Summer 2009

The Fundamentals of Craft
This 10-week workshop for beginning and intermediate screenwriters identifes and explores the fundamentals of writing a compelling screenplay, including the 5 key questions to dramatic writing, creating multi-dimensional protagonists and antagonists, and the foundations of dramatic structure from the level of story to scene. Classes will consist of lectures, in-class writing exercises, and out-of-class readings and creative assignments. By the end of this workshop, you will know how to tell a story like a true dramatist. (It's both easier and harder than you think!) $875.

Script Analysis
This six-week workshop examines traditional and alternative storytelling structures featured in mainstream and independent films. Students learn to identify the five key components of dramatic storytelling, define causal relationships within the dramatic action, see how a dramatic character develops internally and externally, and enhance their understanding of visual language and dramatic dialogue. Students will read screenplays, view films, and complete analytic and creative assignments toward these aims. Assigned reading may include The Verdict (David Mamet); American Beauty (Alan Ball), Taxi Driver (Paul Schrader), and sex, lies, and videotape (Steven Soderbergh). $665.

Four-Day Intensive
This rigorous four-day workshop is geared for beginning+ screenwriters/directors/producers who want to quickly develop a firm understanding of dramatic storytelling or advanced screenwriters who want to sharpen their dramatic storytelling skills and/or jumpstart a creative project. This workshop is not for the faint-hearted. The four six-hour days--comprised of lectures, in-class and out-of-class writing exercises, readings, and in-depth script analysis--are hard, but effective. $1125.