ADVANCED COURSES
“Writers who are successful write. Act One will give you the training, the motivation and the support to jump-start your writing career.”
-David McFadzean, Executive Producer: Home Improvement, What Women Want
Advanced Writing Courses
Act One’s advanced courses for alumni provide advanced training, mentoring, instruction and experience to Writing Program Certificate holders. Advanced courses include:
ACT TWO
Act Two is the journey in the middle. The hero pursues his goal with the help of friends and mentors along the way to help him navigate the dangers and pitfalls the villain has put in his path.
Act Two is an intensive 8-month program designed to encourage and equip Act One alumni writing feature films who are serious about advancing their skills. All students will be writing an original feature film. The emphasis for Act Two is to follow through and put into practice the skills and concepts learned in the Act One program. In Act Two, the staff and faculty will encourage students to find their unique voice as a writer and to maximize it’s potential to be heard in the marketplace.
The program begins with an opening retreat that focuses on spiritual formation, tools and activities to unlock the creative process, and guidance and feedback on generating new story ideas. Next is the Lecture Series taught by Bobette Buster, which serves as the foundation for which stories shall be developed in Act Two. All students shall then work in small writer’s groups to write a feature length screenplay with the guidance of Act One staff and faculty. Additional advanced writing courses taught by Act One faculty will be offered. Once stories are developed and written, students will have the opportunity to receive individual notes and feedback from several faculty members. Pitching and networking exercises round out the experience, which better prepares the student to enter professional-level opportunities upon completing the program.
The ideal Act Two student is one who has done the hard work of trying to apply the notes they took in Act One on their own, and would like to work with other writers to get the best possible results from their efforts. Act Two is designed to make the long journey of developing as a writer more fun and less lonely. Act Two students are disciplined and serious about progressing to the next level. They are also team players who wish to support and encourage their fellow peers along the way.
Dates: Fall 2011
ACT THREE
Act Three is the culmination of the journey. The hero takes everything
he learned along the way and uses it in the final test. Will he achieve his goal?
Regardless of the outcome, the conclusion will be satisfying.
Act Three is a professional-level track for students who have proven themselves qualified to write for mainstream film. The focus of Act Three is to develop and write a feature based on a commercial idea that is then shopped to producers and agents. Act One will partner with Act Three students, giving them the Act One “blessing” by opening many doors for them to pitch, meet, and be read by producers and agents. Students will be individually coached and mentored by world-renowned story expert Bobette Buster throughout the development process as they write.
Act Three is a series of weekend retreats where the student will have a chance to take a step back from the busyness of Hollywood to reflect on and refresh their outlook on writing career. The focus of the first retreat will be the spiritual formation of the writer, with a special emphasis toward building an authentic community and support base. Unlocking creativity, generating story ideas, and setting goals are other areas of concentration.
Next is Bobette’s Lectures series which will serve as the foundation of the program in which the rest of the coursework will be offered. From the lecture, students will be writing their first drafts, which will be work-shopped at the second retreat.
The second retreat will include a full half day of intensive notes and feedback from Bobette for each student’s script. Additional time will be spent in prayer, spiritual formation, and creative coursework. The third retreat is a follow up session in the same areas of development, spiritual formation, and community.
When the Act Three scripts are ready to send out, Act One will partner with the students to set up meetings, and send scripts out to agents and producers. Additional Act One faculty will step in to help network and connect the student to further opportunities.
Limited to only 8 students, each will receive personalized feedback from Bobette Buster, the Act One Staff, and several other key Act One faculty ready to pour into the spiritual and professional growth of each student.
Dates: TBA