Whether you’re REWRITING or DEVELOPING A NEW IDEA, having a support group and deadlines can make the process faster and easier. My Summer Writing Workshop is open to both writers who want to get an existing project ready for submission and for those starting something new. I’ll be devising individual schedules for each of you and offering all the help I can. Class will meet 7-10pm on Mondays and costs $700.00.
Starting a screenplay is always exciting, but it can be easy to run out of steam by the time you get to Act Three. This workshop will offer practical advice on structuring a sound, imaginative and satisfying Third Act and ending for your screenplay. See LIVING ROOM LECTURES page for details.
So much of the best writing in town is in television right now and having a pilot and understanding television structure is an important part of building your career. I will focus on successful shows from both cable and the networks and give practical advice on creating the kind of structure, characters, conflicts and worlds that can give a show legs. [click to continue…]
From the Wicked Witch of the West to Hannibal Lecter and the Joker, a great villain makes a film memorable forever. Whether you’re writing thrillers, dramas, action films, horrors, or comedies, creating a strong antagonist is vital. This workshop will explore what great screen villains have in common and offer help on how to create one of your own.
Films with multiple protagonists and story lines (THE AVENGERS, THE HANGOVER, THE HELP, LOVE ACTUALLY, CRASH, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) can be huge hits and critical darlings, but they can also be very intimidating to write. This workshop offers practical advice on structuring these kinds of complex stories. [click to continue…]
I’m delighted to offer my favorite course, THE TAKE, this winter. This course will not only prepare you for the reality of industry meetings and improve your pitching skills, it will provide you with new ideas and sources for your own projects. Several students have sold projects developed in this class. See PRIVATE CLASSES for a full description.
This one day seminar will offer practical advice on getting through the “desert” of the second act, focusing on more than just the major plot points. We’ll examine how to interweave subplots to advantage, how to maintain a steady movement from dramatic “pluses” to “minuses,” and how to move your protagonist realistically through the bulk of his or her arc. Drawing examples from several genres, we will break this down step by step.
August 6-9. http://miff.com.au/films/film_talks/wendallthomastalksscripts