This is a special advanced workshop. To take this workshop, you must write a thriller, horror, or sci-fi script.

Thursdays, on Zoom, 6pm to 9pm Pacific Time, beginning June 27, 2024.

Tuition: $1750

Instructor: Will Honley

In this advanced workshop, students will write either a feature script or pilot in the thriller, horror, or sci-fi genres. Over the course of ten weeks, we'll examine the conventions of these genres and discuss methods for adhering to those conventions while subverting audience expectations. Additionally, we'll explore common challenges that these genres present to writers and develop strategies for how to overcome them, such as streamlining the rules of the world, methodically embedding exposition, creating relatable character stakes, and extracting the maximum amount of conflict from your premise.

Will’s bio: 

Will has more than a decade of experience writing for film and television. Originally from Missouri, he spent his first several years in Los Angeles haunting the halls of UCLA, graduating from both the Professional and MFA Programs. Will has sold or optioned material to Sony, Universal, Disney, Blumhouse, Davis Entertainment, Automatik Entertainment, Crypt TV and Original Films. His script Flashback, written when he was still in grad school, was featured on the annual Blacklist. Will's feature credits include The Hive, Bloodline and Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, and Blood, directed by Brad Anderson and starring Michelle Monaghan. On the television side, Will sold his original pilot, Reset, to NBC. In addition to his solo work, Will adapted the novel Verity for Amazon Studios with his writing partner, April Maguire. The two of them also sold an original thriller series to NBC and a scary kids movie to Disney. Additionally, their original sci-fi movie, Subservience, is set to be released later this year, directed by SK Dale and starring Megan Fox. Currently, Will is writing a thriller for an independent financier and an action horror movie for Platinum Dunes.

Rules for participation in this worksop:

This ten-week workshop will be a mix of screenwriters and TV writers. To take this workshop, you must write a thriller, horror, or sci-fi script.

Students who previously completed the Professional Program in Screenwriting may either rewrite a feature screenplay they have already completed, or write an entirely new feature screenplay within the ten-week quarter. (They cannot write TV scripts in this workshop.)

Students who previously completed the Professional Program in Writing for Television may either rewrite an original TV pilot they have already completed, or write an entirely new TV pilot within the ten-week quarter. (They cannot write feature screenplays in this workshop.)

Please note: Advanced workshops in Screenwriting and Writing for Television are only available to students who have successfully completed the Professional Program in Screenwriting or Writing for Television.

This workshop is limited to ten students.