Jeff Biederman
B.A., B.A.A., M.Ed. (cand.)
Subject: Public Speaking / Creative Writing
What will my child walk away with? The storytelling instincts and communication skills of someone trained by two decades of professional television writing — because the principles that make a scene work, a character compelling, and an audience stay engaged are exactly the same principles that make a student’s writing and speaking memorable.
What can families expect? An award-winning TV writer and showrunner with over 250 episodes written for Disney, Netflix, CBC, and CTV, who has also served as Writer-in-Residence at the Toronto Public Library’s North York Central Branch. My teaching philosophy centers on creativity, critical thinking, and the power of storytelling, and I bring all three to every Brain Power class.
What does class actually feel like? Energetic, creative, and full of genuine craft. I currently teach at Seneca Polytechnic and Toronto Metropolitan University, and I develop courses for the Toronto Film School, which means I have a refined sense of how to make complex creative concepts accessible and engaging at every level.
How do you challenge a curious mind? I give students real narrative problems: not “write something creative” but “solve this specific storytelling challenge in a way that serves your audience.” The discipline of working within constraints to produce something original is exactly the kind of productive difficulty that capable students need.
Credentials and Experience M.Ed., Yorkville University. B.A.A., Toronto Metropolitan University. B.A., McGill University. Over 250 television episodes written for Disney, Netflix, CBC, CTV, Rogers, and more. Writers Guild of Canada Best Youth Writing Award for Life With Derek. Showrunner for Second Jen (Citytv) and Spun Out (CTV, Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Comedy Series). Current series Estate of Mind in production for Bell Fibe TV1. Writer-in-Residence, Toronto Public Library North York Central Branch. Teaching at Seneca Polytechnic and Toronto Metropolitan University. Mentor in Bell Media’s Diverse Screenwriters Program, WGC Writer to Writer Program, and BIPOC Kids TV Program.
Why Jeff? Why Brain Power?
I have spent two decades figuring out what makes a story work, and the answer is always the same: clarity of intention, specificity of detail, and genuine respect for the audience. Those are the principles I teach, and Brain Power students are exactly the ones ready to apply them.