THE BLUECAT SCREENWRITING WORKSHOPS

with Gordy Hoffman

The First Ten Pages Workshop

This workshop will consist of ten writers each submitting the first ten pages of a screenplay to each member in advance of the workshop day. This screenplay can be incomplete, a first draft, or a rewrite. We will go over each work individually, discussing the specific, unique and common challenges each writer faces. This discussion will include the technical aspects of description and dialogue, the depth and reality of the characters, and how the first ten pages reflect where the entire story begins.

We will read each writer's pages in the workshop, allowing the screenwriter to hear their screenplay aloud. Each writer will be asked to read the material in advance of the workshop to maximize the constructive input each participant receives.

The intimate, focused interaction with fellow writers in the workshop will provide all with a greater understanding of the work that lies ahead on their screenplay, and more importantly, a detailed sense of how they might develop as writers themselves.

The Full Script Workshop

This workshop will consist of six writers each submitting a full screenplay to each member in advance of the workshop day, with plenty of time for each participant to read each other's work. Gordy will also read the screenplays in advance and provide brief written feedback on each screenplay.

On the workshop day, we will go over each screenplay in depth, providing each writer with a constructive, specific reaction from the group on their current draft, as well as the suggestions on what they should address in the next rewrite.

Each writer will leave with great sense of what they can do specifically to improve their screenplay, as well a better awareness of where they might properly develop as a professional screenwriter as a whole. Not only do you learn from the focus placed on your screenplay by the workshop, but also by the examination of the seven other scripts of the day.

This workshop invites all levels of writers and all stages of the developed script.

The Teen Screenwriting Workshop

The Teen Screenwriting Workshop introduces younger moviemakers to the essentials of effective screenwriting. Through a series of short writing exercises, we will discuss how to get started turning story ideas into scripts they can shoot, the keys for a great script, how to create characters audiences love, and discovering their own original ideas. Exercises will include writing scene description, good dialogue, and brainstorming the story and idea. This workshop is open to anyone who has started or finished a script, as well as anyone who's just starting out. Please bring a pen or pencil or laptop.

Starting and Finishing your Screenplay

Life is a story, and today we gather to tell this story at the movie theatre in very large numbers. When a person has a story idea for a movie, what's the next thing to do?

This workshop focuses on taking a story from an idea into a finished screenplay. What are the steps a writer takes in writing a screenplay? How does a person actually get started? How do they finish?

Some writers have never written a script and have no idea how to get started. The veteran screenwriter might have a half dozen methods for writing their scripts, but can't seem to satisfy their goals. Some screenwriters start several scripts and never finish. Novelists want to adapt their books into movies, or playwrights see screen writing close to home. Filmmakers want to write a no-budget script they can shoot in the living room or cafe down the street.

Maybe you've never written anything, but know you have a great idea for a movie.

This workshop will motivate and inspire each and every one of you.

We will discuss and use writing exercises to explore the following crucial areas for beginning and completing a successful screenplay:

• The right idea
• What people in your story say
• Imagining characters audiences love
• Telling stories with pictures
• The work of writing
• Rewriting
• Movie production

Not only will this workshop focus on writing a screenplay, but most importantly, writing an original, plausible, clear and compelling one, a movie an audience will love.

Please be prepared to write during the workshop. Ages 13 and up.

New Audit Option

Do you want to participate in a screenwriting workshop, but do not have a screenplay to submit? Then you may take advantage of the newly-created "Audit" option. If you choose to audit a workshop, you can attend without submitting written material and still participate in the discussion. The fee to audit a workshop is only $45.

Feel free to ask us any questions

Upcoming Workshops Las Vegas  (ONLY ONE SPOT REMAINS) Full Script Workshop (Limit 6 writers) Saturday, March 13th, 9:00am - 6:00pm College of Southern Nevada, West Charleston Campus 6375 W. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89146 Fee $175 Note: People may audit the workshop by not submitting a screenplay and participating in the discussion. AUDIT (participate without submitting work) $45. Philadelphia First Ten Pages Sunday, March 21st 9:00am - 6:00pm Yarnall Conference Center 3701 Chestnut St., Phila., PA 19104 Fee $95 Note: People may audit the workshop by not submitting a screenplay and participating in the discussion. AUDIT (participate without submitting work) $45. Detroit First Ten Pages Workshop (limit 12 writers) Saturday, March 27th, 9:00am - 6:00pm Dykema Gossett PLLC 23rd Floor 400 Renaissance Center Detroit, MI 48243 Fee $95 Note: People may audit the workshop by not submitting a screenplay and participating in the discussion. AUDIT (participate without submitting work) $45. Minneapolis Full Script Workshop (Limit six writers) Saturday, April 10th, 9:00am - 6:00pm Hennepin Center for the Arts Suite 500 528 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55403 Fee $175 Note: People may audit the workshop by not submitting a screenplay and participating in the discussion. AUDIT (participate without submitting work) $45. Cleveland First Ten Pages Workshop (limit 12 writers) Saturday, April 17th, 9:00am - 6:00pm The LIT: Cleveland's Literary Center 2570 Superior Avenue Cleveland, OH 44114 $75 Note: People may audit the workshop by not submitting a screenplay and participating in the discussion. AUDIT (participate without submitting work) $45.

Washington, D.C.  (3 SPOTS LEFT) Sponsored by WIFV Full Script Workshop (Limit 6 writers) Saturday, April 24th, 9:00am - 6:00pm Interface 1233 20th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20036 Fee $225 Note: People may audit the workshop by not submitting a screenplay and participating in the discussion. AUDIT (participate without submitting work) $45. Washington, D.C. Sponsored by WIFV Full Script Workshop (Limit 6 writers) Sunday, April 25th, 9:00am - 6:00pm Interface 1233 20th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20036 Fee $225 Note: People may audit the workshop by not submitting a screenplay and participating in the discussion. AUDIT (participate without submitting work) $45. Kansas City, Mo. Full Script Workshop (limit 12 writers) Saturday, May 1st, 9:00am – 6:00pm Screenland Theatre at the Crossroads 1656 Washington Kansas City, Mo. 64108 Fee $175 Note: People may audit the workshop by not submitting a screenplay and participating in the discussion. AUDIT (participate without submitting work) $45. New York City  (3 SPOTS LEFT) Full Script Workshop (limit six writers) Saturday, June 5th 9:00am - 6:00pm 177 MacDougal Street New York, NY 10011 $225 Note: People may audit the workshop by not submitting a screenplay and participating in the discussion. AUDIT (participate without submitting work) $45. Rochester, New York Sponsored by Rochester Finger Lakes Film & Video Office First Ten Pages Workshop (Limit 12 writers) Saturday, June 19th, 9:00am - 6:00pm 45 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604-2219 Fee $60 Note: People may audit the workshop by not submitting a screenplay and participating in the discussion. AUDIT (participate without submitting work) $45. Seattle First Ten Pages Workshop (limit 12 writers) Saturday, August 14th, 9:00am - 6:00pm Freehold Theatre 2222 Second Avenue, Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98121 Fee $95 Note: People may audit the workshop by not submitting a screenplay and participating in the discussion. AUDIT (participate without submitting work) $45.

Bio of Gordy Hoffman

Winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival for LOVE LIZA, Gordy Hoffman made his feature directorial debut with his script, A COAT OF SNOW, which world premiered at the 2005 Locarno Intl Film Festival. A COAT OF SNOW made its North American Premiere at the Arclight in Hollywood, going on to screen at the Milan Film Festival and the historic George Eastman House. The movie would go on to win the 2006 Domani Vision Award at VisionFest, held at the Tribeca Cinemas in New York City. Gordy is the founder and judge of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition, and has conducted workshops all over North America and London. He recently taught screenwriting at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and is now attached to direct a movie in 2009 in Europe.