Script University newsletters

Here are the latest Script University newsletters with details of upcoming courses and more:

Last Chance to Register!   It usually goes like this: the pilot is all that network execs are really interested in at first. That's because the pilot demonstrates basic writing and gives them a sense of where things will go (the season's "map" is built into any good pilot). But once they've decided they like a pilot, then they want to see more—your series bible, particularly the first season's sketch. A strong series bible is a crucial sales tool for your series. This workshop will help you get your TV series ready for an executive by developing your series premise, honing your pilot, and writing your series bible.   The top tools for selling a TV series. What a TV series needs before it can get off the ground. How to write a series bible. The key elements of a pilot that can launch a series. What a first season needs. and much more!  Writers developing a TV show. Writers looking for tools to generate ideas for new episodes. Writers who want to understand how to develop series long story arcs. Writers wanting to put together a sales kit for their TV series.   Course Starts Thursday! April 1 - April 29   SIGN UP NOW!   Instructor: Lynn Grant Beck   Lynn Grant Beck was born in Montclair, New Jersey. She just completed a new feature thriller, Quiet Night. Her latest sci-fi TV series, Fuzion, is currently being pitched to broadcast and streaming networks. The TV series, Hashers, was commissioned by Google VP, Jim Kolotouros. Her TV movie thriller, My Mom is a Bank Robber, aired on Lifetime in 2016 and her TV movie rom-com, 12 Gifts of Christmas aired on the Hallmark Channel in 2015. Lynn is a Professor of Screenwriting in the MFA graduate program at Pepperdine University and has also taught Writing the Television Pilot at Santa Monica College. Lynn also has significant industry experience as Vice President of Production at Kopelson Productions, and Creative Executive at Interscope Communications. At Interscope she traveled to Australia where she was an assistant producer on Pitch Black with Vin Diesel.      Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States

 

Last Chance to Register!   The creation of characters begins with well thought out psychological back stories. Developing backstories for characters involves many decisions on the part of the writer. Whether your protagonist has a personality disorder, mental illness, or just a loveable quirk can make all the difference in selling your script. Character flaws are what make your characters believable and relatable. Such psychological flaws can often be traced back to childhood and the environmental conditions one grew up in. These flaws are then exacerbated with the stresses of adulthood and are what make your characters jump off the page and onto the screen. At the conclusion of this course you will have gone through the process of developing psychological backstories for your protagonist and supporting characters. You will also have created an environment in which your characters come to life as their personalities either mesh with their environment or thrive in spite of it. In this course, you will learn the following from a professional with production experience: How to find and identify the best character flaws for your characters. How to peel back layers of a personality and carefully introduce seeds of a disorder. When to have that disorder present itself in the most believable way, serving your story. Where to find resources to a plethora of personality flaws, whether they be little quirks, emotional/psychological conditions, or full blown personality disorders. How to assign character flaws to supporting characters and enhance relationship drama.   Starts Tomorrow! April 1 - April 29   LEARN MORE!   Instructor: Donna Dannenfelser   Dr. Donna Dannenfelser, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, and most recently Co-Executive Producer on USA’s hit series Necessary Roughness, is the expert on Psychological Backstories as she consults with writers concerning psychological profiles and character flaws for pilot development, TV series, and movies. USA Network’s hit show, Necessary Roughness, was based on the life of Dr. Donna when she served as the mental health clinician to the New York Jets. Serving as a writer herself, Co-Executive Producer, and consultant to the writing staff of Necessary Roughness, Dr. Donna combines her psychotherapy knowledge with writing skills as she assists writers in developing psych bio’s that are complicated, interesting, surprising, and based on realistic personality disorders that bring characters to life.     Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States

 

Whether you're completely new to writing screenplays or you're an experienced screenwriter looking to add a new skill, Script University has a course for you, all from the comfort of your home! Click here to view the full course schedule >>   Courses Starting This Week:    Proper Formatting Technique: Script Format Made Easy Instructor: Dave Trottier It's extremely important that your screenplay is formatted correctly, or professionals won't take you seriously. Let Dave Trottier (Dr. Format himself) show you the necessary techniques and currently accepted standards that will set your script apart from the heap. Not only will he teach you the rules of script formatting, he will show you when and how to break them. How To Develop Psychological Backstories For Your Characters Instructor: Dr. Donna Dannenfelser Developing backstories for characters involves many decisions on the part of the writer. Whether your protagonist has a personality disorder, mental illness, or just a loveable quirk can make all the difference in selling your script. At the conclusion of this course you will have gone through the process of developing psychological backstories for your protagonist and supporting characters. Writing the Series Bible: Developing Your TV Series Instructor: Lynn Grant Beck A strong series bible is a crucial sales tool for your series. This workshop will help you get your TV series ready for an executive by developing your series premise, honing your pilot, and writing your series bible.   Upcoming Webinar:    How Comedy Works with David Misch April 29 -- A Special 3-Hour Event! Comedy writing is sometimes compared to songwriting: in music, every note is important; in comedy, every word, even every syllable can be critical. There are lots of classes about writing funny; this one is about what funny is – its mechanics, its principles. This talk has no direct instruction but rather takes a deep dive into the comedy principles which are, in fact, the basic principles of every art form: tension and resolution, pattern disruption, misdirection and surprise.   Hate being tied to a schedule? Check out our affordable Self-Paced Courses >>   EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS INVALUABLE FEEDBACK   Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States