[Wendy Levine]

Here are the highlights of the many great things I learned from this call:

– pro writers use pro level skills to write during their flow, whereas now, I’m only able to use the skills I have now…why it’s so important to learn the 300 skills included in this class

– avoid thinking, “I know this already,” as I’ll learn to use the same skills in a different (elevated) way…try out the Kaizen method…constant improvement vs big improvements

– we learn best by summarizing what we’ve been taught right after the lesson has finished

– get feedback from someone at my level as it’s not helpful now to utilize someone more advanced (the opposite of what I thought)

– always turn in assignments, no matter how bad; don’t read anybody’s else’s posts yet (while I’m vulnerable as a beginning screenwriter) so I can build my confidence; also, start getting okay with my creativity and putting it out there

– focus on learning and practicing my new skills, and NOT on content, being perfect or on wordsmithing; also, Hemingway said it best: “all first drafts are shit”

– criticism is the opposite of creativity!!!

– for me as a beginner, it’s better to write something I love so this will be fun (versus something I think I should be working on), and participate fully and embrace the concepts being presented

– don’t worry about not having high concepts right now

– best to use “the easy way” and use this program as it is taught, including Jim’s development process

– give feedback using the way we’ll be taught

[Wendy Levine]

Hi, I’m Wendy Levine, and I’ve only written scenes, mostly from other shorter ScreenwritingU classes.

I’m eager to learn the right way to write screenplays, to see if I have it in me to do this well, to actually finish a screenplay, and to hopefully have something worth marketing. I didn’t want to start just yet, but this class came along and figured it was a sign 🙂 Also, it’s winter in Chicago and I’ll be inside a lot (was 16 degrees Fahrenheit today, and that’s a warmup!), so now is a great time to take a class. I also have an acting background, and do improv now (umm Zoom improv), and I know this class will help make me a better actor…

For unique, there’s a Rembrandt painting at the Art Institute of Chicago of a young woman whom I look a lot alike, and even grammar school classmates of mine pointed that out when we used to visit.

Happy to be here with you all!

[Wendy Levine]

Wendy S Levine

I agree to the terms of this release form.

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by  Wendy Levine.