RIYADH: The SeriesLab — a Red Sea International Film Festival initiative — recently launched its first training workshop in Los Angeles. Saudi trainees, professional writers and emerging talents were selected by the Red Sea Lodge to participate in the workshop, which, according to the RSIFF “aims to prepare participants to write compelling stories, pitch their pilot to major television networks, create a platform of series and episode writers, and give them the right tools and guidance to create the next must-watch television sensation.” The workshop was presented by a group of professional writers, producers and industry experts, including award-winning producer David Janollari, former chairman of NBC Entertainment Bob Greenblatt, and writer Marc Cherry — creator of “Desperate Housewives.” It also included an improvization session with director Jamie Muir and a tour of the Writers Guild of America. The workshop aligns with the RSIFF’s objectives of promoting professional and talented writers and honing their skills in an effort to support the artistic and cultural community in the Kingdom. The SeriesLab is a professional creative-writing program that allows writers to develop a pilot for a TV series. It selects projects for full development and mentorship and consists of group workshops and one-on-one meetings. The workshops will take place in both the US and Saudi Arabia.