IN THIS ISSUE

• Late Summer Classes – Register Now!
• Alumni News
• Screenwriting Tip

Late Summer Classes – Register Now!

Registration for Late Summer workshops has begun! All workshops begin the first week of August. Back this session after a long absence is our Screenwriting Workshop via Skype Group Video.

All workshops are taught by professional screenwriters. Be sure to register ASAP for the best selection and to ensure your choice is not filled or cancelled.

Here are our Late Summer offerings:

SCREENWRITING FUNDAMENTALS
Learn in 5 weeks everything you must know to write a screenplay.
Tuesdays 7:00-9:30 pm, August 4-September 1
See syllabus
Tuition: $245

MASTER CLASS
Write a feature-length script or script outline in 10 weeks.
Tuesdays 7:00-9:30 pm, August 4-October 6
See syllabus
Tuition: $445
(Master Class Alumni: take $50 off)

SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP VIA SKYPE GROUP VIDEO
Learn how to write a feature screenplay without leaving your den.
Saturdays 10 am-12:00 noon CDT, August 1-29
See syllabus
Tuition: $245

PRIVATE CONSULTATION & INSTRUCTION
is also available. See more info on our website.

TO REGISTER
Just hit “Reply” and e-mail us with which workshop group you are interested in, and we’ll email back to get you enrolled right away!

Alumni News

Amy Quick Parrish signed with Hollywood agent Rima Greer of Above the Line Agency – very exciting!! Check out her agent’s book: The Real, Low Down, Dirty Truth about Hollywood Agenting.

Dana Cowden‘s Ella and the Sun was a ScreenCraft Short Screenplay semi-finalist. And this spring, Dana directed her screenplay. Can’t wait to see her short film! Also Dana was a finalist in National University’s Screenwriting Conference Scholarship held during the Los Angeles Film Festival. Finalists were brought to L.A. where they met with industry professionals who read their work. Congrats, Dana!

Alumni: be sure to email us about your news. We love to hear from you! Email news@thescreenplayworkshop.org.

The Screenplay Workshop is on Twitter as @jillchamberlain. To follow The Screenplay Workshop on Twitter, you need to follow @jillchamberlain.

Have you “liked” The Screenplay Workshop’s Facebook page yet? Do so by clicking here and you’ll get automatic program updates in your News Feed.

Screenwriting Tip:
About Character Profiles/Biographies

I copied the following off of the website of a well-known screenwriting school that will remain anonymous:
“Creating compelling characters begins with writing character profiles (also known as biographies). You should develop as many background details and biographical info about your characters as possible, including the following: the characters’ physical appearance/traits; their social/economic background; and information about their psychology.”

I couldn’t disagree more (if you’ll pardon the double negative). The needs of the story should inform character development, not the other way around. So I don’t do character bios, and I tell writers they don’t need to, either.

Some writers are really attached to doing character biographies. I tell these writers that I’m not going to stop them. But be aware of a couple of potential dangers if you do use them:

1. Getting sidetracked
by biographical “facts” that have no bearing on the story.
2. Becoming locked into a biography,
particularly if it’s fictional, and insisting a plot must go a certain way to the detriment of creating a better story.
3. A tendency toward excessive exposition
because the writer feels they must reveal all this biographic information. And most insidiuous —
4. Procrastination!
I’ve known a number of writers who were unable to move forward in developing their story because they didn’t feel they had a good enough handle on their character profiles. If this is happening, character profiling is not serving you!

Even if you are working with a historical figure, when it comes to character profiles, my motto is: “Wikipedia it, and be done!”