Learn the fundamentals of screenwriting from a producer who has worked with Joe Dante, Roger Donaldson and more!

PLUS receive 14 script downloads to hep you better learn your craft!  

You have a story idea in your mind and you just know it will make a great movie or TV show. Does this sound familiar to you? If so, you are on the path to being a screenwriter, but where do you start?

Screenwriting is a special art form unto itself - it takes a fertile, vibrant mind to develop story and character, yet immense discipline of the writing craft. Too many writers try to jump into this insanely competitive field with little to no training.  It takes 5-10 pages of a screenplay for a professional to know whether or not you know the basics of screenwriting, so don't you want to give yourself the best chance to stand out as a professional? It's important you understand the fundamentals of the screenwriting craft to make sure that when you do get your script in front of a decision maker that yo have a competitive advantage to get them to read focus on your story and characters and not your structure.

Mary Cybriwsky produced Joe Dante’s BURYING THE EX, starring Anton Yelchin, Ashley Greene, Alexandra Daddario and Oliver Cooper, as well as executive produced STICKY NOTES starring Ray Liotta, Rose Leslie and Justin Bartha. Prior to opening production/management company Scooty Woop Entertainment in 2009 with Frankie Lindquist, Mary worked in all aspects of film development and production as an executive at Mosaic Media Group / Atlas Entertainment under the prolific producer Charles Roven and his team, on projects such as THE DARK KNIGHT, GET SMART, THE INTERNATIONAL, THE BANK JOB, amongst others.

Mary is a disciplined teacher of the screenwriting basics and in an exclusive Stage 32 4-sesson on-demand Class, Mary breaks down in four jam-packed sessions what you need to know about the basics of screenwriting. 

If you are brand new to the screenwriting profession, or a seasoned writer who wants to brush up on your skills, this Stage 32 on-demand class goes over the basics of screenwriting to perfect your craft. The objective of this 4 session 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! Best of all, the class sessions are available immediately to watch on demand at your leisure!

You Will Receive These Handouts:

• Title page format spec sheet
• Sample screenplay page, broken down section by section with descriptions
• Screenwriting dialogue tips

Plus! You will get these screenplays to download for FREE:

Feature Film Scripts

• LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
• ALL YOU NEED IS KILL (movie version changed title to: EDGE OF TOMORROW)
• PARASITE
• THE TRIAL OF CHICAGO 7
• GET OUT
• GREEN BOOK
• THE BIG SICK
• INSIDE OUT

Television Pilot Scripts

• THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT
• BREAKING BAD
• MODERN FAMILY
• FLEABAG
• BARRY
• GAME OF THRONES

Testimonials about Mary's Class:

"Loved Mary's teaching process! Will definitely take other classes if she offers them in the future." --Jessica R.

"Very good basic introduction course!" --Diana B.

"Mary makes learning the basics of screenwriting easy and welcoming. I have a lot to think about." --Harry M.

"After this class writing is no longer scary. I can't wait to type FADE IN!" --Paul M.

Session 1 - How To Figure Out What Should You Write

Introduction to the Mary's background. 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 can you find ideas? What types of scripts should you write (artsy versus marketable)? How do you put your idea in a sentence or two? Brief overview of screenplay formatting and structure and explain loglines vs. outlines vs. treatments vs. scripts. You will receive script downloads of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and ALL YOU NEED IS KILL (movie version changed title to: EDGE OF TOMORROW) discussed in class.'

Q&A with Mary

Session 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. You will be assigned a 5 page script to write. 

Q&A with Mary

Session 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.

Q&A with Mary

Session 4 - Structure to Breaking In and How to Get Yourself 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. 

Q&A with Mary

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

WHAT TO EXPECT:

PLEASE NOTE:The opportunity to work this closely and for this long with an executive and an expert in the field is an incredibly unique and valuable opportunity. 

• This class is designed for beginner and intermediate students looking to learn the fundamentals of feature film screenwriting. This is an in-depth, practical, and detailed class with significantly more content than a standard 90-minute webinar.
• This class will consist of four sessions, each roughly two hours in duration and spaced one week apart from one another. 

All levels of producers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the fundamentals of feature film screenwriting.

All levels of filmmakers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the fundamentals of feature film screenwriting.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the fundamentals of feature film screenwriting.

Actors looking to learn the fundamentals of feature film screenwriting.