"I learned more about screenwriting in ONE CLASS session of The Screenplay Workshop
than I did in FOUR YEARS of film school!"
-- an Austin, Texas filmmaker
THE SCREENPLAY WORKSHOP uses concrete, tangible writing techniques taught by professional
screenwriters in classes in groups, online and one-on-one. Our programs are for all levels of writers: from complete beginners to professionals with finished scripts ready to workshop. We offer:
- Weekend Intensives
- 10 Week Workshops
- 6 Week Workshops
- Short Courses
- Private Script Consultations and Tutorials
OUR TECHNIQUES & METHODS
We teach the craft of screenwriting with a straightforward, no-nonsense approach that works for both those who have never considered themselves "writers" as well as unblocking those who do. We give you concrete feedback you can actually do something with and techniques and tools that you'll take with you and use forever.
All of our programs focus first on STORY STRUCTURE, because if your story doesn't work, your script doesn't work. Easily 99% of spec scripts fail to use the principles of story structure. They may LOOK like screenplays, and they might have scenes with clever dialogue or dramatic action or interesting characters. But ultimately, a script will go nowhere if it doesn't incorporate the basic fundamentals of story structure.
At our introductory class, you'll learn perhaps our most valuable tool, The Screenplay Workshop's exclusive "NUTSHELL" TECHNIQUE, a straightforward, organic method for getting straight to the guts of your story and insuring that it works dramatically.
Our programs all build on the Nutshell technique and continue to give you new TOOLS to bring you toward mastering the craft. For example, we'll give you tools to help you write:
- CHARACTERS that are compelling and that we WANT to join on this journey, no matter how flawed and complicated they may be
- DIALOGUE that actually sounds like how people talk, that drives the story forward, and that pulls the reader right into the scene like another character
- SCENE AND ACTION DESCRIPTION that comes alive and has purpose -- and that doesn't drive the director and producing team nuts by trying to dictate to them how to shoot it
- TRANSITIONS that make it impossible to put the script down. Forget the "SMASH CUT" and other amateur gimmicks! We'll show you how to make the *STORY* pull the readers into the next scene and make them utterly unable to resist turning to the next page.
Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned professional, you'll leave with a brand new toolbox that you'll be able to use forever.
We also work with a unique critique method we call the "two-way mirror." The two-way mirror allows you to hear constructive criticism without feeling defensive. It also gives you concrete feedback and suggestions that you can actually do something with, instead of leaving you high and dry with vague impressions and conflicting advice, like many writer's workshops do. You'll walk out knowing exactly what you need to do to fix your script.
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"EXCELLENT! This workshop made me want to go home and analyze film and WRITE!"
-- Chris Ritecz, Editor
"I liked the 'two-way mirror' exercise. It’s helpful to just sit back and simply absorb feedback from the instructor and your classmates on your screenplay and your writing skills."
-- Carolyn Bishop, Writer
THE
SCREENPLAY WORKSHOP