“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 10-weeks, screenwriting basics (plot, character, dialogue, structure, world building, and more) will be taught via video courses, group Skype sessions and one-on-one mentoring. The 10-weeks are structured like this:

  • 30 Video-based Lessons
  • Weekly Group Skype Sessions
  • Bi-Weekly One-on-one Mentoring via phone or Skype
  • Weekly writing assignments
  • Weekly film viewing assignments
  • Reading assignments (Save the Cat, The Hollywood Standard, Making a Good Script Great, etc.)

COURSE DATES & TUITION

Early Bird Deadline: COMING SOON ($50 off tuition)
Regular Deadline:
Class begins:

APPLICATION FEE: $50.00
COURSE FEE: $1,100.00

***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 SCHEDULE
SUBMIT APPLICATION

Hollywood Writing Program Faculty

[Subject To Availability]

HWP Faculty

Grant Nieporte

Writer

Grant is best known for writing Seven Pounds, starring Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, and Woody Harrels
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HWP Faculty

Lauren Snowden

Writer/Director

Lauren C. Snowden earned her B.A. from California State University, Northridge in Radio-TV-Film with
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HWP Faculty

Zena Dell Lowe

Writer/Producer/Director

Zena has worked professionally in the entertainment industry for over 20 years as a writer, producer
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HWP Faculty

Sean Gaffney

Writer/Producer

Sean Gaffney has authored thirty produced plays, two feature films, four commissioned television pil
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HWP Faculty

Chris Easterly

Screenwriter

Chris Easterly is an American screenwriter and television writer. He has written for the television
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HWP Faculty

Marilyn Atlas

Literary Manager

Marilyn R. Atlas is a talent and literary manager and award-winning producer.  Among her credits
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HWP Faculty

Craig Detweiler

Writer/Author/Filmmaker

Filmmaker and author Craig Detweiler, Ph.D., is President of The Wedgwood Circle. He wrote the sc
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HWP Faculty

Clare Sera

Actress/Writer

Clare Sera is an actress and writer, known for Smallfoot (2018), Blended (2014) and The Princess Dia
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HWP Faculty

Shun Lee Fong

Actor/Writer/Producer

Shun Lee is an actor, writer, filmmaker, and the CEO and creative principal of Genuine Productions,
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HWP Faculty

Ryan Swanson

Writer/Producer

Ryan Swanson is a writer and producer, known for Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Drop Dead Gorgeous (19
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HWP Faculty

Tom Provost

Writer/Producer/Director

Tom Provost wrote the screenplay for Under Suspicion, a thriller starring Academy Award winners Morg
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HWP Faculty

Jim Krueger

Author/Copywriter

New York Times best-selling author Jim Krueger is a graduate of Marquette University, an award-winni
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HWP Faculty

Scott Teems

Writer/Filmmaker

A Georgia-born filmmaker whose upcoming projects include HALLOWEEN KILLS, which he co-wrote with Dan
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HWP Faculty

Todd Komarnicki

Writer/Producer

Todd Komarnicki is a writer and producer, known for Sully (2016), The Professor and the Madman (2019
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HWP Faculty

Dan Rupple

Producer/CEO

Dan Rupple has worked in the media industry for over 40 years. For over ten years, he was at CBS
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HWP Faculty

Tyler Thompson

Writer/Producer

Tyler currently serves as co-writer and executive producer on the TV show The Chosen. Tyler is al
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HWP Faculty

Nathan Scoggins

Writer/Director

Writer/Director NATHAN SCOGGINS has written, produced and/or directed a number of projects over the
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HWP Faculty

Jeremy Howe

Writer/Producer

Born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Jeremy moved to Los Angeles in 2002 for an internship at “
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HWP Faculty

Monica Macer

Writer/Producer

Monica Macer is a writer and producer.  She worked as an assistant at Nickelodeon Movies and a c
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HWP Faculty

Paul Guyot

Writer

Paul Guyot spent over 10 years working grunt jobs in Hollywood before his first writing gig on the J
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“

“A wonderful concoction of knowledgeable speakers, prayerful team leaders, and dedicated participants. A top notch group of kind hearted and world successful individuals who welcomed us and truly want us to thrive.”

Erika T.
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“It has changed my spiritual and technical vision. It has shown me how to improve my skills as a storyteller. Christian writers must enroll in Act One if they are looking for direction and structure.”

Poliana A.
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“Act One has made a difference. I have tools to improve my writing, friends that love Jesus in the industry, and a far better understanding of the climate I am attempting to be a part of. Act One is packed with professionals that take their craft seriously and clearly hope to inspire other Christians to do the same.”

Dave B.
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“Act One is a huge blessing, both professionally and spiritually. The mentors and speakers are filled not only with wisdom about their craft and the industry but also with compassion for their students. This program really is the perfect place to hone your writing and producing skills for the glory of God and to build a life-long community of believers and fellow writers.”

Zach V.
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“More than anything, the community of Act One has encouraged me to keep going in this city. The stories they share have been invaluable. I’m really thankful to have found a group of like-minded people who are also excellent at what they do.”

Hannah C.
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“The Act One Writing Program did more for me in 10 weeks than four years of college was ever able to get me."

Nicholas C.