january classes
December 7, 2011
JANUARY CLASSES
Two January classes The Art of the Pitch and Visual Writing start January 10th. There is a preview of things to come in Art of the Pitch on the Austin Film Festival blog.
VISUAL WRITING
Begins January 10, 2012
MAKE YOUR READERS “SEE” YOUR MOVIE: You will learn how to use the visual elements space, light, and texture to create locations and scenes readers can “see”; how to establish and utilize perspective in scenes and sequences to make a script visually dynamic; how to create and utilize perspective; techniques to make characters visually dynamic and “real” for readers; techniques to juxtapose exterior and interior visuals to create visually dynamic motion and space on the film screen; and more….
Instructor | Max Adams
Reading Material | supplied in class forum & library | some outside material is linked to
Viewing Materials | posted or available via Netflix, iTunes, YouTube or your friendly neighborhood video rental
Weekly Chats | Thursday nights | 8 PM EST
Class Seating Limit : 12 |
Course Fee : $375 |
THE ART OF THE PITCH
Begins January 10, 2012
GET READ AND SELL: You will learn the five essential elements your pitch must contain to sell to producers and studios; the two pitch models; action driven vs. character driven pitching; the six points an elevator pitch must contain to interest a potential buyer — and what an elevator pitch is; how to open; how to close; how to use your story’s turning points to make your story compelling; when film comparisons work — and when they don’t; how to address the specific concerns of different members of the entertainment industry; and how to condense and expand your pitch to take advantage of new pitching opportunities and mediums.
Instructor | Max Adams
Reading Material | supplied in class forum & library. Some outside material is linked to.
Viewing Materials | posted or available via Netflix, iTunes, YouTube or your friendly neighborhood video rental.
Weekly Chats | Thursday nights | 9 PM EST.
Class Seating Limit : 12 |
Course Fee : $375 |
FUTURE CLASSES:
Two March classes High Concept Writing and Character Writing start March 13th, 2012. For a full list of upcoming classes visit :::classes:::
upcoming classes
November 7, 2011
Two classes begin November 15th —
Structural Writing and Non-Static Writing. I have a couple seats left so if you move fast you can be added to a roster.
Meanwhile, if you missed the new gallery photos, what is wrong with you? Go see :::here:::
And if you missed the October Newsletter, wow are you slacking that is :::here:::
A full schedule of upcoming classes is :::here:::
Classes being offered through the U are in January and March so if you are a U student, those are the classes for you. And if you are outside matriculation, hey, the world is your oyster you can sign up for anything on the list just hit me up with an email: :::contact:::
some gotham love for max
February 19, 2011
This is fun, Gotham did a write up on me yay!
Profile: Max Adams
~By Britt Gambino
Gotham teacher Max Adams has only one hard and fast rule for great screenwriting: don’t be boring. That and always use 12-point Courier font (and even that rule, she says, can be broken). If you were to follow Max’s example, you would learn another lesson about the screenwriting trade—be bold.
Originally, Max had planned to become a novelist but, by happy accident, she decided to take a screenwriting class and fell in love with the medium. She then burst onto the scene by winning first place in two of the most prestigious screenplay competitions—the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting and the Austin Film Festival’s feature screenwriting award.
Max now serves as a judge for the Nicholl Fellowships. She notes that over the years the scripts have gotten better and the competition stronger. However, it seems that one bothersome trend has not altered visibly; specifically, women still aren’t writing as many screenplays as men. According to Max, the submissions to the Nicholl are about 3 to 1, male to female. “I don’t know what that says,” Max offers. “Maybe it’s a more masculine desire. Then again, you have an industry that’s skewed toward a masculine perspective.” But Max makes a clear case for the need for female filmmakers—women are also consumers of film. In simple terms, behold the power of audiences for movies like Sex and the City or Twilight.
The Nicholl fellows have created “a family of sorts, a community.” They meet regularly for lunch. Max says, “We talk about working, agents, jobs we’re doing, jobs we’re considering doing, people we’re working for, releases that are coming out, that sort of thing.”
Being industry savvy is something Max knows a thing or two about. This year marks the ten-year anniversary of the publication of her book, The Screenwriter’s Survival Guide: Or, Guerilla Meeting Tactics and Other Acts of War. The book focuses on the business aspects of screenwriting, including such tidbits as what to wear to a meeting. The traditional “screenwriter’s uniform,” Max says, “is a t-shirt, jeans, and a casual jacket thrown on top.” She adds, “The illusion is that you are working at the computer, then throw on a jacket and head out the door to a meeting. I say illusion because writers are not actually that put together in front of the computer.”
Max claims that new technology is an ally to the bold new screenwriter. “Editing and filming have become cheaper,” Max says. “You can shoot stuff digitally and not spend an exorbitant amount of money on film.” (As opposed to spending $1,000 per minute on film some ten to twenty years ago.) Technology has also enabled screenwriters to learn by doing. “Things may work on paper that don’t work on film,” Max says. “It’s a lesson you don’t learn unless you go out there with a camera.”
Max tries to impart what she’s learned to her students. She makes them aware of what they’re up against, but she’s also encouraging. “People break the gates everyday…break the mold, break new ground.”
Most of all, Max advises confidence, saying, “Write like a pro if you want to be a pro.”
*max is a faculty member of :::gotham writers’ workshop::: and :::the university of utah::: and is the founder of :::the academy of film writing:::
where that article comes from :
that is from gotham writers’ workshop
tweet this!
February 1, 2011
Tweet This :
Online Master Screenwriting Classes http://ow.ly/3NYPz #newacademy
And win a $15 iTunes card.
Yay!
Hey do not scoff that is three episodes of Supernatural. Woohoo!
I will be collecting tweets on that hashtag #newacademy and a week from today on Feb 8 will draw a winner. And if that winner is your tweet, you win a $15 iTunes card yay!
Did I mention that is three episodes of Supernatural? Or, you know, if you are less discerning, three episodes of whatever you choose to pick up.
Get tweeting. You have three episodes of Supernatural on the line here. Jeez!
Love and Kisses,
Your Tweet This Adams Girl
*the rules: you can tweet as much as you like as often as you like
*food for thought: you could follow @celluloidblonde on twitter while you are at it but she is all political and stuff maybe not your cup o’ tea
where the art work comes from :
that is twitter wall art from zoice
professor max
December 22, 2010
As of January 2011 —
AFW online courses are accredited University of Utah courses. For info on course credit, contact Paula Lee in the Film & Media Arts Department via paula.lee @ utah.edu or Max via :::afw contact page:::
Spring Classes:
The Art of the Pitch, 01.11.11
Visual Writing, 01.11.11
Character Writing, 03.15.11
High Concept Writing, 03.15.11For a list of all upcoming classes, visit :::afw courses:::
*afw classes are open to max students outside of the u’s film & media arts department for info on that contact max directly via the :::contact page:::
