Introduce Yourself to the Group

[Sunil Pappu]

Hello everyone!

I’m Sunil Pappu from India.

I specialize in thrillers with strong female leads. I’ve completed five scripts for TV and film. I’ve also done eight paid writing assignments in the last three years.

I’m excited to learn to write great action, and I want to write my first action thriller this year.

Before becoming a full-time screenwriter, I was a TV Producer for a decade and made over 100 documentaries for National Geographic.

I look forward to working with you in this class!

Cheers

[Danielle Legrand]

Hi, everybody !

😃 I’m Danielle from France and I am very excited to start the class with you.

Until now I have written 4 or 5 small scripts with High school students but nothing professional.

I hope to get real good skills to write for featur films or T.V.

I am a retired teacher but I feel like I am only 20 when it comes to create a good killer action film !

[Jeff Bassetti]

Hi All-

Jeff Bassetti here. I’ve written 6 feature screenplays and 2 shorts. Always looking to better my writing and basically learn what I don’t know. The big basic question I want to answer is how can I do better?

I interned at Industrial Light and Magic and have a feature film called F-STOPS on Amazon Prime.

Looking forward to this action class and working with you all.

Best,

Jeff

[Stephen Tesher]

Hi, everyone. My name is Stephen Tesher.

I have written over ten scripts, some for hire, some as spec, and a handful of TV scripts, again, some for hire and some as spec. I am currently involved in shopping around a high concept TV pilot and pitch package that I created with a partner.

What I hope to get out of this class is this: I have a tendency to develop really cool characters but then get caught up in plot advancement sometimes, and lose sight of the story as told through the character. When it comes to writing action, I hope to get more insight into how to build those soft moments where deeper character reveals occur, where/how to best inject comedy, etc.

I have two young teenage boys who don’t drive yet but play a lot of sports. So, I’m looking for a way to optimize my writing time and write while driving them to and from their practices and games that won’t endanger anyone. All suggestions are welcome.

Looking forward to meeting and working with you all.

[George Thomas Jr.]

Hi all!

I’m George Thomas Jr. and I’ve been on a writing hiatus for a while to finish my Master’s in Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington in Seattle.

I’ve written about 10 scripts, a mix of features and shorts, generally comedy and dramas. I’ve been wanting to explore the action genre and learn new tricks.

Looking forward to the process!

Cheers,

George

[Patrick Malone]

Hello!

I’m Patrick Malone. I am a longtime film/video editor who has turned my interest to writing.

I have completed 2 feature screenplays, and 2 TV series pilots in the drama/mystery genre. I am struggling to elevate the episode outlines for one series.

Over the past 3 years I have taken several ScreenwritingU courses.

Hoping to get a great concept for an action script.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by  Patrick Malone.

[Liz Nellis]

Hi everyone, I’m Liz Nellis from the Chicago area. I have “started” several scripts but life got in the way and I put them aside. I hope to finally complete a script once and for all.

Something unusual about me is that I pick up people’s thoughts and say them out loud mistaking them for my own… Drives my sister crazy, she can’t have a thought to herself.

I’m looking forward to being able to complete the class with everyone and not lag behind.

[Barbara Gilmore]

Hello everyone,

I’m Barbara Gilmore. I’ve written two complete scripts, one action thriller, and one pilot. I’m on a third, but it’s only 80% complete.

I’m taking this course as I’d like to significantly elevate my action thriller script (which placed in the QFs of 2 screenplay competitions in 2021), hopefully get a deal, an option, and get it made. Aim high, right 🙂

When I’m not working as a project and program manager I work as a background actor.

At the end of 2021, I completed Hal and Cheryl’s Bingeworthy TV course. My TV Pilot script just placed in the semifinals of Filmmatic’s drama competition season 7. That small success wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance, challenges, and quality of Hal and Cheryl’s courses. So thank you both.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by  Barbara Gilmore.

[Tom Freyer]

Hi everyone, I’m Tom Freyer. I specialize in true stories.

I’ve written about 14 scripts, two for hire and two produced

I’m seeking guidance for my latest feature project (also a true story), which I hope becomes a successful action .

When I was ad agency creative director (I’m retired now), four of my TV Commercials appeared on Super Bowls.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by  Tom Freyer.

[Jan Fantl]

How does this get any better than that? Hi I am Jan, currently living in Berlin.

I have not one produced theatrical script under my belt. I had started directing ands about to ad writing for German tv in the 80s when I decided to take a turn towards producing. It worked out and I left few years later for L.A. as producer and film funds manager. I am producing until today yet after some decades the beats coming to a calmer pace which I find a natural and good development.

After passing on thousands of scripts and advising quite a few writers on many produced and not produced projects I decided I want to go forward myself to the back then idea of starting on an empty page one and pull it through till “The End” on an Action movie. Or more.

I look forward to joyfully sharpen my tools together with you. Jan

[Nick Walsh]

Hello, everybody. My name is Nick Walsh. I have finished four feature screenplays and one TV drama, four of which I wrote taking Hal’s online courses over the past five years, including the Master’s Screenwriting Program, the Pro Series, and the Binge TV course, among others. Currently, working on another feature and about to start looking for a Literary Manager (I must confess, I haven’t begun marketing, yet. Wanted to get some good screenplays under my belt, first.).

I’ve been out of focus for the past three months, and I know, from experience, that doing lessons on time and relating with you, my fellow writers, will certainly put wind back in my sails and cruise me out of the doldrums. I look forward to getting to know you all in the brief month we have together.

I am 75 years old. I don’t feel It; or look it–so I’m told. Seems like yesterday when I was twenty, in the Navy, and going nuts over “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Still do. How time flies. I have over 60 “named” cats and three big dogs that I and my wife–who runs a nonprofit TNR [Trap, Neuter, Release] service–care for and clean up after. For some reason, the cats come back to our place. I also share with my aging siblings caring for our 97-year-old mother. But, all is well and it feels good to be busy and alive still shooting for goals. Without them you may as well be dead, as most of my long-time friends are.

Good writing to all, and to all a good write.

[Terry Hicks]

Hi all,

Terry here…. writing from the Middle Rio Grande landscape in New Mexico.

I have 4 feature length scripts in various stages of re-writes. And several shorts. Have worked below the line on various indie film sets as Props Master, Art Director, Set Dresser and other fun jobs. And was 1/3 of a team that wrote and produced a youtube comedic web series for 3 seasons.

Action Movies are totally out of my typical go-to genre. I am intrigued by the possibilities of this genre and also hope to enliven my other screenplays with tools and techniques I learn from this class and from other writers on this journey.

Something perhaps unique… My background~career was in watershed ecology and restoration… and had great adventures throughout the Inter-mountain Western US. My love of the outdoors was greatly imprinted by adventures exploring the Himalayan foothills as a child.

[Wayne Hazle]

Wayne Hazle

15 scripts. I have written, directed and produced a few shorts.

To streamline and improve the action I am using in some of my current scripts

My 9 year old twin daughters have told me that if I get one of my features produced there better be a part for them.

I am really looking forward to getting sharper and getting to know you all

[Richard Sanchez]

Greetings,

I’m Richard Sanchez from central California, it’s a pleasure to meet everyone!

I’ve written five comedy scripts, and I’ve enrolled in this course because action remains high on my genres of interest.

I chose ScreenwritingU because each one of Mr. Croasmun’s live calls has been noting short of an eye opening experience. With that in mind, I’m hoping to attain greater insight and guidance in the action genre, and ultimately, my goal is to submit a script for screenwriting contests taking place this December and January.

Uniquely speaking, I had the fortune of being a journalist in major markets across the country.

[Laura Woodworth]

Hi, everyone! Nice to meet you all.

I’ve written 10 scripts (on spec and for producers) including TV, film and VR, winning some awards along the way. For this class, I’m bringing in a script that I’ve already workshopped in the Thriller class, and now hope to add in stronger action elements for an action/thriller.

One of my favorite projects to write on was a VR script written on assignment for the UK Bible Society. I developed a template in Final Draft to accommodate the 360 degree immersive experience.

-Laura Woodworth

[Molly Letkeman]

Hello, all, I’m Molly.

I have written three feature film scripts, one of them as a 4th year project with my university. I also have a published book (and several poems).

I hope this class will teach me how to elevate action to a professional level and to help me write the action prose in a more fluid, less stilted, way.

I’m 5 foot 10, all else is subject to change without notice!

[Bryan]

Bryan Nova Brey

I’ve written upwards of 10 treatments, 3x 40 card storyboards, and zero fully finished scripts. I have yet to type “THE END” and feel the sweet satisfaction.

Well since I’m doing the ACTION class, I hope to get ACTION BABY! I’d love to develop the chops where I brainstorm ideas, make even better ideas, and even the best ideas. It’s such a thrilling genre, so I hope to level up and get a major superpower.

Aside from graduating Valedictorian of my high school, I graduated from UCLA in 1995, I was ALMOST picked to Host Mtv’s Singled Out with Jenny McCarthy (swoon,) was a script reader for Zide-Perry Films who did the American Pie series, and was cast for a reboot of CHiPs as the new John, but they didn’t secure funding. I left Hollywood and worked at Yahoo.com, then owned a green real estate brokerage in Las Vegas, then built off-grid cabins in Hawaii for about a decade. During that period, I combined 15 years of personal development, with 5 years of film theory to write an eCourse called: MythMatrix: How to be the Hero in your own life story!

[Alan Reyes]

Hi, I’m Alan and I’ve written 2 feature scripts, a handful of tv pilots, and several shorts.

I’m taking this class to learn the tools and best practices for writing sellable action scripts.

Fun fact: Before I started working in the industry, I put myself through film school by dj-ing in my teens and early 20s.

[Fleur Olivier]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Lisa but I go by Fleur.

I’ve written eight scripts, most of them spec scripts for TV.

I’ve recently finished a pilot and treatment that was developed after studying plant medicine from a curandero in Mexico.

I’ve worked with an amazing script consultant who always says that my character development and themes are strong but my plot work needs help. She told me that she generally works with people from LA who are strong in plot but weak in the areas where I have my strengths. According to her, the plotting is the easy part but it’s not easy for me. That’s what I hope to gain from this course – a little cross-training. Or, perhaps finding a writing partner who loves a good beat sheet:)

Happy learning…

Fleur

Vancouver, Canada

[Robert Belcastro]

Hello, I am Robert Belcastro

I have co-written 3 scripts.

To move to the next level of professionalism as a writer.

My work status is retired. I am just starting this as my new professional career.

[Wendy Locke]

HI All,

I am Wendy L Locke and I live in Houston, Texas but I am on work assignment in Albuquerque, N.M. 20 minutes from Netflix Studios.

I have written 4 features and one TV series. I am currently working on a horror script about a ghost invading an OR. Since I have worked as a Surgical Assistant for the last 34 years, I figured it was time I took on the task. I can’t wait to kill off the Anesthesia provider by strangulation with their own cords. HAHA!

Fun fact I can tell is that I have a Cane Corso that weighs 160 lbs. He was raised with Chihuahuas and thinks he is a real lap dog.

I hope to learn how to spice up my script and get rid of the dead parts.

I look forward to working with y’all!!!