Introduce Yourself To the Group

[David Shapiro]

1. David Shapiro

2. 2

3. 1st draft

4. I pray 1728 times a day

[Cathryn Atkinson]

I’m Cathryn Atkinson, I’ve written 10 scripts of varying sizes, made one short. I want to get my next project started and to develop better habits to get first drafts down quickly. I’m feeling pretty ambitious this year.
Something unique, special, strange or unusual? I signed a shopping/co-developer contract just before Christmas for a TV series with a really great Miami-based producer. She sought me out after we did a producing course together. I’m really looking forward to 2022.

[andrea cabanas]

Hi all,

I’m Andrea Cabañas, I’ve written six short films (not produced, even though one was optioned once), and since 2019 I’ve been writing a few proof of concept/POC scripts.

In 2015, I outlined my first feature script after a screenwriting course taken but didn’t finish writing it. I decided recently to come back to this story, and when I saw this course I thought it would be the ‘extra punch’ needed to make me finish my first feature film.

Something unique/special/strange/unusual… I’m Brazilian-Australian with Paraguayan and Lithuanian blood (and I’m still looking for relatives in Lithuania!).

[Casandra McCottrell]

1. Casandra McCottrell

2. 4 (a long long time ago)

3. A fresh script under my belt

4. I like to watch really old classic kung-fu movies

[Don Thompson]

1. Don Thompson

2. At least 10.

3. A disciplined approach to writing a screenplay quickly.

4. I have met the Dalai Lama.

[Timothy McDevitt]

Hi. I’m Tim McDevitt. I’ve written a few shorts and have several feature-length scripts in various stages of completion. I’m hoping this class will teach me some skills to write quicker and complete what I start – procrastination has been a lifelong, unwanted partner.

Can’t think of anything unique about myself, so I’ll just say I’m an accountant who almost majored in journalism many years ago, and I’m finally committed to playing with words instead of numbers.

[Teri Moore]

Hi, Tim,

I, too, am an accountant…and an artist. My joke about myself is: I’m an accountant and an artist, and next I’ll work on the B’s…basket weaving, beekeeping, biology, botany…

But with this class I’ve decided to skip the B’s through the V’s and go straight to the W’s.

LOL at myself!

So are any of the stories you’ve written about some of your experiences as an accountant?

[Timothy McDevitt]

Hi Teri. I have an idea for a rom-com about a young CPA, very loosely drawn from my own experience (not the rom part), but I haven’t written it yet. Most of my scripts are rom-coms and family films and lately I’ve found myself writing animated stories that are best suited for animation – including the one I’ll use for this class.

How about you?

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by  Timothy McDevitt.

[Teri Moore]

Hi, Tim,

I’m brand new at writing screenplays. I wrote one, but I need to rewrite it.

I have no idea what a rom-com is. What is it?

T

[Rebecca Jordan]

Hi Tim,

Romantic Comedy

Best wishes to you!

Rebecca

[Jess Paxton]

Hi Teri,

Rom-Com stands for Romantic Comedy

Happy New Year!

[Robert Wood]

1. Robert Wood

2. At least 8 (some co-written with a writing partner), plus a short, but I don’t keep count!

3. Workable, successful methods to speed up the screenwriting process, and a finished draft by the end of the course.

4. I’ve also written, co-written, or edited 13 books.

[victor Valleau]

Hi I’m Vic Valleau and in the middle of a personal Renaissance. My first writing teacher was Syd Field and writing, publishing etc something ever since. Class size 4 or 5 on his living room floor. Just co-produced short film in festivals in 2021. I hope to speed up my writing.

[Peter Birdsong]

I’m Pete.

I’ve written one script. It took five years, and I poured my heart into all eleven drafts. I started many… which is one reason I’m here.

I hope to get a better writing habit out of this class. Tools to keep me consistent on a daily basis.

Something unusual… well, recently I was diagnosed with ADHD… and I’m 41. It’s not a big deal, but I’ve found it pretty amusing. It explains a lot, though, and why — despite how much I have wanted to — writing has been very difficult for me.

[Dana Abbott]

Dana Abbott

I’ve written 3 scripts. 2 years ago and 1 recent

I’m enrolled in the ProSeries that starts next week, and may have bitten off more than I can chew doubling up on my classes, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity the 30 Day Screenplay course can provide to improve my speed in writing scripts.

Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you?

I’m a man who grew up in a house of 5 women, and while enjoy action guy movies, most of the scripts I write favor strong female leads. Go figure!

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by  Dana Abbott.

[Rebecca Jordan]

Hello Everyone,

I’m Rebecca Jordan. I have written one full length feature, over 20 years ago, and one short that was briefly in production but never completed. I then wrote that into a full length play which had a well received reading, but I hated it. I also wrote a surreal, to be animated, script thinking if only Quentin Tarantino could direct this… obviously, he didn’t.

I have recently gone back to the first feature, which I have reimagined in my head for the past several months, and when I saw the opportunity to take this class, it was a no-brainer.

Something unique, strange special about myself will hopefully be revealed in my script, as it is somewhat autobiographical. I am Puerto Rican American, raised for a while by a Japanese step father. I have performed opposite Ed Harris on stage, playing his wife. And I’m currently a background singer in the #1 Tom Petty tribute band.

[Daniela Bolanos]

Hi! My name is Daniela, I’ve written 1 movie script, a couple of shorts and a lot of educational/commercial 3min videos.

I’m hoping to get a long forgotten script finished and get a little more discipline into my writing.

I once got stung by a stingray.

[Scott Wolson Wolson]

1. Scott A Wolson

2. I’ve written one screenplay, two tv pilots and over 500 television commercials (don’t know if that counts)

3. I hope to make the leap to professional screenwriter.

4. I moved from New York to Las Vegas. I left a vibrant, inspirational mecca of creativity for a town known for all-you-can-eat buffets.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by  Scott Wolson Wolson.

[BG]

1. Name? Birgul E.

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 3.

3. What you hope to get out of the class? I would like to finish the first draft for this new screenplay idea that I have in 30 days.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I’m really, really worried that I will not be able to invent a sufficient number of fun and exciting scenes.

[Rebecca Jordan]

Hi Cheryl,

I apologize for messaging here; however, I am still locked out of the 30 day class and have been waiting almost 2 hours for my ticket to be serviced, to no avail. I’m so looking forward to starting the class.

I have completed all the pre-work assignments, received all the emails (except for today’s lesson/I received something to take another class), introduced myself, and signed the non-disclosure agreement. But the class is locked and still reading “not enrolled”.

I’m not sure how long I’m supposed to wait, and I don’t want to fall behind as the day dwindles away. It’s later here…. I can see everyone else posting their assignments.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Rebecca Jordan

[Ce Ronn]

Hi everyone – and of cource you, Cheryl and Hal

My name is Charlotte

I haven’t written anything yet. Only for/to myself.

My hope is to learn a lot about scriptwriting – and be able to write (fast) in english.

My dream is to get a script done – and get it produced.

I love to learn, and it would make me proud to get at script out there – on the big screen.

I love to think and write about the ‘big issues’ in many peoples life:

Forgiveness, trust, loneliness, grief, anxiety …

To give people hope, cheer them up (with humor) and encourage them to take good action in their own life.

Big thinking! 🙂

Something unique, special …

We’re alle unique and special – and yet all alike in so many ways 🙂

I’m from Denmark.

English is not my native language, so I only write in danish, and will get my script translated to english/US, when I’m finish.

I understand english (most of it) in audio and reading, but when I try to write in english, it stops my creativity. I simply forgot what I just had in mind!!!

This give me ‘doubble up’ in learning here, though. And that is great.

I want to thank you: Hal and Cheryl, for all the great stuff you share with us.

You have a great voice, Hal. It is easy to listen to.

And I love, that I can hear your dog, the doorhinge and so on in your recordings.

A real Hal Hitchcock-recording 🙂

I look forward to all the good stuff you will provide for the next 30 days.

I’m happy to be on this learning-team, and I hope for success for us all.

Thanks

Best wishes

Charlotte

[Katherine Bennett-Greer]

1. Name: Katherine Bennett-Greer

2. How many scripts have I competed? I write paranormal thrillers and comedies; 6 in all.

3. What do I hope to get from the class? A habitual mindset that supports timely and efficient completion of first drafts.

4. Something unique, strange or unusual about me? I am a professional intuitive and healer, and consult on possession, medical treatment plans, missing persons, self-growth, and help my clients communicate with loved ones who have passed away. My sense of humor is much lighter than this, and I love to watch and write comedies 🙂

[Patrick Downey]

Hey everyone,

My name is Patrick Downey

I’ve written 1 script and it’s still in my computer for the past 6 years. If anyone here can tell me how to get it out, I’m all ears!

As you can see, I’m a forever dreamer and really want to get off the fear platform. I think, like everyone else that I have some really good and unique material but then again doesn’t everyone. LOL

Unique about me? Not sure I’ll let you all pick

Served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm

Played college football against several Hall of Famers back in the day

Suited up in motion capture gear for several years and played in games like Gears or War and Tom Clancy games.

Happy to meet you all!

[Suzanne M Begley]

My name is Suzanne Begley and I am happy to be in the company with so many experienced writers, I am a total novice attempting to finish a screenplay I started ten years ago. My hope is to understand the mechanics better and complete the project.

Something unique….I married a man I met in a pub in Ireland. At the time, I worked at the headquarters for the largest Wireless provider and he did not have a phone in his house. We are married 29 years but there have been many ups and downs, can you guess what my screenplay is about?

[Jeffrey Mason]

1. Jeff Mason
2. 1
3. Complete a rough draft and gain the knowledge, experience and confidence to do it at least 6 times a year.
4. I can hit a golf ball 300+ yards every time.

[John Weber]

1. John Weber

2. Many shorts; 2 feature length.

3. 1st draft of a feature length screenplay.

4. I can recite the first 30 lines of Dante’s Divine Comedy in Italian from memory. (Thanks, college major!)

[Teri Moore]

Hello. My name is Teri Moore.

I’ve written only one screenplay, but, with the help of this class, I plan on not only writing three more stories, but also a total rewrite of my first by the end of this year.

When I can finally decide on a specific project, I become very focused and invest 100% in it. By the time I was 19, I had constructed a chain made from chewing gum wrappers that was 364′ long. It was like an obsession! Now I focus my ambitions on more productive projects.

[Benito Selim]

I’m Benito Selim, I’m from the San Francisco Bay Area.

I have written several shorts most of which I have expanded. I have a total of 8 scripts. 3 Features, 3 TV Pilots, 1 Graphic Novel, and 1 Spec script.

I have taken three classes with Hal and Cheryl, I love the information given and really hope to become motivated again and spark that flame of creation back up. I am ready to get my scripts back out there and hope it’s good enough to be optioned and even get writing assignments.

I’m a huge horror fan (both film and TV)

[Janeen Johnson]

Hi Everyone!

My name: Janeen Johnson

Number of Scripts: 5

What I hope to get from the class: I’ve actually taken this class about a year ago, but the screenplay I wrote for it needs a total rewrite and I’ve lost my enthusiasm for the topic. I took the Action and Comedy classes last fall and hope to write the Action/Comedy that we worked on in that class. I’ve also signed up for the Rewrite class (I took that before I took the 30 Day class) and hope to move into a rewrite with it so I’ll have a polished screenplay by March.

Something odd or unusual about me: I live in a town that’s 15 miles from the farm I grew up on, but between high school and now, I’ve moved 36 times, worked for 25 companies in at least 29 locations around the country.

[cara star]

Hi, I’m Cara.

I’ve written 3 features and 1 pilot.

I have a couple of ideas and thought it would be interesting to have a system for exploring and executing them. I’ve taken several classes here and they have added depth to the process.

[Jess Paxton]

Hi everyone,

My name is Jess Paxton, I am a part-time actor, part-time student, and part-time writer. My favorite acting role so far is Ebenezer Scrooge, which I have played in multiple venues. I seem to get jobs playing the heavy: The Constable in “Fiddler on the Roof”, Lord Capulet in “Romeo & Juliet”, Claudius in “Hamlet”. I enjoy doing this kind of role because it forces me to delve into the inner sanctum of these characters’ psyches, explore their motivations, and understand how they can excuse their misdeeds. Not to say I don’t like playing happier roles: Jaques in “As You Like It” and Gremio in “Taming of the Shrew” are among my resumé. I love doing musical theatre; I have a booming operatic Basso Profundo voice, featuring a three-octave range that can reach from F#1 up to E4, and several comical Basso Buffo voices for fun.

I have 3 completed scripts, one of which I am fine-tuning, another which I am planning to rewrite. As those have taken years, I am looking forward to learning the skills that will enable me to write quickly and confidently so I can churn out quality scripts in less time!

[Steven Nikosey]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for my belated introduction courtesy of COVID-19. My name is Steven Nikosey and this will be my third script. I am a painfully slow writer and really looking forward to applying what I learn in this class to greatly speed up my process. I am confident that will also make screenwriting more enjoyable and remunerative for me.

I grew up the youngest of a combined step-family of eleven children. It was not quite like the Brady Bunch, but nonetheless, the experience supplied me with abundant story material.

I look forward to working with you all!

[Lori Lance]

Hello Everyone,

I’m Lori Lance, and I’m joining the class late.

I’ve written seven feature scripts. Last year I completed the Pro Series and Fearlessness classes. They were both life-changing. With this class, I hope to learn to write faster and, of course, better too. I’m passionate about creating family-friendly entertainment.