The Power of Short Story IP—From Concept to Execution

Short stories are emerging as essential IP for an intro to the studio system, and some of our most iconic films began with only a handful of pages. Using short fiction references from Stephen King and more, this course explores how writers can recognize the cinematic engine (and core dilemma) inside a short story and to brainstorm or refine an idea of their own.

We’ll examine how great stories create momentum, and what you might need to take out a pitch after generating interest in your story. Attendees will learn to identify the story’s central source of tension, discover what its characters truly want, and use escalation, and cause and effect to create a story that moves through emotion instead relying solely on plot, and how short stories remain a powerful way to get to the core of your movie.

Additionally we will tackle developing a strong thematic question, POV/ and choosing the type of story that best suits your premise, tackle how to work in a compressed page environment (considering all the elements of a feature that actually need to be left out), how the reversal can also be viewed as a midpoint or act break when brainstorming the moment of reversal for your own piece, and how high concept/ big hook may actually take you further than literary voice when it comes to writing for adaptable film IP.

You will leave with a workable logline and key moments of your story identified along with a glance at a pitch book for pitching out a short story and knowing what you will need if you plan to expand the story into a feature or TV idea.

Lindsay's most recent short story BRING A FRIEND can be found in The Sweater's latest short story compilation. Available here .

Stop Waiting for Permission. Write and Produce your Proof of Concept Short!

Have you written a great feature or series, but struggle to get anyone to notice?

Frustrated by gatekeepers and waiting for someone to validate your work?

It’s time to take your career into your own hands.

Today, you don’t need an executive to pluck your script out of the slushpile or a studio green-light to build momentum. Instead, you can create your own ultimate calling card.

In this Symposium, award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, Merridith Allen, guides you step-by-step through making a proof-of-concept short film that will get you noticed ... and expand your options for either financing or representation.

You’ll learn:

The Strategy: What a well-executed proof of concept actually does for your career.
The Format: Key types of short films and how to select the best structure for your story.
The Case Studies: Famous examples of proof-of-concept shorts that launched hit feature films and series.
Concept to Script: How to adapt your larger project into a standalone, high-impact short script.
Script to Screen: Practical tactics for producing, directing, and marketing your short on a realistic budget.
Inside the Industry: Navigating the festival circuit, networking effectively, and leveraging your short in a shifting market.

* To understand the power of having a proof-of-concept script, listen to Imani Davis, founder of Proof Film Festival, who was a guest on Reckless Creatives Podcast.

I Finished My Script—Now What?

Congratulations on finishing the first draft! Now it’s time to take the vital steps that separate decent drafts from the ones that actually break through and take your career to the next level.

In "I Finished My Script—Now What?” Timothy Michael Cooper shares the insights earned during his decades-long career, teaching you how to interpret and incorporate feedback, find the true heart of the story, focus your rewrites,cut away characters and scenes that aren’t pulling their weight, and build strategic relationships to get your script into the right hands.

You’ll learn:

Top 10 differences between scripts that break through and those that don’t
Step-by-step tools to ready your screenplay for demanding executives/judges
High-concept principles to make your story an undeniable page-turner, no matter what the budget or genre
Introduce your lead in a way that immediately grabs readers’ attention
Give readers exactly what they want (but never expected)
When and how to use The Black List and similar contests, fellowships, and sites
Expand your industry network and get amazing meetings—organically

After this class, you’ll have all the tools to transform your script into its most compelling version, as well as a clear strategy to get your work seen by those who can actually move it forward.

Finding the Ritual That Gets You Writing

As someone who once hated the writing process herself, Script Pipeline-winning filmmaker and meditation teacher Erin Cantelo knows that the struggle to write is real.

You want to write but haven’t started. You write for days, weeks, or more but can’t stay consistent. You used to write but fell off the writing-train and can’t figure out how to get back on track. You’d write, if only you had the time! You write consistently but you’re miserable doing it.

Any of this sound familiar? You are the hero in your own story and just like your protagonists, you do have what it takes to overcome your obstacles and get writing consistently and even joyfully.

Come ready to explore, reflect, and get curious about what does and doesn’t work for your writing process as you create a personal ritual that works for you.

What you’ll get:

The Writing Ritual Toolkit: A checklist for experimenting with the routines that support your writing process—and the flexibility to change your ritual as you change.
Meditation for Writers: An introduction to meditation and meditative techniques designed to help you get into the flow, tap into your imagination, and get inspired.
Get Unstuck Tips and Tricks: For when you inevitably get stuck. (Don’t worry—it’s part of the process!)
Practices to infuse kindness, gentleness, self-compassion, and dare we say … joy into your personal writing ritual.
Q&A

Your stories deserve to be told.

One-on-One with Professional Screenwriter Corey Mandell

Corey Mandell has long been considered one of the best screenwriting instructors in the industry. Jeanne should know ... she's taken his classes.

She will chat with Corey, diving into essentials that every screenwriter needs to know, including what it takes to launch your career in the current marketplace. Plus, we'll sprinkle your questions into the conversation.

As always, our events are recorded for all who register, but if you want a shot at getting your question answered, please attend the live event!

About Corey:

Corey Mandell is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has written projects for Ridley Scott, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, John Travolta, Warner Brothers, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Family, Working Title, Paramount, Live Planet, Beacon Films, Touchstone, Trilogy, Radiant, Kopelson Entertainment and Walt Disney Pictures.

Corey is also a distinguished instructor at UCLA and teaches highly sought-after Zoom workshops offering cutting edge training to writers across the world.

Over 3,500 of his graduates have launched careers by selling spec scripts, getting staffed on top TV shows, writing hit movies, even winning Academy Awards.

Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting for Writers

To get what you want, you need to know what you want. Setting the foundation for your writing goals is key. Whether you’re starting a new project, finishing a manuscript, building your author platform, or figuring out your next steps, having clarity and a game plan will help you move forward.

Hosted by goal strategist, author, and The Book Proposal Expert Debra Eckerling, this session will introduce you to The DEB Method®, her system for goal-setting simplified. DEB stands for Determine Your Mission, Explore Your Options, and Brainstorm Your Path. Writers will define their goals, prioritize projects, and create a plan to turn their vision into reality.

During this session, you will:

Create a targeted visualization for your goals
Write current and future bios
Create a mission statement and motto
Set - and prioritize - personal and professional goals
Discover strategies for focus, productivity, boundaries, wellbeing, and more.

Whether you are just starting out, working on a current project, or planning your next chapter, this workshop will set you up for success for the new year and beyond.

How a Book Becomes a Movie: What Authors and Screenwriters Need to Know

The filmmaking business is complex and baffles many—even those working in it. The reality is, there is no single way to get a film made. But there’s no question that Hollywood loves adapting intellectual property. The more authors and screenwriters understand the different adaptation paths, the better their odds of success.

One major hurdle is the overabundance of scammers looking to exploit an author's dream of getting their work published or produced—making them a perfect target. But the best way to protect yourself is to understand how the book-to-film process works and how to identify a scam when you see one.

As a screenwriter, Jeanne Veillette Bowerman has adapted other author’s work, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning book, and she’s also worked closely with authors, guiding them on how to navigate Hollywood. She’ll dive deep into the processes to help writers come to the negotiation table well-informed.

What we'll cover:

The common paths of book-to-film
A checklist of pitch materials an author actually needs
How to recognize a scam when you see one
The differences between option and shopping agreements
How book-to-film rights get sold
How the process works if you’re self-published or unagented
A case study and other out-of-the-box paths
Benefits (and warning signs) of book contests
Tips for authors and screenwriters collaborating together
How writing partnerships work
Writing tips on how to adapt a book to screenplay

Who would benefit from this session?

Authors who are looking to sell their book-to-film rights.
Screenwriters who want to adapt books.
Authors who want to understand the filmmaking process.
Authors who are afraid of getting scammed.
Writers looking for resources to learn the business.
Authors wanting to maximize the success of their novels.
Screenwriters and authors who want to challenge themselves to write in a different medium.

Professional Screenplay Formatting and Structure

Formatting and structure are vital to every screenplay because they instantly announce your readiness to be taken seriously as a screenwriter. Whether you’re writing a feature, short, or TV pilot, nailing these crucial elements dramatically increases your chances of getting your script read and sold.

In “Professional Screenplay Formatting & Structure,” Timothy Cooper will walk you through everything he wishes he’d known when he started: the principles behind why formatting matters, his tried-and-true steps to building your story from logline to outline to script, and exactly what differentiates professional pages from amateur ones.

You’ll learn:

The 5 vital templates you need to outline every film or TV show
Write an unforgettable introduction to your protagonist
Top new formatting conventions and changes you need to know
7 first-page red flags to avoid at all costs
Surprising pitfalls of using flashbacks, flash-forwards, and V.O.
The simple naming trick to make any character stick in our minds
Why the emotional journey is all-important—and how formatting can take us there

After this class, you’ll understand what you can and can’t mess with when it comes to professional script formatting, solid structure for pilots and features, writing clear yet subtextual dialogue, and creating propulsively powerful scenes that'll get you past the gatekeepers.

What attendees have said ...

"The session was a perfect mix of tactical and strategic. It helped answer plain 'do this' and 'don't do this' while bringing in the context of why. The Q&A answered my top burning questions, and how I'm equipped to edit with clear direction."

"Timothy's advice was exceedingly practical. He really got down to the 'brass tacks' of proper formatting and why mastering those principals is essential to helping the reader envision how your story will unfold on screen."

"Timothy included so much information that will allow me to go back and correct my "finished" script."

Screenwriting Essentials: Improving the Read

Professional screenwriter Tom Vaughan (Winchester, starring Academy Award-winner Helen Mirren) shares critical advice to elevate your writing to a more pro level.

It’s called “A good read.”

It’s when a reader’s eyes glide down the page of a screenplay in an easy, emotional flow.

It’s when a reader sits down to read a screenplay and doesn’t get up until they’re finished.

It’s when the screenplay focuses on the emotional experience rather than the technical one.

And it’s the difference between a good story being easier to identify and one that gets buried in an avalanche of text.

Every screenwriter makes two choices. First, what actually happens in the story. And next, how to transfer those sounds and images to the reader through text.

"Improving The Read" focuses on that second one.

This presentation will cover:

The actual goal of today’s spec screenplay.
How to evoke shots without ever mentioning the camera.
What writing “vertically” means and how to do it.
What bad habits are strangling your reader’s experience.
A rewrite of a scene in real-time.
Q&A

What attendees have said ...

"It's given me a new way of thinking about how to write my action lines now I can see what I'm doing wrong and how I can improve. I'm energized!"

"This is such great screenwriting teaching! I just graduated from an MFA Creative Writing/Screenwriting program. What Tom is teaches is so much more than what I received in some of my classes."

"This was an amazing webinar. I learned so much. I need to really work on this to get rid of some of the bad habits that I've picked up over the years. Very sound advice. Thank you!"

"Excellent discussion and great examples. It became so clear and obvious after Tom explained and gave examples."

"Chock full of actionable advice. Presentation well organized."

"I really enjoyed and got a lot out of this. One of the better sessions I’ve attended."

Mistakes Comedy Writers Make and How to Fix Them

Comedy writers make a lot of mistakes. Like, they start writing before their lives are messed up just enough to begin. Or not using comedy writing for what it’s really intended—revenge. Or … heaven forbid, they start dating comedians.

This isn’t about that. We can talk about that over beer afterwards.

This session’s about the craft. The biggest mistakes in comedy scripts and how YOU can avoid them. For new and seasoned writers.

Some of the mistakes we’ll talk about…

1. Underdeveloped storyworld: Weak storyworld = weak jokes. We’ll learn to build a solid world that’ll cradle your characters, theme, and storylines.

2. Not character-led: Ignore your characters at your peril. We’ll go through the evil ways you can squeeze out all the juicy goodness and belly laughs from them.

3. They stop before it gets funny—Ouch. Yeah, this one hurts. But it’s true. We'll help you make your scripts one-jillion* percent funnier.

Want to know more? And hear the rest of the list? Come to the session.

You'll be able to avoid the mistakes that drive competition readers, development producers, script editors, and directors batshit crazy. And you'll make your writing a lot stronger.

*One jillion is not a guarantee.

What attendees have said ...

"Amanda is a wonderful teacher of the craft. Her examples are illuminating, and the structure of her talk was easy to follow. I've taken a lot of these kinds of seminars, including through Sundance, and this is by far the most informative one."

"Great practical advice and I loved the use of clips to illustrate her points."

"Loved it! Actionable, plenty of examples, and well delivered."