Introduce yourself to the group.

[CHRISTOPHER WEBB]

Hi. How is everything? Hope all is well with everyone.

1. Name? – Christopher Webb

2. How many scripts you’ve written? – Four (TV Pilots)

3. What you hope to get out of the class? – To create the kinds of memorable characters that are each one of them distinct with their own unique voice.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? – Served nearly 9+ years in the United States Army.

[Steven Delisi]

Hello everyone!

Steven Delisi here.

I’ve written one feature script … a long time ago.

I hope to develop characters and relationships that are very compelling.

I’m a former picture editor and currently a musician.

[Elizabeth Corinth]

Looking forward to this class and to getting to know everyone! I’m Elizabeth Corinth. I’ve written one short film script, in addition to about ten playscripts. I’m looking forward to learning how to create compelling, nuanced characters who will make my story come to life and my writing more deeply impactful to my audience. I create escape rooms as a hobby.

[Sandra Fox-Sohner]

1. Sandy

2. Two feature screenplays.

3. I hope to learn about adding depth to my characters.

4. I love true story, historical, feature films.

Looking forward to the class.

[Kristina Zill]

Kristina Zill

Many plays and screenplays have flowed from my imagination, but I’ve never counted them. Numerous plays and one screenplay have been produced.

I just finished the Creative Mastery course—which was excellent and where we touched on character work. My hope is that this class will allow me to further develop those skills since great characters are at the heart of great drama.

I attended an arts high school…as a visual artist.

[Steven Delisi]

Hi Kristina,

Would you like to exchange feedback for the current Week 1 lessons? I’m working on a scene more or less inspired by the character ‘wound’ lesson. It’s very brief.

– Steve

[A J Ferrara]

Hi everyone. I’m AJ Ferrara. This is the first class I’ve taken in a while. I’ve written over 20 scripts and have been fortunate to have worked on paid assignments. I’ve developed scripts with directors Mick Garris and Eric Brevig and I’m looking forward to taking my character development to another level.

[Constance Gillam]

Hi, I’m Connie Gillam. I’m a novelist. I’ve written and published six books and one short story but no scripts.

I’d like to improve my characterization and give more dimension to the people I create. I hope this class will help.

The most unusual thing about me is I’m 72 years old and hope to keep writing until I’m 100.

[Neil Werenskjold]

Hey Everyone,

Neil W here. I’ve been studying and rewriting one feature script six times as it has evolved to include Hal’s marketable considerations. I have another thriller feature screenplay on the drawing board that I hope embodies high concept markable considerations. Both these features might have a series possibility because they are both based in some minor part on my experiences during my 37 years with the USAF, which gave me a ton of experience in mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering and program management.

I am retired now, having time and good support to write. However, I am on the verge of selling my house and moving to Texas very soon. My wife and I are removing all the not needed any more good stuff we have collected in our fifty years of marriage to help make our move easier. I grew up in Westchester County, NY, and Tampa, Florida. We are now in Utah and soon to be with our family near San Antonio, Texas.

What do I want from this class? I wish to punch up my characters, so A-list actors will get excited and think, “I need to do this character in this screenplay.”

Also, I have met a significant number of wonderful, hard-working people. In my screenplays, I want to learn how to communicate their unique talents and humorous quirks that separate them from the norm, making them so enjoyable to know, work with, and hang out with.

[Anthony Sigala]

Hi everyone. I’m Anthony Sigala. I’ve enjoyed writing 5 features and 2 tv shows. The importance of characterization goes without saying. As I polish a script and get ready to start a new script, I just wanna make sure I keep that tool in the forefront.

[Pat Fitzgerald]

Hi Everyone,

I’m Pat Fitzgerald

I’ve written three screenplays

I’m taking this class as a means to re-kickstart my creativity and fondness for the screenplay format. I lost my writing way over the past several years, while serving as caregiver to my late husband who suffered from dementia. Not looking for pity/sympathy. That’s just my reality. This class will go a long way in aiding me to rediscover myself, and I’m looking forward to having fun doing just that.

[Edward Brown]

Edward Brown

5 scripts

have great characters

finish my BW script

[Marti Wheat]

1. Name? Marti Wheat

2. How many scripts you’ve written? Three feature length scripts and numerous stage pieces.

3. What you hope to get out of the class? I have a feature length screenplay that garnered some interest from a few producers, but needs a rewrite, and I think mastering character development is a critical first step for a solid rewrite.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I have an animal rescue organization.

[Serita Stevens]

I’m Serita Stevens, an award-winning writer of over 40 published books and many optioned scripts but always looking to learn and improve. I’m also a forensic nurse with a TV series that has been optioned. If you have any medical, forensic or poison questions, I am always happy to help answer. You can see more about me at IMDB Serita D Stevens or http://www.seritastevens.com

[jeffrey jeff glatz glatz]

Hello all!

Jeff Glatz

I’ve 2 screenplays and have another in the pipeline.

I hope to learn more about creating deeper, more fascinating characters

Semi retired, but never too old 🙂 Used to be in the biz, but it has been a while and so much has changed.

[Daisy Khalifa]

Hello Everyone:

It’s wonderful to be in this Character Mastery class.

1. Name? My name is Daisy Khalifa

2. How many scripts you’ve written? None. I am very close to finishing the first draft of my first screenplay, thanks largely to Hal and Cheryl’s classes. Nice thing is, I have to finish. I won a contest, and I am expected to deliver the screenplay early next year prior to the retreat we will take, and where I will be working with a director, producers and so on and so forth. I could go on about how painful and lonely it is writing this screenplay outside of an academic–or professional– environment, but I know it will get done. I could also go on about how I could get “big-footed” and told to keep my day job once I attend the retreat. But it’s the writing that I want to hone, and I sincerely enjoy these classes. In the past few years, I’ve had about a dozen ideas that have turned into inch-thick files of research, treatments, rough dialogues, and several have even been “storyboarded”. I am farther ahead, actually, on another screenplay which is not the one that has been acknowledged by the contest I entered. So, while I am ensconced in screenplay processes, the answer is still none.

3. What you hope to get out of the class? This is going to be an incredible class. I would say in order to write a screenplay well, and with relative ease (especially when it comes to dialogue and turning points), we have to know our main character and, just as much, we must know –and show– the motives and needs of all of our other characters. This is how we enrich or story–and make it a compelling, intriguing (read: sellable) story. Viewers and readers have to care about the characters.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I am a native of West Los Angeles. I moved to Washington, DC right out of college. I really don’t want to live in Los Angeles and I understand that if you want to be in this business, it is advised that you move to L.A. Another special fact: I have cherished my years living in Washington, D.C. When I started out, I worked for about 10 years at the Smithsonian Institution and, since, have been a consultant for most of my career while also working as a journalist, covering history, lifestyle and, mostly, national defense, maritime security, global trade/supply chain, the U.S. Navy, the Coast Guard and nearly all of the military service branches. It is amazing what happens to you when you live in Washington, as I had no idea that my aspirations to work as a journalist would take me down this path. And, yes, several screenplays have ended up being informed by (even inspired by) maritime and ocean-related themes.

[David Wywialowski]

1. Dave

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 2 feature film screenplays

3. What you hope to get out of the class? To improve my characters and make their relationships more intriguing

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I’ve worked for 23 years at a non-profit in Chicago that helps the homeless. Screenwriting is my creative outlet!

I look forward to working with you all!

[Art Miller]

Art Miller. Have written 5 scripts. Hope to develop more believable and compelling characters. In a previous life I was a storyteller.

[Christopher Phillips Phillips]

Hi everyone,

1. Christopher T. Phillips

2. How many scripts you’ve written? Several features and shorts.

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

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

[C Holmes]

Hi everyone, I’m Carol aka C A Holmes

2. I have written a lot, but really want to go for it, One Feature, some docs, a few TV series education Advertising, virtual reality story. LOL Always ready to learn more

3. I want to tackle a difficult character with a higher level of skill

4. I write songs and music and would love to do scores for film

I am so happy to be in this class!

[Counse Broders]

1. Name? Counse Broders

2. How many scripts you’ve written? have worked on several but none I’ve quite been able to finish. Most of the writing I used to do was in the corporate world of technology analysis, so its been a push for me to switch gears to the character side of things.

3. What you hope to get out of the class? Hope to gain a greater mastery of fleshing out characters to help drive some of the script ideas I have in my head and bring them to life. This past year, I’ve been making animation shorts on tiktok, and I’d like to apply some of this to making these stronger.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? Have worked on over 60 films and movies, typically as background for productions in Atlanta. Its let me experience productions once the script is done and see how these stories come to life. My secret thrill of recent times was getting to work on a Clint Eastwood movie (Richard Jewell) and get a couple seconds of screen time featured as a reporter, as well as being in the press scrum jostling with Sam Rockwell.

[Paul Cunningham]

Hi, I’m Paul Cunningham. I’ve written enough scripts to have lost count of the total. Ha. I hope to dive in deeper to character in this class since, especially in streaming TV, character largely pilots the ship these days. I also naturally resonate with my characters above all so all lenses in which to increase insight in this respect are basically good ones! Something unique about me? At one time I was a massage therapist in Manhattan and some of my clients would fly me by helicopter to the Hamptons to work on them. I’ve also built stone walls for a living…, and strangely enough massage and free standing stone masonry have a whole lot in common. Just as long as you wear gloves when doing the stone work.

[Zev Ledman]

Zev Ledman

(2) screenplays – 1 is a coming of age Romantic Comedy taking place in the 1980’s. The other is a true to life, historical drama revealing the time when Greeks ruled Judea (Israel) and oppressed the followers of the Jewish G-d and their traditions.

I have come to the realization of the importance of great and interesting characters to every story and hope to improve my skill set and elevate my writing to the next level.

Big on critical self-analysis in the hopes of making me a better person.

Good luck everyone.

[C Holmes]

Hi, I did put a reply in but it seems to have disappeared. I have been having technical difficulties so please pardon the lateness. I’m C A Holmes. I have written a feature film, a few tv series, a virtual reality story and lots of educational tv. I want to develop characters that mean something to the audience and have methods to do so besides my imagination. I also write music and would love to score films. Just know I will keep trying to get my work up on the forum, but I have had some trouble so bear with me. Best, Carol

[Ashley Sarikaya]

Hello! My name is Ashley Sarikaya. I’m new to the screenwriting world. I’m working on an MFA in Writing for Film, Television and Digital Media at the Academy of Art, San Francisco. I’m currently working on a script for a short film. Outside of this new passion, I’m a communications consultant for international organizations, focusing on multimedia storytelling. I’m really excited to start this class, and learn more about character building. As far as something unique about me, I was an elite gymnast and I have lived abroad for 10+ years. Looking forward to meeting you all!

[James Clark]

James E. Clark. I’ve written six screenplays. I hope to grasp the techniques needed to elevate my scripts to professional level.

Unique and strange. I didn’t enter the dramatic arts until my late 60’s. I’m soon to be 72.