Saturday Hot Links

Screenwriting Master Class tip of the week: Between the popularity of Go Into The Story and my teaching, I interact with a lot of writers who are trying to break into the business. I mean… a lot! One complaint I hear frequently is this: Writers who have read a bunch of screenwriting books, attended seminars, bought DVDs, listened to podcasts, and assimilated reams of information… but the conflicting things they’ve learned has left them confused about both the theory and practice of screenwriting.

One way to clear away the confusion is to learn a comprehensive, coherent approach which is precisely what I offer with my Core curriculum. It is based on a perspective deriving from my nearly three decades of working in this business and over twelve years teaching the craft. I call this approach Character Based Screenwriting, the focus on discovering everything about a story through the characters.

This philosophy is reflected in the eight Core classes I teach, each grounded on a guiding principle:

1. Plot = Structure

2. Concept = Hook

3. Character = Function

4. Style = Voice

5. Dialogue = Purpose

6. Scene = Point

7. Theme = Meaning

8. Time = Present

Each Core course builds off the foundation of those principles, exploring subject areas in depth, and in aggregate provides a holistic take on the craft of screenwriting.

Here is the schedule of upcoming Core classes:

Core I: Plot [July 6–12, 2015]
Core II: Concept [July 20–26, 2015]
Core III: Character [August 3–9, 2015]
Core IV: Style [August 31-September 6, 2015]
Core V: Dialogue [September 28-October 4, 2015]
Core VI: Scene [October 12-October 18, 2015]
Core VII: Theme [November 9–15, 2015]
Core VIII: Time [December 2–8, 2015]

Each is a 1-week online class featuring 6 lectures written by me, lots of screenwriting insider tips, logline workshops, optional writing exercises, 24/7 message board conversations, teleconferences with course participants and myself to discuss anything related to the craft of scriptwriting, and much more.

You may take any of the individual classes, however a popular option is the Core Package which gives you access to the content in all eight Craft classes which you can go through on your own time and at your own pace, plus automatic enrollment in each 1-week online course — all for nearly 50% off the price of each individual class. If you sign up, you can have access to all of the Core content today.

As I say, you don’t have to spend a dime to learn how to write. Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. Study the pros. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Eventually you can get it. However…

If you’d like to expedite your learning process…

If you feel your writing would benefit from a comprehensive take on the craft…

If you are interested in the concept of Character Based Screenwriting…

If you want to clear away confusion you may have from what you’ve taken in so far in your creative journey…

Consider the Core Package. It’s a popular choice and a great value. Immediate access to the entire Core curriculum. The ability to go through the material on your own time. Plus automatic enrollment in all eight online classes.

For more information, go here.

As always, I look forward to the opportunity to work with you!

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