Screenwriting Online
- Idea & Structure
- Scenes, Dialogue & Character Arc
- Marketing & Pitching
- Writing for TV Comedy
- Writing for TV Drama
WRITING FOR THE SCREEN
A 5-week screenwriting mentorship - $295
Next session starts TBD
email us at info@actingstudiola.com for info on the next class
WHAT: 5-week course that teaches you to write your screenplay, coaches you to complete your treatment, trains you pitch it to the industry. Then puts you in a room with them.
WHEN: January 12th through February 9th (7 classes, Including 2 "in office" workshop sessions, and your final pitch to industry). 7-10 PM.
WHO: The Fall course is taught by David Garrett, a professional screenwriter/producer/director active in the industry - see bio below. Mr. Garrett will bring in various industry professionals to highlight relevant material.
WHERE: 11052 Magnolia Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601 "In Office" Workshops will be at the office of the instructor.
REGISTRATION: Email info@actingstudiola.com or call 818.416.7993 to secure your place in this year’s class. The course fee of $295 can be paid with Credit Card or Checking Account via PayPal to reserve your space in class.
SUMMARY: A professional screenwriter will mentor a class of 10 students over the course of five weeks:
- Idea Generation - Flesh out your raw idea (feature film, TV pilot or episodic), Overcome Writers Block, Create Unique Premises, Choose ideas with the most potential.
- Story Structure - learning solid structure is the key to writing great stories that sell. Elements of 3 act structure, plants and payoffs
- Scene Components - make your scenes pop
- Beats
- Emotional change and conflict
- 3.5 (In Office Workshop) Creating Great Dialog
- Outline and Treatment Development
- Sequences and set pieces
- Theme and character arc
- Unique character voices
- 4.5 (In Office Workshop) The Art of The Pitch
- Treatment Pitch - Pitch your project to Producers and Literary Agents
If you're interested in the class, we strongly discourage bringing in a previously written script in the hopes of getting it in front of industry. It's true that previous students have, as a direct result of the class, garnered paid writing work, had scripts shopped around town and gained literary representation. However, these students began with blank slates and maintained a serious, open-minded approach to the class. Through motivation, talent and luck, they were able to develop the best script they had in them. It's more productive to start fresh, than to struggle with adapting ideas you've already fallen in love with.
"It focused my creativity…allowed me to write faster and with more knowledge…I now see a crucial missing link to the execution of my story ideas. I wish I had taken this class 5 years ago."
– Henry Barrial
Award winning Sundance FF Writer/Director
"I learned a tremendous amount and had the great opportunity to showcase that concept to industry professionals (which) led to a literary agent meeting with...James Franco's manager, Miles Levy of Levy Management. There is no way I could have gotten my concept in those doors without the class."
– Cole Scheaffer
"I got my first paid writing job as a direct result of this class. Since Dave is currently a working writer in Hollywood, his teaching is fresh and relevant. His experience and advise were invaluable in helping me forge my career."
– Shannon Conlon
"What a fantastic and thoroughly productive hands-on experience! I've recommended it to everyone I know."
– Julie Tucker
"I found the writing class the single most inspiring thing I have done all year."
– Elena Fabri
"I not only completed a first draft of a feature length script (and really enjoyed writing it) I also feel that, as an actor, my reading/script analysis skills greatly improved."
– Casey Ristaino
"I just wanted to reiterate how TREMENDOUS this writing class has been for me. In four years, this is by far the most valuable investment I've made in my career."
– Brian Baker
David C. Garrett
Writer/Producer/Director
IMDB: Click here
David Garrett is currently writing an animated pilot for 3BALL Productions, he has co-written two indie comedies, "The Big Meet" and "National Lampoon's Rock Hard", both of which are scheduled for production in late 2009. Recently, MTV bought the musical web series "Private High Musical", which Garrett Executive Produced.
Previously, Garrett co-wrote "Foreign Exchange" for MTV Films and the musical comedy "Do That To Me One More Time" for Touchstone Pictures, with Jack Black attached to star and produce. In 2005, Garrett co-wrote "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo". In addition to co-writing "First Pet" and "Corky Romano" for Disney, has written screenplays for directors Ivan Reitman at Dreamworks, Tom Shadyac at Universal ("Haunting Darryl") and Peter Segal ("Garden of Steven").
In 2008, David sold the half hour reality show "I've Never" to Reveille and the one-hour dramedy "Citizen's Arrest" to the USA Network. Previously, he co-wrote the half hour pilot "Central" for CW. In 2006, NBC bought the half-hour comedy pilot "The Dysfunctionals". which was based on David's life. WB's "Living with Fran", which Garrett co-created and Executive Produced, was also based on his life and ran for 2 years. He sold the half-hour comedy "Model Family" to Fox with Jamie Kennedy in 2007.
Garrett has also written/produced/directed several award winning short films including "Sunday's Game" (multiple festival awards), and "Hott4Hill" (Top Political Video of the Year - CNN).
In addition to other collaborative projects, Garrett sold and co-wrote "The Hatfields & McCoys", a dramatic mini-series for the USA Network. He has written and produced nearly two dozen pilots, series & specials for ABC, NBC, CBS, UPN, Comedy Central, Showtime and Fox, including the animated series "Da Mob" for Fox Family. He's had development deals with Fox Television Studios, Paramount TV, and Touchstone.
David is an attorney and graduate of UCLA Law School.