writing classes / tutorials

A really good friend of mine teaches filmmaking, acting, and screenplay writing at a couple of NY schools. He also has his own studio, which focuses mostly on acting but does have one writing class. He can also provide one-on-one classes, online classes, or reviews.

more info can be found here:
www.actingclassnewyork.com/

I highly recommend him.

Thanks!

no way

can screenwriting be taught. sure, maybe elementary format. But it has to come from within. You have to know that you'll be in a chair zip-lock bagging your babies head on a daily basis. You can't teach story despite how much McKee coolaid you chug.

in some ways agree with you

In some ways I agree with you, however, formal training can be a great benefit to some people. I definitely benefited from the training I received while in school.

One of the best things about being in a class is that it makes you do the work. Also, a great teacher can make you think about things differently, expose you to works that greatly influence you, challenge you in ways you might otherwise not have been, and, finally, inspire you.

Also, some people have a natural ability to figure out what is "tight" and what is "wordy" or what is "suspensful" or just merely "shocking." Others are able to develop those skills through training. And, of course, some never develop those skills. (Of course, it's difficult to know ahead of time if you're one of those people.)

This is, obviously, something everyone has to figure out for themselves.

Re: in some ways agree with you

topcocogirl

agree. training develops talent. talent is innate. the question then is for the individual: do i have what it takes? problem is not many people will answer this honestly. and, by not many i mean tens of thousands every year

however, training will teach anybody whether they are talented story tellers or not. problem grows exponentially when those without much natural ability thrash their way through a script without the benefit of any training, sincere disciplined work, or review of the technique of creating story. pour gas on the fire by making it easier to write a script (ie - computers and software). i venture there would be fewer wannabes if you still had to use a manual typewriter (believe me, i've used them, you don't want to know)

it's true that there are far too many hacks with computers grinding out lousy (and i mean lousy) scripts. why this is the case is no secret - there has never been a surplus of hard working, disciplined students


zilla