October 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 21, December 12

Thursdays from 3:00pm – 6:00pm ET

In-Person at ART/NY Studios at 520 8th. Ave

NEW STUDENT RATE: $520

RETURNING STUDENT RATE: $480

“Hot scenes” are the building blocks of good plays: scenes where characters are pushed beyond their comfort zones and compelled to make revealing choices. This 8-week class will focus on dreaming up, drafting, and developing these exciting scenes. 

Adam will offer intuitive approaches and strategic tools to help you fulfill your intentions for your script. Rewriting scenes—to make them as “hot” as possible, propelling the audience to the next scene in your play—will be a major component of this course.

Writers of any level are welcome as long as you have some playwriting experience. This class is not for first-time playwrights – if you are new to the craft or looking to better understand the art of playwriting, please check out our Fundamentals of Playwriting class.

This class might be for you if you:

• Have started a new play, and are seeking feedback about advancing it.
• Have an idea for a new play, but are not sure where to start.
• Want to be challenged in a classroom environment that’s run like a professional playwriting workshop.

In this class you will:

• Present pages that are read aloud in class, receiving feedback from your fellow writers and the instructor.
• Learn techniques to help you organize and heighten your scenes, so that they’ll have the strongest possible impact on an audience.

By the end of this class you will:

• Know how to make the tools of dramatic writing your own, so that your scenes have both a structure and your unique voice.
• Complete a group of scenes that you can develop into a full-length play.

Learn more about Adam here.

This class will be fully digital for sharing and reading pages. All pages will be shared via a class Google Drive folder, and we will use devices in class to read each other’s pages. Please come to class with a device (laptop, tablet, etc) and a charger/power cord for your device. If you are unable to bring your own device, please contact ESPA Administration.

October 27, November 3, 10, 17, 24, December 8, 15

Sundays from 1:00pm – 3:00pm ET

via Zoom

NEW STUDENT RATE: $460

RETURNING STUDENT RATE: $400

Screenwriting is a specialized craft with its own set of dramatic writing principles. In this 7-week class with screenwriter and playwright Daniel Talbott, you will learn the ways that film allows writers to tell stories in an infinite range of styles, from special effects-charged blockbusters to the intimate indie projects.

This class might be for you if you:

• Are a playwright who wants the tools to transition from stage to screen.
• Need a stronger grasp of the components of this form and want to start writing.

In this class you will:

• Discuss the elements of a film script, particularly focusing on structure, form, and language.
• Apply the concepts of character development, visual storytelling, theme, plot, and dialogue to your own original work.
• Develop and discuss new stories as well as screenplays-in-progress, with assignments and feedback tailored to the needs of your projects.
• Explore techniques for maintaining that inspiration as you work through the challenges of this form.

By the end of this class you will have:

• A broad understanding of the components of screenwriting.
• A new short original screenplay and a strong foundation to begin work on a partial first draft of your film project.

Learn more about Daniel here.