“Act One is all you need to succeed in Hollywood as a writer. Don’t waste your time in a four-year screenwriting program. You can do it better and faster with Act One.”

 

We hear this a lot from alums about our writing program.

How are we uniquely distinctive?

1

Large Team

We draw from a large (amazing!) team of teachers who are also professional, working writers. They come off the lots, off the set, and out of the writers' rooms to teach you the basics (character, dialogue, formatting, structure) and more advanced topics. They share their industry “secrets” openly and are driven to make you the best writer you can be.
2

Values Driven

Our community of teachers, mentors, and writers are, in large part, professionals who hold Christian values and desire to see those instilled in their creative work, no matter what genre or storytelling arena. They offer a transparent and supportive environment in which to tell redemptive stories grounded in a Biblical worldview.
3

Concentrated Training

Our training is concentrated and extremely thorough. We incorporate a variety of teaching modalities--- lecture, video, writer panels and interviews, small groups, real-world writing exercises, and mentorships with professional working writers. We focus on getting you to mine great ideas, find your voice, develop memorable characters, and so much more.
4

Alumni Community

As an alumnus of Act One, we welcome you as part of a lifelong community of entertainment professionals. Act Oners are a close-knit group that continues to support and encourage each other in our professional creative journeys.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Over the 8-weeks, screenwriting basics (plot, character, dialogue, structure, world building, and more) will be taught via video courses, group Zoom sessions and one-on-one mentoring. The 8-weeks are structured like this:

  • -Video-based Lessons
  • -Weekly Live Zoom Classes
  • -Bi-Weekly One-on-one Mentoring via phone or Zoom
  • -Weekly writing assignments
  • -Weekly film viewing assignments
  • -Reading assignments (Screenplays, The Hollywood Standard, Making a Good Script Great, etc.)

COURSE DATES & TUITION

Course Dates

  • -June 10th-July 31st, 2025
  • -First day of classes begin on Tuesday, June 10th.

Application Deadlines

  • -Early Registration Deadline: April 1st
  • -Registration Deadline: May 1st
  • -Late Registration Deadline: June 1st

Application Fee: $50.00

Tuition Fee

  • -$1,100*
  • -(Applicants who apply by April 1st will receive $100 off tuition)

*Deposit of 50% of the tuition cost is required upon acceptance into the program to hold your spot. The remainder of the tuition balance MUST be paid before the first day of class.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

#1: Writing Sample of 5 pages (any narrative content)

#2: 2 Loglines (Original Ideas)

#3: Resume

#4: Statement of Faith: No more than 3 pages detailing the following: (1) Briefly describe your spiritual journey and your belief in Jesus Christ. (2) Why do you, as a Christian, want to write for movies or TV in Hollywood? (3) Cite examples of movies or TV shows that are most like what you aspire to write, and tell us why. (4) What are you hoping to learn at Act One? (5) What are your plans upon completion of the program?

SAMPLE SCHEDULESUBMIT APPLICATION
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Hollywood Writing Program Faculty

[Subject To Availability]

Christine Swanson

Christine Swanson

Writer/Director

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Jennifer Irons

Jennifer Irons

Writer/Agent

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Michael Warren

Michael Warren

Writer/Producer

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Jim Krueger

Jim Krueger

Author

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Bill Marsilli

Bill Marsilli

Writer/Producer

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James Cary

James Cary

Screenwriter

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Saladin K. Patterson

Saladin K. Patterson

Screenwriter/Producer

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Grant Nieporte

Grant Nieporte

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Anthony Epling

Anthony Epling

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Geoff Tock

Geoff Tock

Screenwriter

Geoff Tock is the writing partner of Gregory Weidman. They are moderately successful film & TV writer...

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Monica Macer

Monica Macer

Writer/Producer

Monica Macer is a writer and producer. 

She worked as an assistant at Nickelodeon Movies and a cr...

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Jessica Grasl

Jessica Grasl

Writer/Producer

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Quinton Peeples

Quinton Peeples

Writer/Producer

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Jacob Roman

Jacob Roman

Screenwriter

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Todd Komarnicki

Todd Komarnicki

Writer/Producer

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Dan Rupple

Dan Rupple

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Brian Bird

Brian Bird

Writer/Producer

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Cheryl McKay Price

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Screenwriter

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Ryan Swanson

Ryan Swanson

Writer/Producer

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Karen Hall

Karen Hall

Screenwriter

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Lauren Snowden

Lauren Snowden

Writer/Director

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Craig Detweiler

Craig Detweiler

Writer/Author/Filmmaker

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Dean Batali

Dean Batali

Writer/Producer

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Barbara Nicolosi

Barbara Nicolosi

Screenwriter

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Marilyn Atlas

Marilyn Atlas

Literary Manager

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Among her credits ...

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Sam Curphey

Sam Curphey

Entertainment Attorney

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Shun Lee Fong

Shun Lee Fong

Actor/Writer/Producer

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Bob Smiley

Bob Smiley

Writer/Author/Producer

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Scott Teems

Scott Teems

Writer/Filmmaker

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Scott Reynolds

Scott Reynolds

Writer/Producer

Scott is a writer/producer who has written for such television shows as Dexter, Jessica Jones, The F...

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Greg Weidman

Greg Weidman

Screenwriter

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Ann Blanchard

Ann Blanchard

Agent, CAA

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Zena Dell Lowe

Zena Dell Lowe

Writer/Producer/Director

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Liz Suggs

Liz Suggs

Writer/Producer

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Nathan Scoggins

Nathan Scoggins

Writer/Director

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Bob Massey

Bob Massey

Screenwriter

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Melissa Glenn

Writer/Producer

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Jennifer Dornbush

Jennifer Dornbush

Screenwriter/Novelist

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Clare Sera

Clare Sera

Actress/Writer

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Chris Easterly

Chris Easterly

Writer/Director

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Caleb Brown

Caleb Brown

Screenwriter/Script Consultant

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Jeremy Howe

Jeremy Howe

Writer/Producer

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Sean Gaffney

Sean Gaffney

Writer/Producer

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Andrea Nasfell

Andrea Nasfell

Screenwriter

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Dallas Jenkins

Dallas Jenkins

Writer/Director

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Tyler Thompson

Tyler Thompson

Writer/Producer

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Paul Guyot

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