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SCREENWRITING CLASSES
Click “Buy Now” Under Each Class to Enroll. Email info@writingpad.com or call 323-333-2954 if you have further questions or want to ask about payment plans.
Work The Room: Mastering The Power of The Pitch
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Instructor: Victor Levin Tues., Feb. 28 & Mar. 13, 2012 ( incl. 1 pitch session to creative execs) 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. |
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About Victor Levin:
Victor Levin has written for numerous TV shows, including NBC's “Mad About You,” which he ran in its final two seasons, HBO's “Dream On” and that network's “The Larry Sanders Show.” He shared Emmy nominations for Mad and Sanders. In features, he wrote DreamWorks' "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!!!” (2004), co-wrote "Then She Found Me" (ThinkFilm, 2008) with Helen Hunt and Alice Arlen, adapted "My Sassy Girl" (2008) for Gold Circle and co-wrote Fox International's "We Are Family" (in production) with Daniel Shere and Yuri Korotkov. He is also the author of a one-act play, "Death in Scarsdale" (1981) which continues to receive productions across the country. In addition, Victor has written and directed commercials and has won two Clio Awards and the Cannes Lion de Bronze. He was an Associate Creative Director at Young & Rubicam NY and BBDO, and Vice President for Creative Services at Margeotes, Fertitta & Weiss. Victor anticipates making his feature directorial debut with his script, "5 to 7," to be produced by Mockingbird Pictures. He holds a B.A. from Amherst College.
PAST CLASSES TO BE REPEATED IN 2012:
GET YOUR WEBISODE ON
Got a cell phone, a laptop, and the desire to create a web series so awesome that Matt Weiner will be knocking down your door? Then this is the class for you! Streamy Award nominated web series creator and successful TV writer, Jessie Gaskell, will show you how to develop the next breakout web series. Through fun, in-class writing prompts and targeted homework assignments, you'll tease out a killer idea, draft it into a solid series, and hammer out the perfect first episode for your pilot. In addition, Jesse will cover the ins and outs of crafting a series for the chaotic world of the web, such as blistering fast episode arcs and humor on steroids. She’ll even give you tips for maximizing views that will keep your throngs of fans clamoring for more. By the end of the class, you'll have everything you need to start shooting. Break out the director's chairs, order a dinner spread from craft services, and make that casting call!
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Instructor: Jessie Gaskell Oct. 9, 16, Nov 6, 13, 20, 2011 (5 Sunday p.m.’s) |
About Jessie Gaskell:
Jessie Gaskell is currently a writer on Rupaul's Drag Race. Prior to that, she was the head writer of The Dish, a delightfully silly pop culture show that aired weekly on the Style network. Jessie also wrote and starred in the successful web series “Dorm Life,” the most-watched web series on hulu.com and winner of 6 Streamy Award nominations including “Best Writing” and “Best Ensemble Cast.” She performs sketch comedy as part of the duo Sensible Snack. Jessie has completed the Improv and Sketch schools at UCB and Improv Olympic and holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Development, Poli Sci and Spanish from UCLA.
WRITING A PILOT THAT CAN FLY
Do you have a great idea for TV's next "Dexter" or "Modern Family?" In this ten-week class, successful TV writer and development exec Chad Gervich will show you what you need to do to bring your brilliant concept to the screen. Chad will teach you how to plan a riveting series and give your pilot a unique voice and a specific world view. Through fun in-class writing exercises, targeted homework assignments, you will learn to bring your characters in line with the focus of the series. In addition, Chad will share his secret techniques for using action to breathe life into characters, playing comic characters against their dramatic foils, breaking your pilot story, and writing original plots. Through intensive workshopping, you'll learn how to punch up your script for enhanced effect. By the end of this class, you’ll have developed the formula for your series, defined your main characters, and completed a draft of a pilot no network can resist. You'll be on your way to an executive producer credit faster than you can say "Breaking Bad.”
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Instructor: Chad Gervich Nov. 7, 14, 21, Dec. 5, 12, 2011, Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30, Feb. 6, 2012 (10 Mon. p.m.'s) 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Cost: $500 |
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About Chad Gervich:
Chad Gervich is a television producer, author, and playwright who currently has a development deal with 20th Century Fox. Most recently, Chad was a writer and producer on "After Lately," starring Chelsea Handler. He has also worked on "The Wanda Sykes Show," "Cupcake Wars," "Wipeout," "Feeders," "Reality Binge," and "Foodie Call." Chad was a development executive and producer with the Littlefield Company, and he has also worked in development and production at NBC Studios, Sony Pictures, CBS Productions, and Twentieth Century Fox where he was involved in shows like "Love, Inc.," "Malcolm in the Middle," and "Star Search." Chad is the author of "Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writers Guide to the TV Business." He also writes for Daily Variety, Writers Digest, Fade In, Moving Pictures, and Orange Coast. He teaches TV writing and producing all over the U.S.
DREAM IT, WRITE IT, PITCH IT: SCREENWRITING BOOT CAMP
Executives will often like a movie idea but not want to pay you to write it. That's why having the finished script in hand is so crucial when you have the opportunity to meet with an executive, agent, or manager. In this 10 week intensive, we'll explore your ideas, get you writing and finishing that script, and put you in front of creative execs so you can not only tell them about your great idea but actually hand it to them as a finished screenplay. Veteran screenwriter Steven Peros ("The Cat's Meow") will help you shepherd your amazing script from concept to completion. He'll help you avoid the rookie mistakes and show you how to create engaging characters, tantalizing dialogue, and scintillating conflict. You'll learn how to leverage screenplay structure to craft an irresistible script. By the end of this class, you'll have written a draft of your screenplay and pitch your story to execs! Before you know it, you’ll be following the Red Carpet Road all the way to Sundance.
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Instructor: Steven Peros Jan. 29, Feb. 12, 19, Mar. 4, 11, 18, 25, Apr. 1, 15, 22, 2012 (10 Sun. p.m.'s, incl. 1 pitch session to creative execs) |
| Email marilyn@writingpad.com to get on wait list. |
About Steven Peros:
Steven Peros is an award-winning filmmaker and twice-published Samuel French playwright. His research into a mysterious death on board William Randolph Hearst's yacht led to his original screenplay, “The Cat's Meow” (Lionsgate, 2002), directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Kirsten Dunst and Eddie Izzard. The film appeared on a dozen year end “Ten Best” lists, including Film Comment. His play on the same topic garnered rave reviews from numerous publications including Variety, The LA Times, Variety, and CBS Radio. Steven also wrote and directed, “Footprints,” a micro-budget mystery set entirely on Hollywood Boulevard that has been hailed as “One of the Ten Best Films So Far This Year,” by the Chairman of the New York Film Critics Circle and will have a second release nationwide in December. Steven penned three episodes of AMC’s Emmy-award winning dramedy series, “The Lot." He’s taught screenwriting at UCLA Extension and spoken extensively on screenwriting and filmmaking at many film festivals nationwide, as well as at USC (interviewed by Leonard Maltin), LMU, Cal-State Northridge, Los Angeles Film School, KCET’s Cinema Series, IFP West, Women in Film, and the Irish Film Institute.
CALL 323.333.2954 TO ENROLL!
