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Entertainment Industry > Your Screenwriting Career
 Learn how to write and sell professional-quality screenplays from a Hollywood veteran with experience in radio, video, television, film, and the Web. In this six-week online course, you'll learn about the relationship between classic story structure and Hollywood formulas, and you'll understand which genres will provide you with the greatest chance of success. You will be provided with easy-to-follow instructions on building strong characters, memorable dialogue, and powerful storylines.
You'll pick up many tricks of the trade, learning to avoid many common formatting mistakes that mark you as an amateur. You'll understand why the first 10 pages of your script are the most important pages you'll ever write, and you'll learn why your approach to rewrites can be critical to your long-term success. In the process, you'll also gain valuable marketing skills and the confidence to pitch your project to people who can buy it.
This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Skip Press.
 Writing for radio, television, video and film, Skip Press won a Silver Medal at the New York International Film Festival and is listed in numerous Who's Who books. A seasoned journalist and editor, he recently completed the third edition of his Writer's Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors, and Agents. He is also the author of the Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting. He has taught writing classes for the Academy of Art College in San Francisco and the UCLA Extension Writers Program, and somehow manages to continue writing and marketing his own screenplays.
To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
Requirements:
Internet access, e-mail, Internet Explorer or Netscape or Firefox Web browser.
Syllabus:
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
A new section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.
| Week One |
| Wednesday - Lesson 01 |
The History of Storytelling - Too many aspiring screenwriters don't know the influences from which many feature films are drawn—some of those influences are ages old! After this lesson, you'll understand the full arc of Western storytelling, from the ancients to the beginning of film.
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| Friday - Lesson 02 |
The Life of Hollywood - Great scenes in today's Hollywood movies are often reworked from classic earlier films. Starting with the early screenwriters known as scenarists you'll learn how the classic Hollywood movie formula came to be. In this lesson, we'll take a close look at filmmaking's beginnings, not only in the United States, but in France and Russia as well.
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| Week Two |
| Wednesday - Lesson 03 |
The Evolution of Screenwriting - When television became prominent, people thought the film business would die. The same was said about the Internet's impact on film and TV. In this lesson, you'll learn about the changes that new media have brought to screenwriting over the years, and we'll discuss how to use it all to your advantage as a screenwriter today.
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| Friday - Lesson 04 |
Mining the World to Find Your Heart - Ultimately, great filmmakers create the films they truly want to see on screen. Since you'll write your best screenplays from the ideas you're passionate about, today we'll cover how to find the best ideas to help you create a marketable screenplay that could jumpstart your career.
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| Week Three |
| Wednesday - Lesson 05 |
Superstar Screenplay Structure - The greatest buildings are born from a detailed blueprint. The same is true of great films, so today you'll create your screenplay blueprint. A screenplay is very different from some forms of writing—a workable screenplay structure is a must! From a premise to an outline to the mechanics of successful screenplays, this lesson will provide you with an array of tools to help you build your dream.
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| Friday - Lesson 06 |
Inside the Hero's Heart - People who love movies often love them because of great protagonists, but the best heroes and heroines don't appear by accident. In this lesson, you'll discover proven methods of developing main characters that will thrill everyone, from script readers to movie audiences.
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| Week Four |
| Wednesday - Lesson 07 |
Inside the Villain's Brain - Every great bad guy is the hero of his own movie. That's just one example of the tips you'll gain from this lesson, which will help you create a wonderfully terrible villain that will help your story conflict seem built-in and logical.
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| Friday - Lesson 08 |
Organizing Your World with 3x5 Cards - Successful screenwriters use a logical method to organize both their movies and their lives so they can write in peace. You'll learn how to do just that in this lesson. You'll also discover the secrets of the all-important first 10 pages, and how to keep working your script toward perfection.
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| Week Five |
| Wednesday - Lesson 09 |
Structure Outside the Lines - There are many theories about screenplay construction, but some of them are worn-out or a waste of time. In this step-by-step screenplay creation lesson, you'll discover the Shaping Force, an aspect of all successful movies. This knowledge will allow you to be as creative as possible without restricting your imagination like some methods inevitably do.
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| Friday - Lesson 10 |
Making the Perfect Screenplay Better - In this lesson, I'll show you how to read your screenplay with a Hollywood reader's eye so that you can see your screenplay as it will be viewed by a Hollywood production company. Thus equipped, you'll be able to rewrite your screenplay to greatly enhance your chances of a sale.
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| Week Six |
| Wednesday - Lesson 11 |
Reading, Polishing and Reality - Once you've written your screenplay, it's like a new baby and you'll likely be overly protective of it. That's only natural, so in this lesson I'll show you how to get past such emotions and keep yourself progressing toward a potential screenwriting career.
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| Friday - Lesson 12 |
Getting it Out to People Who Matter - Just as there exists a step-by-step formula for creating a saleable screenplay, there is an easily followed method for marketing your work for maximum results. After this lesson, you'll feel much closer to your dream than you might have thought possible when you began!
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To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
Student Reviews:
"I thought this was a wonderfully useful and complete introduction to screenwriting. It was encouraging and realistic, and Skip Press did an excellent job of answering questions promptly and fully. I would recomend this course highly to anyone interested in the subject area."
"I feel that I learned a lot from the course and am now more confident in my screenwriting ability. Thanks for the boost in confidence!"
"The course was very enlightening and a great help. Things that I though were correct proir to the class were confirmed and things that I had doubts about were answered. Many of Skip's resources are now a permenant part of my "Favorites" list in my computer. I hope to be able to take other on-line courses and grow further in my love of writing and film. Thanks Skip, you rock!"
"I enjoyed this class and felt it gave me a great introduction to screenwriting...the course was a great start to my screenwriting career."
"The instructor was extremely knowledgeable, polite, and always interesting. I feel he gave excellent, down-to-earth advice. I have already recommended his course to others!"
"Skip Press managed to not only keep my attention with his interesting and instructive style of writing, but conveyed the real insider's 'flavor' of what it takes to write and get a script produced! Thanks Skip!"
"Excellent course and very informative. Enjoyable too, couldn't wait for each lesson. Now that it's over, I'm going to miss it!"
"Skip Press for President! This course by Skip Press was a marvelous introduction to the script writing process. I strongly recommend this course to anyone having no prior script writing knowledge. The introductory material was extremely relevant and the subsequent lessons and examples were up-to-date and fun to read. FADE IN: INT. AUDITORIUM - EVENING CAMERA PANS ACROSS a tightly packed audience. Women are dressed in stunning evening wear, jewels much in evidence, their hair done up in elaborate styles. Men are dressed in black tuxedos. ON THE STAGE DAVY trembles, breathing short, rapid breaths. Her eyes are bright with unshed tears. INSERT on a gleaming statuette in Davy's hands. ON DAVY. She smiles, takes a deep breath, raises the statue above her head, then holds it protectively against her chest. She leans toward the microphone. DAVY First of all, let me thank Skip Press!"
"I was surprised at how much help and inspiration I gleaned from an online course, my first of this type. I have a book picked out that I plan on adapting to a screenplay and am eager to begin. More eager than when I finished the [on-campus] class, because there was a great deal more in-depth information and guidance from the online class. I believe that's because on online class/course is like a one-on-one experience with an instructor."
"Thank Skip Press for an excellent job!"
"Skip's writing is immaculate...He speaks to you not as an authority but as equal; instead the resonance of his truths establishes Skip's authority. For example, Skip reiterates again and again that if you are diligent and keep doing what you like you will eventually succeed and principally every thing is possible. His information is full of wisdom about what it means to be a screenwriter, navigating yourself through the Hollywood movie business and how to get where you want to go. Like his book, you can't stop reading his lessons and you can't wait until the next lesson is released. If everyone wrote like Skip, I probably would read 10 times as much. Skip gives you a detailed overview about the Hollywood business and its history which helps you putting the current state of the film industry into perspective. When I read his lesson notes, I am reminded and it reaffirms why I love to be in this business. This alone makes the [price of this course] a worthwhile investment. Needless to say Skip is a role model that amplifies that honesty, decency, character and diligence are major longevity factors in this business like any business."
"Mr. Press improved my screenplay one hundred percent. I gained greater insight into how Hollywood really works."
"I have been looking for a long time for a course on screenwriting, but could never find one worth taking. I was very happy to see this one offered, and very happy it was online. I feel I learned a lot from this course, and will apply it to any future screenwriting that I do. Thank You."
"I found the course very informative and enjoyable. Skip knows how to present the material in a clear and understandable format."
"The course content was fantastic. I learned a subject that I've been dying to know about for years. Mr. Press took all the mystery out of films. It is fun to watch a film and pick out the elements that make up a good screenplay."
"I loved this course! I will never look at movies the same way again. Also, the writing tips were really helpful."
"Thank You so much! The content of this class will be very useful to me. I didn't want to see it end."
"A useful course! Many ideas I've seen elsewhere were presented in a better context (more "realworld") here. The assignments are particularly useful; a great "plan of attack" to help a novice through the screenwriting process. The supplementary resources are really handy, too."
"Great course, I enjoyed it and learned some applicable info. Very glad I took it."
"Thank you very much for that course. I had a lot of fun and I learned so much about how to write a screenplay and I hope I will succeed one day."
"This course was exactly what I have been looking for to aid my in development of my creative skills."
"I found this course to be extremely helpful with my screenwriting. Skip Press organized and wrote a very enlightening class and is very encouraging with his comments to students."
"This was an excellent course and I enjoyed every part of it."
"I simply had a great time. Many thanks Skip. I have already sung your praises. Kind regards."
"I have enjoyed every single moment of this class. I am sorry to see it end but Skip has given us a true gift, for now I have some idea how to transform all the 'characters' that live in my head, onto paper. Thank you again and I hope that I will continue to learn and grow and will strongly recommend this class to others who share this love of story telling."
"So much to learn; so little time. I enjoyed the course so much it's one of the few I wish had lasted longer."
"I had a most enjoyable experience taking the Screen Writing course. Many thanks to The Instructor and all others who made this online experience a treat. Thank you Mr. Press. Best wishes to all."
"I really enjoyed this class a lot. This is and has already helped me with my writing to produce a better screen play. Look forward to saying thank you to you all at the Oscars."
"I have two books on writing screenplays, and they did nothing but confuse me. The nuts-and-bolts approach of this class was a real help. I'm revising my current screenplay projects immediately!"
"Excellent, interesting course. I feel it had given me the basics to complete a screenplay and try to sell it without embarrassng myself. The resources, suggested readings and links are invaluable. The instructor is unfailingly positive in his remarks."
"As a novice to screenwriting, I am very pleased at the level of worthwhile information I received about screenwriting and the industry. The material was presented in a sequential manner which led me from the history and general information I needed as a background, to the very specific in "how to." I would highly recommend this course to anyone, in fact, I already have!"
"It's been fun. On to Hollywood!"
"Skip, I enjoyed your class! You have a great conversational writing style that made me feel like you were talking directly to me in the lessons. Everything was very valuable and I know I will need to refer back to my notes from time to time and utilize all the great resources that yiu referenced!"
"Thanks a lot for making this course Mr. Press. I found that I was easily able to structure my ideas into well-though out screenplays, and I feel confident that I will be able to sell one of these in the near future."
"The course was great for getting your feet wet. The instructor was terrific with his lessons by giving students the tools on how to start writing a great screenplay that can sell."
"I thoroughly enjoyed the class and believe it gave me a better sense of screenplay writing, structure, history and marketing. I will reference the insight given here for a long time to come."
"I started the lesson today and was pleasantly surprised by the content and the resources. I feel as though my IQ went up after reading just the first lesson."
"I am always searching out new ways to grow into my "voice" and enrich my style. Like many writers, I have a bookcase full of screenwriting books (including yours, naturally). I've also attended Robert McKee's weekend seminar and a few other online seminars. And I am always working on a current or new script. When I saw that you were teaching this course (recognized your name), I decided it would be a good investment. I'm really glad I did because now I am looking at your book with fresh eyes and a new perspective which I believe will give my writing an added depth."
"Skip, many years ago, I got one of the best ideas I've ever had for a story. I thought it would make a great stage play and began roughing it out. I could see the entire play in my mind. It nagged at me, wanting to be told. I wrote the key scenes but almost immediately ran into problems. So I reluctantly put the script aside, knowing it wasn't time yet. I went back to it every so often and wrote other pieces and kept trying to find a way to work out the problems. But I was never able to. Until now. When I saw this course offered a few weeks ago, I wondered if I had an idea that would make not just a good screenplay, but a great one. My script flashed into my mind and all those staging problems became non-existent. I've tested the idea on several people; they think it would make a GREAT movie; and I tried it on my toughest critic, my sister. She read the rough outline, looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, "Creep!", which from her means "Winner!" Thanks, Skip, for all the advice, tips, site links, guidance, straight talk, and encouragement. I'll invite you to the premiere. Each lesson added to my knowledge and I always looked forward to the next one. Now, back to work."
"I have taken screen writing classes at UCLA in Chicago and at a local community college and have found that I have learned more from this class than all of the others put together. Great class, my hat's off to Skip Press."
"Wow, this class seemed to fly by! You've covered everything I was hoping for and much more as well. I've only got my Act One written (and some rewrite accomplished) at this point.. I am getting better at keeping the writing schedule "sacred", and I hope to eventually be able to turn my brain off of the Day Job, and all the other distractions life throws around, enough to really get my script finished. Thanks for all the information, advice, and encouragement !!!"
"For the past three months or so, I have been actively pursuing my writing. I started with a writing class back in January of this year and I have also taken two more classes here in San Diego. All three of those classes have been extremely beneficial in my understanding and appreciation for the gifts I possess as well as a respect for writing AND writers too. However, you class has absolutely opened my eyes and filled my heart. Much of what I was doing with my writing is exactly as it was described in your course, but I just did not realize that until I took the writing courses, especially yours specifically. For instance, jotting down ideas for stories may seem like a simple idea in and of itself, but you concretely specified that it is the job of the screenwriter (and writers in general) to have a host of ideas, rather than just stick to "one baby." I have always understood this, but you and your course have cemented the idea, I should say it has crystallized my vision. So, from the bottom of my heart, I want to give you my utmost thanks and best wishes. I will never be the same person I was before I started your course."
"Sometimes I wish written words had speakers attached to them. If they did, you can hear how loud I am saying THANK YOU for teaching my first screenwriting course. Now, I am equipped with the tools to be successful. For this Skip, I THANK YOU, YOU ARE SUPERB."
"I am amazed at how thorough the lessons are for this course...it’s almost overwhelming. The first lesson and assignment have really changed the way I view movies now. At first, I thought that by knowing the “secrets” of screenwriting I would lose the magic of watching the films. But the opposite has happened I am more tuned in and focused to what is happening in the story, which has made it more enjoyable."
"I had taken writing classes in college, screenwriting and one-hour drama writing classes at UCLA extension, story analysis classes at AFI, and Robert McKee's story structure class, but lately I felt stale, like I was just going around in circles and not moving forward with my writing. I had recently gotten great coverage and a recommend from a reader analyst at Rom-Com, but his boss still passed on my script. So, I decided that I needed a refresher course because there had to be something missing in my scripts, and I signed up for Skip's online course, the first online course I've ever taken. In just the first 3 lessons, I feel I have a more concise understanding of structure than I'd had from any of the other classes. I've been able to fill in the missing pieces of the story in the scripts that I've done and that I'm working on, building stronger conflicts. It's opened me to study other sources and recognize and reinforce what I'm learning. I feel so inspired that I even came up with the idea for my next script. And the best thing about it is that I can do it on my own time. I especially liked the advice to think about being more than just a writer if you can. Make your own movies. It reminded me of a quote from writer-director Audrey Wells. She said if you have a commercial movie in you, make that first. That's your ticket into Hollywood."
"Skip, I wanted to say thanks for a great course. I've always been interested in screenwriting and consider myself a good writer, so the course piqued my interest. Having finished the course, I truly feel motivated to pursue screenwriting. Your lessons were full of great info and I loved your down to earth style of writing. I felt like through the whole course, I was listening to an old friend give advice and not an instructor. Thanks for all the great info, guidance, and advice you've given me. I feel energized to start writing!"
"I really did enjoy this class. It gave me more insight than I would have ever imagined when it came to screenwriting. My next step will be to go to a bookstore and pick up your book so that I can refer back to it as well as refer to the lessons that I've been through. Your course was/is a tremendous help to me and my writing and I feel the characters jump out at me whenever I begin to write. I hope that others find it equally thought provoking."
"This course has answered so many questions, even ones I didn't know I had. The supplemental material provided was excellent. It has given me many more avenues to further my understanding, of writing and the biz/politics of, than I ever thought possible. I don't feel so scattered now when I sit down to write. The wall is starting to come down! Thank you for your time, honesty, knowledge and insight."
"I am loving your class! I had my ephinany of a long time dream in your second lesson. You have changed my writing forever!"
"I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the course. I had no idea who was teaching before the first lesson came out. Once I knew I was pleasently surprised. I had already read "Complete Idiot's Guide To Screenwriting" and "Writer's Guide To Hollywood Producers, Directors and Screenwriters Agents," among several others. I found your books to be the easiest to understand (Even more so than the "For Dummies" books) and I told myself if I ever got the chance to speak with you I would let you know how much your books have helped me to understand my writing and the overall business better. If I ever make it to Hollywood I would definitely like to meet you. Thanks again."
"Shelly writes: I was on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Web site, looking over the Nicolls fellowship info and WOW your name is listed under screenwriting resources! I'd be strutting if I was you! I'm very GLAD I took your course."
"I got a lot out of this class, much more than I expected. I've been writing for magazines for years, wanted to explore new country, but never liked any of my attempts at fiction. I thought writing a screenplay would teach me to show things, without explaining too much. I read a few books and a few screenplays, and dove in. I wrote a horror movie that took way too long to finish. You say that after you finish a screenplay, you should feel more alive, but I mostly felt glad to be finished and hopeful someone else would like it more than I did. After a few lessons from your class, I could easily see how to improve my script. I had the wrong protagonist. My hero had wandered in from some other movie. So now instead of a 35 year old ex-cop protagonist, I have a 12 year old girl protagonist. Her vulnerability and uncertainty will make the story a lot scarier. So anyway, thanks for a lot of insight and a little needed inspiration, too. I will recommend your class to anyone trying to learn the craft."
"In this thing called show business, so much of it is hung on a wing and a prayer. It was refreshing and uplifting to have practical and honest information. Information that works in the real world. No fake promises here. Only solid teaching and best wishes."
"You've obviously invested a lot of time in making this screenwriting course both comprehensive and informative, and I appreciate your efforts fully."
"Skip, I have really enjoyed taking your course. Your instruction, knowledge and insight have helped me to give the breadth and dimension my screenplay needed to be the story I want to see on film. I'll let you know how I do. Thank you most sincerely."
"Skip - just wanted to say thank you for teaching such an amazing course. The information has been invaluable. Your answer to my question on rewriting (way back in lesson three) enabled me to totally rework my entire screenplay, and the (now) finished third draft, is so much better than the original. I'm also roughly 1/3 of the way through screenplay No. 2. I couldn't have done it without your help and advice. Also, your books have helped me streamline my progress and avoid some major pitfalls. Thanks for everything."
"I know I am not the best writer in the world. I am the most determined and tenacious. I do want to say now (before the end), I think Skip-that you are a genius . Just reading each word of each lesson indicates the depth of your knowledge in screenwriting. It would probably take me years to retain all the examples you have given thus far. Thank you again. I enjoy and learn from this. I can not wait for each lesson to arrive. You have provided us with years of information."
"Thanks for the well laid out course. I am already analyzing movies like crazy that were mentioned for applying proper methodology. Years ago I caught Joseph Campbell on PBS and taped several of his discussions and interviews. I am surprised that many don't know of him or his work. Likewise, it is fascinating to see movies that have succeeded are, in fact, using his insight into the journey of the hero. A discussion between Joseph and George Lucas of Luke Skywalker's journey was fascinating then but far more clearly understood now. I have been a poet for many years and find many of Joseph's "motifs" easily find a home there. Hopefully, I can find wings for writing screenplays as I expand the art of writing in my life. Thank you."
"This class is absolutely AMAZING! I'm a novice and am getting a world of worth. This has helped so much to clearly understand the writting development process and after all of the great lessons and supplemental material I'm left scratching my head when I look and see the movies of what's out there. How is that possible when such great time and devotion is put into a screenplay that we get a mediocre result? It may be a more personal viewpoint that anything."
"Hi Skip,I have enjoyed the class, truly a bargain especially when you compare it with [another provider's] online course prices. You deserve a raise. It feels so good to have a project underway. I now feel that I have the tools I needed to begin...Please consider writing and instructing part two of this class. I wish I could enroll for it now."
"Skip, truly a sensational course! Thank you for the outstanding supplemental material as well. I am applying to UCLA's MFA program in Screenwriting for Fall 2007. I have ALWAYS been enamored with movies since a very young age and still go to the movies religiously. I had always dreamt of writing a screenplay, but no one took me seriously because I never took myself seriously. I am ready to get serious - your course has provided me with exceptional tools to do so. I promise to invite you to the premiere of one of my future films! Thanks again!"
"I just wanted to say this was one of the best classes I have taken. I definitely have more focus than when I started this class thanks so much!!"
"Skip, your advice about having another script in the works when marketing the first one is excellent. I'm going to take that advice. I already have at least three more films ideas that I think would benefit audiences. I would like to mention that I enjoyed all of the psychology that goes into good scriptwriting, including this one on marketing. I learned more about human psychology in this course than I did in any single one of my psych classes that went towards a bachelor’s degree."
"Thanks for the class Skip! You really know your stuff. I've always loved movies but now I can't help but watch them with a different mindset and many of the good ones follow the structure you presented throughout the class. I've begun an outline for a screenplay. Let's hope it sells!"
"You have such an exciting method of teaching. I really appreciate your technique of generating such excitement for learning. Thank you for my loving to keep glued to the writing aspects of learning this craft."
To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
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