Introduce Yourself to the Group

[Mary Albanese]

Hi! I am Mary Albanese.

I have written several feature scripts. You can see some of my shorts that we’ve shot at http://www.MaryAlbanese.com. I am a producer on the action feature THE LAST DEAL, listed in the NY Times in their top 5 action films currently streaming. In this class am hoping to add more polish to my writing skills.

Something unusual? In my first career I spent ten years as an exploration geologist in Alaska. I like stretching the boundaries whether it is mapping uncharted rock types or pushing my scripts to new heights/depths of the human experience.

[Alan Snow]

Hi, I’m Alan Snow,77, retired executive coach from Sydney Australia.

Have not written any scripts yet but will thanks to this course,

Wrote some fiction first drafts some years ago but became more interested in memoir and then non-fiction (re coaching). Looking forward to Profound.

Cheers,

Alan

[Sharon Axcell]

Hi all!

Sharon Axcell here, from the UK. I guess you could call me a veteran of Hal’s classes, but this is one I’ve been meaning to do for a while.

I’ve written a fair number of scripts, improving all the time. Mainly Sci-fi now, with female leads.

I hope to elevate ALL my screenplays, as I tend to write quite ‘clinically’, and I want to make them (spookily enough) more profound and message-delivering, life-changing. Simples!

Something about me? I’m a rocket scientist by education. 🚀

[Richard Whiteside]

Love that your a rocket scientist. My first professional writing gig was a two-year NASA study to help save NASA in the early 80s. The focus was on materials processing in space. Fun.

[Ledona Hentley]

Hi, I’m Ledona, 50 years old, have never completed a script, also interested in playwriting. Hope to gain insight into this craft. Nothing strange or weird about me. I love a good story.

[Robert Kerr]

Hi everyone!

Bob Kerr from Oregon.

I am a veteran of Hal’s classes and have been improving the quality of my scripts with each class.

I have written 3 scripts and was recently notified that one of my scripts was a quarter-finalist at the Spring L.A. International Screenplay Competition.

I am starting work on a script that I hope will be a “Profound Story” and look forward to developing the skills to make that a reality.

Something interesting about me is I am a retired Higher Education Administrator.

[Deb Johnson]

Hi Bob! Nice to see you here! – Deb

[Robert Kerr]

Deb: Great seeing you here as well. Looking forward to a great class.

[Robert Kerr]

Deb:

Wanted to know if you want to exchange the assignment for Lesson 16? I will be done with it by Sunday, August 27th. Let me know if you are interested.

[Gordie Cowan]

Hi everyone.

I am Gordie (“Gordon” at formal affairs, depositions, copyrights, etc. “Gord” or “Gordo” for short. Whatever works).

Four completed scripts. More info: three are features, one is a short.

What do I hope to glean from the class? To further my creative side of the craft, to elevate the quality of my screenwriting.

“Stranger Things” about me? Nothing stands out.

[Deb Johnson]

Hello!

I’m Deb Johnson and I’ve written about seven scripts.

I’ve taken a few SU classes and have learned much. I continue to improve as a writer. I hope to learn the building blocks of a profound script… Hal seems to be able to take the illusive and make it concrete and doable.

I’m a home school mom of two.

I look forward to another great class.

[Teresita Fernandez]

Hi all,

My name is Terry. I’ve written a few shorts and one screenplay with a ton of rewrites and I’m determined to make it good enough (for me, at least).

From this class, I hope to be able to put ideas into words and create scenes that portray the human heart.

I can recall a special incident in my life when I performed the Heimlich on a friend of mine and it worked. ; )

Glad to be here.

Terry

[Sunil Pappu]

Hello everyone,

I’m Sunil Pappu, a writer/producer with paid writing assignments from Delhi, India.

I have a shopping agreement on my latest TV series with a Bollywood producer and working on notes from another for my latest feature script.

I specialize in thrillers with strong female leads. I have written eight spec scripts including two TV series/pilots. I have also completed eight writing assignments in the last three years. My screenplays and TV shows have been placed in several International screenwriting contests including Big Break and JIFF.

I am a veteran TV executive producer with two decades of award-winning documentaries and shows. Some of the international brands I worked with are National Geographic, Sony Entertainment Television, ESPN, MTV, and World Sport Nimbus.

I have a bachelor’s degree in engineering from IIT, Kharagpur, a master’s in TV, Radio and Film from Newhouse School, Syracuse, NY and a master screenwriter certificate from ScreenwritingU.

Through this class, I would like to learn the profound model to create my next project which is a biopic I have been waiting to write for a while.

Looking forward to working with you,

Cheers

Sunil

[Richard Whiteside]

Wonderful experience! Fun reading about it.

[Brendan Guerin]

Hi Everyone. I’m a producer in Melbourne Australia with many short drama and documentary credits seeking to become a better Producer/Writer of longer form content. I’m part of a team adapting an historic war action book into a feature film.

Weird fact: was a primary producer before a film producer. Have always loved writing and wanted to write a Profound screenplay.

[Richard Stack]

Hi, Richard Stack here in Maryland. I am a total amateur at screenwriting. I dabbled at it back in the ‘90s with regard to one of my children’s books. Presently have a historical drama in mind, having researched my subject for a dozen years. It has profound implications, hence my taking this class. I’m old, so I have to get this done before dementia sets in.

Oh, and I owned Josh, The Wonder Dog, recognized by Guinness as world’s most-petted dog (478,000 different people). He also ran for President in 1996.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Richard Stack.

[Susan]

Thanks for making me laugh this morning!

[Jacqueline Escolme]

Hi I’m Jacqueline, this is the second class of Hal’s for me. I’ve written four scripts and entered two into competitions which did well but nothing produced so far, so I’m here to uplevel my writing. I’m British born but have lived in Russia, America and South Africa and currently reside between London and Cape Town.

[Andre HowardMitchell]

1. Name? Andre dba CedarOak.

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 5+

3. What you hope to get out of the class? Be a better writer-profoundly better!

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? The man with the inverted smile. 🙃☹

[Laurie Stoner]

Hi Everyone, I’m Laurie Stoner from Atlanta, Georgia. I have written over 20 scripts. In the past five years I have veered into producing and developing scripts for the stage and TV.

When my enthusiasm for a project flags, I take one of Hal’s classes to give myself a boost. (I think I took the first class from him in 2007.) I’ve been going to take this class since it came out and now I finally have.

Writing is a solitary activity, and I’m also a gardening hobbyist, but the thing I enjoy the most is problem solving so I’ve been moderating screenwriting groups and nonprofits for 15 years.

Cheers,

Laurie

[Mike Hurst]

1. Name? Mike Hurst

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 3

3. What you hope to get out of the class? Write more engaging, memorable, significant movies.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? Argh! So hard to think of this right now, I live in Los Angeles, I have a daughter.

[Susan]

Wonderful morning!

I am Susan McClary.

I’ve written several shorts and a feature length screenplay. I also write and illustrate short stories and am in the midst of a novel.

My hope is the class will take all my writing to a deeper level, and get me really on track to finishing lots of pieces.

I am a total physics freak and have my own theory of everything.

[Richard Whiteside]

1. Name: Rich Whiteside

2. How many scripts you’ve written?: Over two dozen.

3. What you hope to get out of the class?: A roadmap for finding the profound elements in an otherwise simple entertaining story.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you?: I never know how to properly answer this question. So many things are “unique, special, STRANGE or UNUSUAL. I graduated from the Naval Academy, lead SEAL platoons, have written for many government agencies, including The White House (OK, a small program summary, but it was cool that it went directly to TWH). Got to attend a Presidential Ball–had a tux made for that event. I once was a tournament level tennis player. I worked at Paramount Picture and CBS for 11 years in TV Business Affairs. During that time, I worked with all the top TV agents and attorneys in town, met a ton of TV stars auditioning for our pilots. Written two books that deal with the world of screenwriting. Was a part of helping with some story development on Quantum Leap and JAG.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Richard Whiteside.

[Pauline Cronin]

Hi everyone! I’m Pauline Cronin.

I’ve written three scripts (all unfinished). There is one story (an entertaining biopic from the 80’s) that I’m dying to write. All the elements are there but the glue or central thread that makes the story worth writing has eluded me until now.

I was inspired by attending the Barbie analysis and feel like I’ve finally found the road I want to go down with my script. I want my story to be PROFOUND. I think this class can help me identify the elements that will get me there.

My nickname is ‘Jason Bourne’ because I have three passports and currently reside on a ‘grande peniche’ (big barge) – living and moving along the rivers and canals of France for 6 months a year.