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“Are you sitting on a fantastic story idea for the screen?” asks instructor Kerry Muir. “In Intro to Screenwriting, get ready to set that idea into motion by developing a detailed beat sheet/story outline and completing (at least!) the first act of your screenplay.”

In this five-week class, you will learn the fundamentals of narrative screenwriting in a low stress, supportive environment. The class will focus on writing believable and entertaining dialogue, building a story structure that works from beginning to end, and developing complex, three-dimensional characters that light up the screen. Class time will be dedicated to readings and group discussion of your work-in-progress. Additionally, you’ll look at film clips and scenes from successful screenplays to get a sense of how a writer conceptualizes and shapes a story told primarily in images.

“By the end of five weeks,” says Kerry, “students will have become familiar with the general guiding elements of dramatic structure and character development that they can then apply--not only to dramatic writing--but to a variety of styles of storytelling.”

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Instructor
    Kerry Muir‘s plays include Running on Moontime, The Night Buster Keaton Dreamed Me, and Befriending Bertha/Conociendo a Bertha (a one-act for children), which were published in dual language (Spanish-English) editions by NoPassport Press as part of their Dreaming the Americas series, curated by Lifetime Achievement Obie Award-winning playwright, Caridad Svich. Her plays have garnered awards and productions at the Nantucket Short Play Festival, Great Platte River Playwrights Festival, Gibraltar International Drama Festival, and elsewhere. Her prose has appeared in Kenyon Review Online, Crazyhorse, Riverteeth, West Branch, Willow Springs, Fourth Genre and more. Two of her essays, “The Bridge” and “BLUR,” were named as notable in Best American Essays of 2011 and 2018, edited by Edwidge Danticat and Hilton Als, respectively. Her short film “Madame” (an official selection of San Francisco Independent Film Festival 2024, Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival 2024, AHITH Film Festival 2023) is currently making the rounds on the film festival circuit. Visit her online at: https://kerry-muir-5gnx.squarespace.com.
Schedule
  1. Wednesday, August 14, 7:00pm-9:30pm
  2. Wednesday, August 21, 7:00pm-9:30pm
  3. Wednesday, August 28, 7:00pm-9:30pm
  4. Wednesday, September 4, 7:00pm-9:30pm
  5. Wednesday, September 11, 7:00pm-9:30pm
Reviews
  • Kerry's enthusiasm was contagious and she encouraged each student, while helping them see how to improve their work. She created a friendly and supportive atmosphere through group discussion, and suggested further readings.

    Chris
  • Kerry's enthusiasm for the content of the class, her use of writing exercises, and the collaborative nature of the class demystified and relaxed the writing experience making it seem so much more accessible and less daunting. I now have the confidence to move forward with my screenplay as well as the tools to write it within the confines of the structure.

    Bryan
  • Kerry was phenomenal! She truly cares about her students and the work that they produce. She took time outside of class to provide thorough feedback and additional materials for us to review. Most importantly, she cultivated an environment that felt safe and encouraging. I received constructive criticism and support workshopping my screenplay. I am very thankful for Kerry's wisdom, positive energy and time.

    Anne

Details

Start:
Thursday, August 15, 2019 @ 2:00 am PDT
End:
Thursday, September 12, 2019 @ 4:30 am PDT
Cost:
$295.00
Event Category:

Venue

Berkeley
2121 Bonar St, Studio D, 2nd Fl
Berkeley, CA United States
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Cancellation Policy

10 days or more before the start date for a class, the registrant will receive a credit minus a 10% fee OR a refund minus a 20% fee.

3-9 days before the start date for a class, the registrant will receive a credit minus a 20% fee OR a refund minus a 30% fee.

2 days or less before the start date for a class, the registrant will not receive a credit or a refund.

The Writing Salon cannot offer refunds, credits, or makeup sessions for classes a student might miss.

In the event of an emergency, we may consider a refund or credit, whether partial or full. We review these requests on a case-by-case basis, and we ask that you notify us as near as possible to the start date for the class.

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