A professional writer is recognized by the Writers Guild of America, the primary labor organization in the entertainment business, as being entitled to certain payment, benefits and credit guidelines. But before you can join the guild your work must attract industry executives and producers who want to hire you.
Considering how few spec feature films or pilots are bought or produced, most scripts are potential writing samples. The likelihood of newer writers selling or optioning early scripts is reduced by lack of conceptual vetting due to inexperience, incomplete ideation, lack of understanding of structure and a cursory approach to rewriting.
Next: Creative Support & Benefits
Enlist Now“ Writers Boot Camp gave me support in the crucial beginning stages of my first movie which landed me an overall studio deal. “
“ My Writers Boot Camp script got me an agent, five TV movies and a feature deal in two years. “
“ With a hit Off Broadway play under my belt, I still knew nothing of screenwriting technique before enrolling in Writers Boot Camp. In fact, it was my first writing course of any kind (Think Tank--which is now Pro Membership--was the second). “
“ As someone with a fair amount of experience in creative writing groups and classes, Writers Boot Camp was a wake-up call for me. The emphasis on the tools provided and the clear, forthright explanations of how to apply those tools to your writing in a step-by-step process was both invaluable and far superior to other programs. “
“ After 19 years as a Broadway actor and creative director/fashion editor, I was ready to tell my own stories and WBC gave me the tools to organize all my wild ideas. I also needed a space that was wildly inclusive and supportive of diversity and capable of giving constructive feedback no matter the subject matter. Thanks, Jeff! “
“ "My last day of Project Group, I turned to a close friend whom I met when we first started. "Can you believe it's been nearly two years?" I said. "Two? It feels more like 10." This feeling was testament to the enormous amount of ground covered in Professional Membership. Not only did I learn the fundamentals of telling a story - a skill that applies to all forms of writing and analysis - I learned how to look at myself through my work and to better understand what I was trying to say." “
“ "There are so many incredible aspects to Pro Membership, as well as Basic Training. The tools are truly idiot-proof, however, they aren't without sophistication. They lead you to translate the ideas floating around your head into life on a page--a structure, then scenes, and ultimately a working story. Writers Boot Camp is the kind of learning environment that one could return to at any point in their career, whether you have won an Academy Award or are a beginner." “
“ “It was a great jump-start for me. I had stalled a little bit - was having trouble coming up with ideas, etc. Writers Boot Camp got me into a writing routine and gave me tools to get unstuck. Also, I was able to finish a script on deadline - even though it needed a lot of work, I started to feel like I had enough drive to keep at it… “ “
“ "My Writers Boot Camp experience was essentially a series of escalating breakthroughs and deepening insights, pushing me toward mastery of the art and business of screenwriting…But my most potent writing breakthrough struck when I realized that the most potent writing breakthroughs are not, strictly speaking, 'writing' breakthroughs at all. They're conceptual breakthroughs. Writing well is necessary, but not sufficient. I'm certain that I wouldn't understand any of this nearly as well without the luxury of developing my craft in the sheltered harbor of Writers Boot Camp, where being an unknown writer (for now) is the best thing that ever happened ... “
Writers Boot Camp alumni have received Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, WGA and Tony awards. Here are just some of the credits of our alumni:
