WED MAY 1 to JUN 12 / SOPHIE TEACHES SCREENWRITING at ARCHESTRATUS

Wednesday's from 7p to 9p

Ever had an idea for a screenplay but have no idea where to start? If so, this class is for you!

Local hero and screenwriting professor Sophie Finkelstein will introduce you to the craft of screenwriting and take you through an exploration into the universal art of storytelling.

Over the course of seven weeks, you will learn new ways to think about your work, industry strategies to help organize your ideas, questions to ask yourself, and straight up tricks to make the blank page more approachable and equip you with all the tools you need to turn your story ideas into screenplays.

Each week we will focus on a different element of writing such as conflict, suspense, structure, character, dialogue and more. We'll explore these topics through discussion, writing exercises, workshops, readings, screenings and special guest lecturers.

You will leave this class with a better understanding of the craft of screenwriting and a clear plan to take on your first (or next) feature with a workshopped outline and a draft of your first act. Come with one idea or several or none! Together, we'll hone and shape your idea before taking to the page.

◤ HOW TO APPLY:

WE WILL BE ASKING INTERESTED PARTIES TO FILL OUT A BRIEF APPLICATION FOLLOWED BY AN INTERVIEW. WE WILL ACCEPT APPROXIMATELY 15 STUDENTS AND WILL BE HOLDING TWO SCHOLARSHIP SPOTS FOR THOSE NOT IN A FINANCIAL PLACE TO AFFORD IT RIGHT NOW.

LEAVE A $15 DEPOSIT AND WE WILL EMAIL YOU WITH THE APPLICATION FORM. FULL TUITION IS $625. IF YOU ARE TAKING THE CLASS, THE $15 WILL BE APPLIED TO YOUR TUITION. IF YOU ARE NOT TAKING THE CLASS, WE CAN REFUND IT BACK TO YOU IN A TIMELY MANNER. ◤

Above all, we hope you will grow as writers, storytellers, collaborators, creative thinkers, and artists and learn why we tell stories, how to tell your own stories and the value of being able to critically look at the stories around us. 

The instructor, SOPHIE FINKELSTEIN, has an MFA in Screenwriting and TV Writing from Columbia University and is currently a screenwriting professor at Hunter College. She spent over a decade working in Independent Film Production and at film festivals across the country and is now in development on several of her own film and television projects.