W o r k s h o p s
Robert McKee's Story Seminar
Oscar and Emmy-winning writers--and yours truly--have attended Robert McKee's weekend-intensive
Story and Genre seminars and for good reason: Mckee detests stories that suck and
will provide the foundation you need to develop compelling stories.
The Genre:Comedy seminar is particularly critical if you plan to
write comedy. If you are a fan of Pixar films, you should note Pixar
employees are required to attend McKee's seminars. This is one of the
best seminars you can attend.
ScreenwritingU
This is producing-team Hal and Cheryl Croasmun's effort to develop a
pool of professional screenwriters who want to succeed in Hollywood, and
easily the best value for your dollar. Participate in a variety
of online workshops to elevate your screenwriting to meet the high
industry standards. Hal also organizes events in Los Angeles that brings writers
together with producers at the major studios. I highly recommend ScreenwritingU.
David Freeman's Beyond Structure
David's weekend workshop, which I've attended, focuses on character and dialogue,
and will leave you with techniques that are easy to apply to your story development.
While it is "beyond" structure, what you'll discover is how character and
story are fully connected.
Ellen Sandler Workshops
If you are developing a sitcom or a comedy online series you
must study with Ellen Sandler. She is an industry veteran who has
been nominated for an Emmy and will provide the guidance you
need to develop your show.
Judith Weston Acting Studio
Judith teaches a variety of acting and directing workshops that will
help you in ways other workshops cannot. Why? Because the more you,
the writer, understand about acting and how actors approach their craft,
the easier it will be for you to develop characters with depth and
write scenes that reflect realistic character behavior.
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F i l m S c h o o l s
TheFilmSchool
If you want to attend a film school with renowned faculty but do not
have the time or money to attend a school like USC, I highly recommend
TheFilmSchool in Seattle. As a proud alum, I was blown away by how its
intensive 3-week program transformed my understanding of the screenwriting
craft. This school was founded by industry pros that include actor Tom
Skerritt and screenwriting veteran Stewart Stern ("Rebel Without A Cause")
and it will be one of the most memorable experiences in your life.
Univ. of Washington Screenwriting Certificate
If you live in Seattle and are looking for a night-time year-long certificate program,
this is a popular one that always boasts industry pros as part of the faculty. Your
local university may offer a similar program.
UCLA Online Courses
I haven't taken any UCLA courses but from their Web site: "The UCLA Extension Writers' Program offers more than 200 courses in feature film writing and television writing annually. Courses may be taken in the classroom and/or online. Courses are taught by over 90 instructors, who are produced writers or entertainment professionals possessing significant related experience."
Dov Simen's Web Film School
Dov's famous for inspiring do-it-yourself producers and this site has a multitude of online tutorials and more to help launch your career.
USC School of Cinematic Arts
I'm listing USC because it's still considered one of the best
schools around, and a few of its alumni have sprouted a cottage industry
of screenwriting instruction based on what they learned at USC.
A University Near You
No matter where you live, chances are there's a university or
community college nearby that offers screenwriting courses. Even a
basic "Intro to Screenwriting" night class will teach you some of
the key things you need to know as well as introduce you to the
local screenwriting subculture you never knew existed.
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