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Writers get a shortcut to Hollywood: The Asian Age
New Delhi, Aug 11: Want to be a scriptwriter for Hollywood? Want to know exactly how you can strike a film and television contract there? Want to be well versed with what the entertainment laws say?
New Delhi, Aug 11: Want to be a scriptwriter for Hollywood? Want to know exactly how you can strike a film and television contract there? Want to be well versed with what the entertainment laws say?
Simply join the Dramatic and Art Design Academy’s first-of-its-kind course on Hollywood screenwriting.
Starting on January 5, 2004, the course, to be conducted by Hollywood scriptwriter Michelle Taghioff, who completed her B.A. in film production from San Francisco State University and then her M.F.A. from New York University, will teach wannabe Hollywood screenwriters how Hollywood really works — agents, managers, entertainment attorneys, studios, production companies and how to behave at a meeting. The course will also teach how to write the classic Hollywood three-act structure script with plot points, character arcs and dialogue, besides writing a thriller, drama, action adventure film, an epic and a romantic comedy in typical Hollywood style. Students will also be taught the fundamentals of screenwriting and how to develop a pitch.
The two-week course will cost Rs 8,500 and will be of a duration of four hours a day. Theatre artiste Nissar Allana, who is director of the institute, said: “Such a course does not exist in India. We know that a lot of young scriptwriters want to sell their work in Hollywood but have little idea how to go about it. This course will be very beneficial for them. They will be told about the relationship between a writer and the management in context of Hollywood. Since our screenplays in Bollywood are cliché, young talents will be able to write better following the completion of this course catering to the requirements of Hollywood.” He added: “We will admit a maximum of 20 students. They will have to submit a script prior to the commencement of the class which has to be between 15-130 pages long. Every student will be required to read three of their classmates’ scripts, which will later be discussed. We aren’t looking for students who want to start from scratch but those who have some experience in writing scripts. This course will help them to sell their scripts in Hollywood. They will be taught how to write scripts keeping actors and actresses in mind, and on different types of screenplays in terms of storyline — suspense thriller, romantic story, historical plot and docudrama. The number of Indians in Hollywood are increasing, and we should soon have more Indian screenwriters working there.”
Starting on January 5, 2004, the course, to be conducted by Hollywood scriptwriter Michelle Taghioff, who completed her B.A. in film production from San Francisco State University and then her M.F.A. from New York University, will teach wannabe Hollywood screenwriters how Hollywood really works — agents, managers, entertainment attorneys, studios, production companies and how to behave at a meeting. The course will also teach how to write the classic Hollywood three-act structure script with plot points, character arcs and dialogue, besides writing a thriller, drama, action adventure film, an epic and a romantic comedy in typical Hollywood style. Students will also be taught the fundamentals of screenwriting and how to develop a pitch.
The two-week course will cost Rs 8,500 and will be of a duration of four hours a day. Theatre artiste Nissar Allana, who is director of the institute, said: “Such a course does not exist in India. We know that a lot of young scriptwriters want to sell their work in Hollywood but have little idea how to go about it. This course will be very beneficial for them. They will be told about the relationship between a writer and the management in context of Hollywood. Since our screenplays in Bollywood are cliché, young talents will be able to write better following the completion of this course catering to the requirements of Hollywood.” He added: “We will admit a maximum of 20 students. They will have to submit a script prior to the commencement of the class which has to be between 15-130 pages long. Every student will be required to read three of their classmates’ scripts, which will later be discussed. We aren’t looking for students who want to start from scratch but those who have some experience in writing scripts. This course will help them to sell their scripts in Hollywood. They will be taught how to write scripts keeping actors and actresses in mind, and on different types of screenplays in terms of storyline — suspense thriller, romantic story, historical plot and docudrama. The number of Indians in Hollywood are increasing, and we should soon have more Indian screenwriters working there.”