Introduce Yourself to the Group

[Timothy Barley]

Good afternoon!

1. Tim Barley

2. Seven features. (One from the 30 screenplay class). Five series, including after the BingeworthyTV class.

3. I want to practice more quick writing skills while working on the thriller genre and learn more about what “thriller” is.

4. I just returned to hurricane-readying LA from an annual 6 week road trip in which I come up with new ideas every year to write about. I also am an 8 handicap on the course.

[Brenda Clarke]

G’day or should I say Good Morning. Please excuse me if I look a bit tired, I am not a morning person as it is 6am Sunday Morning when I join these zoom meetings 🙂

I have written about 9 feature films, two short films.

I hope to gain the skills to write an excellent thriller, as I love watching these type of movies, but always thought this genre was out of my league.

I have worked in the entertainment industry for decades in front of the camera and on stage as an actress (in Australia/UK & West End) and through ScreenwritingU am educating myself to cross over to the other side of the camera/stage to become a writer/director.

I began writing for live theatre, where I was successful in gaining government funding to write/produce/direct/tour original shows. I have written/directed/produced a couple of short films as well as producing small doco’s for local community groups (during covid).

Recently I was invited to pitch my screenplays to Producers one on one at the Melbourne International Film Festival at 37 degree South Market PS&D. I had some great meetings and now have over a hundred local and some O.S Producers to market to!

I look forward to chatting with you all and exchanging scripts 🐨

Brenda Clarke

• This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by  Brenda Clarke.

[Veleka Gray]

Hi, everyone!

I’m Veleka Gray in New Orleans. I’ve written fifteen scripts, some of which I have produced with my acting students.

What I hope to get out of the class is a deeper understanding of the thriller genre so that I write better scripts.

Regarding something unique, special, strange or unusual about you, I was the only person in the United States with the name Veleka until I started performing in soap operas, after which thousands of birthing mothers stole my unique name for their daughters! I wouldn’t care except that it was a great user name for Web sites and e-mail addresses. 🙂

[Barbe LaPierre]

Hello all!

Barbe LaPierre

My early start was writing and producing historical documentaries. Since then, I have written 5 features and 1 pilot.

I took Hal’s AI class in which Chat GPT generated a fun Comedy-Thriller concept. I’ve been working on it since then. The Thriller Class came along at exactly the right time.

Happy to be here!

[Tom Wilson]

1. Tom Wilson.

2. I have written three scripts.

3. I expect to get a great script I can use to attract a manager.

4. I am a foreign war veteran who helped design space missions at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by  Tom Wilson.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by  Tom Wilson.

[Jim Kanter]

Hello all,

I’m Jim Kanter.

I’ve completed 8 feature screenplays and numerous shorts, and started more than I want to admit to.

Love the ScreenwritingU classes. I’m a retired filmmaker and not really interested in restarting my career, but I look forward to getting back into writing again as a hobby. If I can sell some scripts my wife would be very happy (and travel first-class around the world.) I enjoy thrillers and want to learn how to write them. I’m currently writing an action-comedy for another class so I may fall behind in this iteration, but I will plow through nonetheless.

I live in Costa Rica and am a Tai Chi and Qigong instructor.

¡Pura vida!

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

1. My name is Gisele Frazeur.

2. I have written 2 features.

3. I want to nail down the thriller genre to perfect an imperfect script ever in need of a format.

4. Something unique about me? I used to work as a “Dating Game” chaperone. Yes – – they actually had chaperones! Lol. I was able to travel the world. The stories I could tell! Chuck Barris was one crazy, quirky genius.

[Alyssa Giannola]

Hello, everyone!

1. My name is Alyssa Giannola

2. I have written 3 feature scripts and am working on my 4th in Hal’s 6-month class.

3. I hope to crystallize the plot for a spy thriller concept I have and master the keys to this genre, as I have a few other thriller ideas marinating as well.

4. I lived in Switzerland for 3 months and love traveling to other countries, although I’ve only been to a handful so far!

[Jamie Stegner]

Hi Everyone. My name is Jamie Stegner.

I’ve written two contemporary dramas – feature length and just finished a contained horror. I’m also working on a BWTV medieval epic that could definitely be a thriller.

I hope to master the thriller writing. It’s my favorite genre.

[Heather Estay]

Hi, everyone,

I’m Heather Estay. I’ve written 5 scripts. My genre is typically comedy so I’m hoping to figure out how to do thrillers with a comedy touch. Something memorable? I’m a ghostwriter and have written around 40 books under other people’s names ;o)

[Peter Saltzman]

Hello All,

Good to be here in yet another exciting SU class.

• I am Peter Saltzman from Chicago
• I’ve written 5 TV pilots, all Sci-Fi
• It’s high time I write an actual movie script, and I need to break out of the Sci-Fi genre. I thought to myself, what is something I’m completely uncomfortable writing? A Thriller! So let’s do it.
• It’s not unusual, but I’m a composer/pianist/musician. But I generally build my stories around musicians, and, of course, I compose all the music for my projects.

[Jeannie Johanna]

Greetings Everyone!

My name is Jeannie Johanna. It’s been awhile since I’ve taken an SU class. I’ve taken quite a few and I’m glad to be back.

So far I’ve written four feature scripts and one pilot that I began writing in Bingeworthy TV – my favorite class! My pilot has won several lower-level awards and I just finished revising it – again.

In the Mastering the Thriller class, I hope to effectively design and write an intelligent and intriguing story in the thriller genre.

Isn’t being unique, special, strange and unusual inherent in the nature of being human? Alright, I’ll throw one out. I can see ghosts.

Looking forward to collaborating with everyone!

Note: I’ll be living in Spain for the month of September so my responses to anyone’s postings may be a bit delayed due to schedule issues – sorry ahead of time!

[Kevin Lynch]

Hi Everyone

Kevin Lynch from Toronto, Canada

Written 2 TV Pilots, written 12 Reality TV shows

Have taken many of Hal’s courses

Former long haul truck driver 20 years driven all over United States, former Private Investigator – personal protection. Computer network engineer cyber security. Now mortgage agent.

Gain the knowledge of writing a breakout thriller pilot for streaming.

[Alfred Dunham]

Hi everyone,

I’m glad you’ve joined us for the class.

To start the class out, please introduce yourself below. That will give you a chance to be part of this group and learn how the forums work.

Tell us the following:

1. I’m Alfred Dunham

2. I’ve written six scripts, and I’m working on seven and eight.

3. I especially like this Genre and hope to write something I can sell. Quarterfinalist is not good enough.

4. I’m a retired molecular geneticist/teacher, a retired dentist/teacher, and I’m an inductee into the American Model Yachting Association’s Hall of Fame [I was Editor of Model Yachting for eight years]. I partially grew up in Yosemite National Park and graduated from the Yosemite Grammer School (which is probably why some of my scripts are centered in wilderness settings).

We look forward to working with you all!

[Jess Paxton]

1. Name?

Jess Paxton

2. How many scripts you’ve written?

Five, of which one is good.

3. What you hope to get out of the class?

I have lots of ideas for thrillers — but I’ve never successfully written a thriller.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you?

Since retirement, I’ve become an actor, a writer, a musician, an artist, — and a college student.

We look forward to working with you all!

[Monica Arisman]

Hi Everyone,

1. My name is Monica Arisman.

2. How many scripts you’ve written? I’ve written 6 scripts. One TV pilot.

3. What you hope to get out of the class? To gain more knowledge to apply to some thriller ideas that I have.

[Jennifer Miller]

Hello, I’m Jennifer Miller.

I’ve written just under ten scripts.

My goal for this class is to acquire a dependable, step-by-step process that I can consistently rely on to craft thrilling narratives. The intricate nature of the thriller genre, with its interwoven plots, concealed motives, and suspenseful layers, has always fascinated me. I’m excited about the prospect of developing a reliable blueprint for mapping out these complexities.

Unique, special, strange, or unusual about me – perhaps this is one or many of these things – In 2017, a year after completing a graduate degree in screenwriting, I was feeling pretty lost and disheartened with my life and career. So, one day, I made the choice to slay the professional screenwriting dragon with a clear head, armed with clarity of mind, body, and spirit, and I quit drinking and partying like a rockstar. And I have never looked back. What I’ve learned – sobriety is rewarding, graduate school not so much. Also I love writing, and it’s finally becoming fun for me again. I hope the same for all of you.

Taking a cue from Cheryl, I’m excited to collaborate with each of you on this incredible screenwriting adventure.

[Lorraine Garnett]

1. Lorraine Garnett

2. Two

3. I hope to get over needing to be perfect.

4. During a time in my life when I was unable to read and often lost my ability to speak, I somehow managed to write a TV screenplay. It was produced and I was nominated for an Emmy.

[Michael HARRIS]

1. Name? Michael L Harris

2. How many scripts you’ve written? More than 20

3. What you hope to get out of the class? A better understanding of how to construct a great thriller.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I grew up in a funeral home.😱

[Diane Phelps]

Hi Michael,

I’m currently working at the step before the funeral home, a Nursing home.. I feel it gives you an Interesting perspective on spirituality and the meaning of life. I have a series that I’ve started set in a funeral home. we may need to chat in the future. All the best, Diane

[Diane Phelps]

Hello My name is Diane Phelps,

I’ve counted… So I’ve been in the film business for a long time. I’ve written 17 TV Series and 26 feature films.

I love Hal’s classes and his ability to dissect and analyze what makes it work. What is magic… the secret sauce???

Something special about me. I’ve lived in Florida for over 35 years and Love the Energy of these crazy storms. So we just had one that really jacked up the local anxiety levels. It’s a lot to handle. I need to sell a script so I can buy a mountain house. 🙂

Yes looking forward to meeting everyone and writing some incredible stories.

[Brenda Clarke]

Hello Diane,

I would like to connect with you. I have sent you a request also on LinkedIn, we can also connect via facebook if you like.

Would you be up for exchanging scripts when we get there?

kind regards,

Brenda Clarke

[H. Vince]

Hello!

Name: H. Vince

How many scripts have I written? An actual number is TBD after taking Hal’s classes.

What do I hope to get out the class? A new perspective and understanding of writing a thriller to help with ones I have already drafted and am working on.

Something unique? Maybe not so unique, some people may do this often, but I recently finished making a short film based on a screenplay I wrote about 5 years ago.

[Lynn Vincentnathan]

Lynn Vincentnathan

I’ve written 6 scripts, all in the Cli-Fi (climate change) subgenre, in various genres — action, sci-fi, rom-com, holiday rom-com.

I hope this class will help me write my 7th screenplay in the thriller genre.

Something special about me. I have a degree in anthropology and am a retired professor but have always been interested in fiction writing. Wrote and published a romance novella set in India some 40 years ago.

I am starting this course some 3 years after signing up for it. I took several others of Hal’s courses in the meantime.