Perfecting the Basics of Screenwriting

Learn directly from 12-year veteran Mary Cybriwsky, who's worked on films such as THE DARK KNIGHT, GET SMART, THE INTERNATIONAL and THE BANK JOB and has recently produced BURYING THE EX (Anton Yelchin, Ashley Greene) and STICKY NOTES (Ray Liotta, Rose Leslie).

With any script, setting up a strong foundation is key to a good story. In screenwriting, the craft is your foundation to a more successful journey. All working writers take the craft very seriously and have spent time perfecting their art. Too many writers try to jump into this insanely competitive field with little to no training. Executives can tell by page 5 if a writer knows the basics of screenwriting and they will not take a writer seriously if there are glaring mistakes.

Stage 32 Happy Writers is excited to bring you our first ever 4-week "Perfecting the Basics - Introduction to Screenwriting" online class taught by manager Mary Cyrbwisky from Scooty Woop Entertainment. Mary has been one of our most sought out executives through our Coverage Program and has helped many writers better their craft (and even signed one!). Finding such a mentor to teach the basics of screenwriting is crucial and we are thrilled to have Mary for this class.

Whether you are brand new to the screenwriting profession, or a seasoned writer, this class is intended to go over the basics of screenwriting to perfect your craft. The objective of this 4 week class is to cover basic screenwriting formatting, 3 act structure, characters, plots, themes, what to write and what NOT to write, but Mary will go over so much more! All of this is done in a friendly, interactive, fun online atmosphere.

Purchasing gives you access to the previously-recorded live class.
Although Mary is no longer reviewing the assignments, we still encourage all listeners to participate!

Week 1 - Introduction

Introduction to the class – Who am I and why are we all here. What is a movie, what makes a good story, what are the essential elements of a script (character, plot, theme, stakes). How to determine what to write when you’re starting out – where to find ideas, what types of scripts to write (artsy versus marketable), putting that idea in a sentence or two… Give a brief overview of screenplay formatting and structure and explain loglines vs outlines vs treatments vs scripts.

Week 2 - Screenplay Formatting and Characters, Description and Dialogue

Discuss and answer any questions the class has about the scripts assigned for homework. Explain screenplay formatting in detail. Go over types of characters, character arcs, character goals, and talk about how to write an engaging protagonist and antagonist. Discuss how to write engaging yet appropriate description. Discuss how to write dialogue, hiding exposition and giving each character their own unique voice.

Week 3 - Screenplay Story Structure, Theme and Genre

Review the homework in class. Explain screenplay story structure in detail – the three act structure, the plot points, the pacing and the characters journey in the three act structure (what the protagonist should be going through at each point.) Discuss tone and theme through genre and creating the appropriate world for your story.

Week 4 - What to Write and How to Get It Out There

Discuss the structure of Hollywood – who you have to please and how to do so – managers, agents, producers, lawyers, etc. General advice on common traps writers fall into that can hurt their chances before even getting read and the right steps to take to make sure you fall in the “must read” pile. Getting rejected, continuing to write and believing in your own voice – the life of a writer. This will lead to a general Q&A to allow writers to ask any other questions they may have.

Q: What is the format of a class?
A: Stage 32 Next Level Classes are typically 2 to 4 week ongoing broadcasts that take place online using a designated software program from Stage 32.

Q: Do I have to have to be located in a specific location?
A: No, you can participate from the comfort of your own home using your personal computer! If you attend a live online class, you will be able to communicate directly with your instructor during the class.

Q: What are the system requirements?
A: You will need to meet the following system requirements in order to run the class software: Windows 7 or later Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later.
If you have Windows XP, Windows Vista and Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion): The class software does not support these operating systems. If you are running one of those operating systems, please upgrade now in order to be able to view a live class. Upgrade your Windows computer / Upgrade your Mac computer 

Q: What if I cannot attend the live class?
A: If you cannot attend a live class and purchase an On-Demand class, you will have access to the entire recorded broadcast, including the Q&A.

Q: Will I have access to the class afterward to rewatch?
A: Yes! After the purchase of a live or On-Demand class, you will have on-demand access to the audio recording, which you can view as many times as you'd like for a whole year!

If you have a generic question about Stage 32 education you can take a look at our frequently asked questions section on our help page, or feel free to contact support with any other inquiries you might have.