

Courses will include:

• The Writers Table - Working Collaboratively
• TV Series - From Concept to Sale
• Producing a TV Pilot
• HD Video Production and Post Production
• Writing for a TV Series - Day-to-Day
• The History of Television
• Intellectual Property - Protecting the Creation
• Cutting the Deal
• The Internet & New Distribution Techniques

Veteran screenwriter, director, producer and showrunner, Norman Steinberg, created the TV Writers Studio^SM , which will be overseen and taught by him, along with highly experienced faculty members of Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus Media Arts and Journalism Departments.

An impressive lineup of guest lecturers - staff writers, showrunners, directors, producers, actors, network and cable executives, and agents, etc. - will share their expertise and experience, either in the classroom, or from Los Angeles via video conferencing, providing the TV Writers Studio^SM participants with an intimate view of day-to-day "life" in the TV industry.