Feature Script Generator

Why lead this workshop?

I’m a writer/director who also teaches story development at AFI and I work as a story and creative consultant. I love to talk story. I love to help writers see their stories come to life and to help shepherd toward the finish line. 

Having both been in the trenches and taught for over a decade, I’ve seen ___**___. I wanted to create the kind of forum that factors in ___*__.

So I decided to create a course to help you do just that, the kind of container that would have supported me before tackling my first feature script. 

During the workshop, you’ll have a chance to develop and test your idea for your feature. You’ll be supported by a clear structure (deadlines!) to advance your script at a steady pace. The workshop will provide you with rigorous, reflective feedback to help you coax out the most compelling story and it will also build community for encouragement and accountability.  

For more details see below!

FAQ

But who are you, really?

There are so many ways to answer that question but, for the purposes of this workshop, I’m a writer/director who has taught screenwriting and worked as a story consultant for more than fifteen years. I earned my MFA as a Michener Fellow in screenwriting and fiction writing at UT-Austin but I got my start slugging through the trenches on my own, wrestling with my early feature scripts and consulting every available resource to uncover what wasn’t working and why. That deep dive into all aspects of craft and structure continues to this day.

I currently teach screenwriting to producing and directing fellows at AFI, and I continue to consult on scripts and manuscripts. My second feature as a writer/director premiered at SXSW and is currently streaming on Amazon. 

Who is this for?

This course is intended for screenwriters with experience under their belt (weird expression) though it’s open to any genre of film/TV. It’s designed to be intensive and focused but not manic. My hope is that we can jump into the deep end.  

What is your approach to screenwriting? 

After immersing myself in numerous approaches to both writing and teaching, I have come to the conclusions that a) there is no one approach for everyone or even every story; b) many of the screenwriting/story gurus are saying the same thing in different ways; and c) almost al of the approaches offer something of value. 

Over the years, I’ve realized that there are only two questions that really matter: Do you (as a watcher/reader) want to know what happens next? And, related, do you care?

Getting to “yes” on both of those isn’t easy, and it helps to have a solid understanding of “classical” story structure and to develop a diagnostic tool kit to help you address problems or to get unstuck. That’s where I come in and that’s where this workshop will help. 

What do I need to bring to this course?

You need to bring an idea for a feature film script that you could write out as a rough one-page or pitch verbally in 2-3 minutes. It can be rough and unformed or you could even have a draft that you know you want to reassess from scratch. 

How much time will I need to devote to this course?

It depends on your working style and speed so it’s hard to say for certain. It also depends on how developed the idea is at the outset (though conceivably you may get even more from the course the rougher it is). Keep this in mind: the more you put into this course, the more you’ll get out of it. I would plan to write at least five days/week. My hope is that you’ll finish with new understandings and practices that you can draw on going forward. 

Any other questions or concerns?

Feel free to reach out.