How to write a web series screenwriting workshop in Fairfax beginning October 18th, 2012 (Thursday evenings)

Arrive with an idea.  Leave with a series.

Web Series are the new frontier in entertainment. The best thing about a web series is anyone can write one. The other awesome thing about webisodes is that anyone can make one. When you write a web series, it’s like you’ll be writing your own TV series. “The Walking Dead” on AMC and “Web Therapy” on Showtime both started out as web series.



You will learn how long your scripts needs to be, what a script looks like on the page and how to write for an inexpensive budget. Whatever idea you bring to the class will be the idea we develop. If you aren’t sure about your idea, or you have more than one idea, within the first two sessions of class you’ll have the support and time to decide what direction you want to take. Once you decide on your web series idea, we will outline your six episodes and you will write your scripts.



In this workshop you will learn about genres from comedy to thrillers and how long a webisode script should be within your chosen genre. You will be writing web series with six completed episodes. You will learn how to create a story arc for your six webisodes so your final product will be the first season of your web series. You will also get tips about production and how to produce a webisode while writing one (as they go hand in hand). When the group is in the script writing phase, it will be fun to read your scripts out loud. Workshop members are welcome to bring in their own actors to read for the group too. There are no networks or studios to tell you what to do when you create a web series. In this workshop you will emerge with a web series package. Bring as much imagination as you can, because you’re going to have the creative freedom you need – it’s going to be a blast!




Click here to Register Now!

Dates: 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, no meeting 11/22, resume meeting on 11/29, 12/6, 12/13 

Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm


Cost:
New Members: $475 (register before 10/5 and pay only $450)

Returning Members: $450 (register before 10/5 and pay only $425)


Location:
Group leader's home in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles

Exact address TBA upon registration for privacy reasons

Los Angeles, CA 90038 



Instructor - Shawn Schepps

Shawn is a Los Angeles native. She began her career as a child actress in such shows as, "The Brady Bunch." As she got older she appeared in, "The Terminator," "Racing with the Moon," and "The Golden Girls."

Shawn started writing plays and musicals. Her first play, "The Steven Weed Show" was performed in Edinburgh and New York. Her play "Group" was performed in New York, at The Montreal Comedy Festival, and The Aspen Comedy Festival.

While writing and producing theater, Shawn wrote, "Encino Man." Thus began her writing and producing career with films like, "Son-In-Law," "Drumline," "Lip Service" and recently, "You and I" directed by Roland Joffe.

Shawn's television writer/producer credits include, "Drop Dead Diva," "Inconceivable," and "Weeds" which she spent two years writing, producing and acting in. Shawn has worked for every major studio like, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Disney. She has been on shows and written pilots for major networks like, ABC, NBC, FOX, CBW and CBS. She has sold and developed to cable outlets like HBO, Lifetime, Showtime and more.

Shawn has taught writing all over the country.


Why join a writer's group or a writing workshop?

Nicole forwarded me this email from LAwritersgroup.com workshop moderator Kat Smith, and it felt relevant to post a piece of her message for our blog readers. If you're still on the fence about joining or participating in a writing workshop of any kind, perhaps her words will sway you:

Young musicians practice daily. A singer doesn't begin with an aria. She starts by warming up her vocal cords. A pianist practices his scales every day from a young age. An athlete doesn't begin with a triathlon. He spends hours lifting weights, stretching, building the muscle mass and flexibility that will support the feats he intends to achieve.

Writing is no different. We become writers with daily practice. Getting in touch with our unique voices. Writing fast, writing free. Progress may be so incremental as to be unnoticeable, just as a pianist doesn't go from chopsticks to Chopin. Some days you'll hate what you write. But one day, something astonishing will come pouring out of you and you'll wonder where the hell it came from.

It came from the 1,183 writing exercises that preceded it. Exercises where you trained your mind to focus, where you learned to trust your voice, to step out of your way, to let it flow. Practice writing like practicing scales, may not seem very glamorous. Bring your passion to it anyway. That's the work of an artist.

Kat also included the following video in her message. It features Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Boys, giving his take on consistent writing:

It seems as though a constant flow of writing is the best way to find your best work. Even small exercises on a consistent basis can help keep you in good practice. I myself participate in LAwritersgroup.com's writer's groups, and I completely agree with what Kat and Ray have said. Writer's groups and writing workshops provide their members the opportunity to practice their skill in an open forum with other writers just as dedicated to their craft. So I ask you this: do you practice your writing on a consistent basis? Do you think that this "fine tuning" and practicing approach can be effective?

Steve Kaplan's Comedy Intensive

We just found out about this weekend intensive - looks like a good one to check out if you're wanting to write comedy:

Steve Kaplan's Comedy Intensive is returning to L.A. on Decmeber 4-5, 2010. The seminar is The Industry's #1 Course on Comedy, attracting top writers, producers, directors and executives from such companies as Dreamworks, Disney, Aardman Animation, NBC, Touchstone, ABC and more.

For almost 20 years, Steve Kaplan has been the industry's most respected and sought-after expert on comedy. In addition to being a regular consultant and script doctor to such companies as Disney, Dreamworks, HBO, Paramount and others, Steve has taught at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other top universities, and created the HBO Workspace and the HBO New Writers Program, teaching and mentoring some of the biggest writers, producers and directors in comedy today.

His former students' accomplishments are unmatched: They have been nominated for 43 Emmy Awards, 1 Academy Award, 3 Golden Globe Awards, 1 American Comedy Award, 6 Writers' Guild of America Awards and several others. They've WON 10 Emmys, 1 Oscar, 2 WGA Awards and the American Comedy Award. His Comedy Intensive offers proven and practical methods and principles that help you reveal and understand comedy from the inside out.

Whether you're writing a comedy screenplay, working on a sitcom script, or producing or directing a comedy film or television series, Steve Kaplan's Comedy Intensive is a must for any serious professional. It is ideal for screenwriters, TV writers, producers, directors and more.

Steve Kaplan's Comedy Intensive will be held on December 4 & 5, 2010 at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, located at 1755 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028. It will run from 9:30AM to 5:00PM on both days. There is a $325.00 registration fee for the seminar. Please visit www.kaplancomedy.com for more information about the seminar and registration.