Christopher and Kathleen Riley are screenwriters who have taught in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Nashville, New York and Paris.  Their screenwriting workshops and seminars target the following hot topics:

The Heart of the Character-Driven Story

Take a peek beneath the hood of successful Hollywood films to discover the secrets of the powerful engine that drives every one of them. We will discuss the principles behind the genuinely character-driven story and how to put those principles to work to power your scripts so they will never sputter, stall or refuse to start. Absolutely the most important principles we've ever learned about the craft of feature-film writing

My Big Fat Hollywood Idea

Do you know what Hollywood is looking for in a movie idea?  Give yourself a fighting chance by learning to recognize what producer Linda Obst calls a "big bull's-eye" idea.

Theme and Meaning

What do movies mean?  What makes the classics classic?  Explore the ways movies have changed you and learn how to elevate your own stories by infusing them with coherent and universally felt themes that will make them unforgettable.

What major film genres are in play today in Hollywood? Which are selling best? What defines each genre and what makes each work? How do I find the right genre for me? Is there anything wrong with writing in every genre? How about inventing my own non-genre genre?

Titles, Log Lines, Treatments and Outlines

Very often, the first written form a screen story takes is a title, log line, treatment or outline. These brief documents, which can be among the most challenging writing assignments a screenwriter will ever tackle, can determine if an idea lives or dies. Understand these often-misunderstood sales and development tools. Learn how to make them work for you, sharpening your ideas, shortcutting the development process, recruiting allies and selling your stories.

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To learn more about upcoming workshops and seminars, check out Act One Screenwriting Weekends at www.actoneprogram.com, or to learn about hosting a seminar in your area, request additional information below: