Class starts on Sunday, October 6th, 2024

This class will meet weekly via Zoom on Sundays from 12PM - 3PM Central

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us.

Instructor Heidi Lux is a produced screenwriter and satirist. Her screenwriting credits include Nickelodeon and Tubi. As a satirist, Heidi is currently a managing editor for The Belladonna Comedy, and has written for McSweeney’s, Reductress, and more. 

Learn more about Heidi in our Meet the Teaching Artist series.

Dive into the world of satirical screenwriting and transform your sharp, comedic ideas into polished, cinematic scripts in our 8-week Zoom workshop. This course is designed for writers who want to create thought-provoking comedies that resonate with audiences.

We’ll dissect successful satirical films and TV shows like "The Menu," "Dr. Strangelove," "Veep," "Succession," "Idiocracy," and "Bodies Bodies Bodies" to understand what makes them tick. By the end of the course, you’ll have a solid draft of your screenplay, ready for further refinement.

What you'll learn:

Master Screenplay Formatting: Understand the industry-standard structure and how to format your screenplay like a pro.

Craft a Compelling Three-Act Structure: Break down your story into a dynamic, engaging three-act format.

Create Impactful Loglines: Discover the importance of loglines and how to craft one that hooks your audience from the start.

Utilize Comedic Tools: Learn to integrate comedic elements such as game, character POV, and juxtaposition into your scenes.

Generate Sustainable Ideas: Develop premises that maintain momentum and interest over the course of a full-length script.

Write with a Distinct Voice: Cultivate a unique voice that stands out in your writing.

Build Compelling Characters and Dialogue: Create memorable characters and dialogue that drive your story forward.

Navigate Satirical Challenges: Identify and overcome the common pitfalls of writing satire.

Develop Effective Writing Habits: Establish routines that keep you productive, motivated, and resilient against criticism.

Assigned Reading:

You'll be tasked with reading screenplays and watching classic satire movies and TV shows to analyze and learn from the best in the genre.

Course Takeaways:

• A complete first draft of your satirical screenplay.
• Skills to create active, engaging satirical characters.
• Techniques to expand a satirical concept into a feature-length piece.
• Problem-solving strategies for when your screenplay hits a snag. 
• Increased confidence in your comedic writing abilities.

Course Outline:

Weeks 1-3: Fundamentals of screenwriting – structure, character building, formatting, and outlining your script.

Week 3: Workshop your outlines with the class and begin drafting your screenplay.

Week 4: Explore the translation of satirical tools to screenwriting.

Weeks 5-8: Workshop student scripts, focusing on one act per week, to refine and polish your screenplay.

Join us for an intensive, enjoyable journey into satirical screenwriting, and leave with the confidence and tools to bring your comedic vision to life.

Testimonials: 

"This class covered a lot of great material, and I particularly liked all the real-life examples." -former student

“Heidi's class was absolutely foundational and I particularly loved learning how to write a vomit draft. I hope to learn more from you!!" -former student

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

This class meets weekly via Zoom. Come prepared for an engaging course with live interaction on Zoom each week and plenty of writing, reading, and talking!

Tuition is $495. You can pay for the course in full  or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.

• Instructor: Heidi Lux

• Class starts Sunday, October 6th, 2024

• Class will meet weekly on Sunday via Zoom, 12PM - 3PM Central Time.

• Tuition is $495.

Contact us HERE if you have any questions about this class.