Storytelling 101: Writers Workshop

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

This in-person program is an introduction to screenwriting craft and technique, with an emphasis on the fundamentals of storytelling. You will learn the essentials of narrative screenwriting like building plot, story structure, creating compelling characters, dialogue and theme. Through a combination of film analysis, writing exercises, and peer review, we will work together on screenwriting skills and storytelling techniques that are useful for all types of visual media (film screenplays, web series, TV pilots, theater plays, etc.)

This workshop is also great for anyone who may be interested in building a foundation for a novel as we will discuss themes, brainstorming and dynamic characters!

GOAL FOR THE WORKSHOP

The goal is for each of you to come out of the workshop with a complete and polished short script or the foundation of a feature length screenplay suitable for production in the future!

There will be a staged reading and discussion of select screenplays on Saturday, April 29th if the writers are ready to share!

DATES

Thursday, April 6th 6:30pm-9:00pm

Thursday, April 13th 6:30pm-9:00pm

Thursday, April 20th 6:30pm-9:00pm

Thursday, April 27th 6:30pm-9:00pm

COST

$75 if registered by March 20, 2023. After that date the fee will be $99.

ABOUT YOUR WORKSHOP LEADER

Jason A Coombs is a New York City based writer, SAG eligible actor, filmmaker and teaching artist. Most recently he worked as an Archival Associate Producer on the Netflix Docu-series "Harry and Meghan" and completed an Artist Residency in Writing at Foundation House in Greenwich, CT. He founded the Bridgeport Film Fest in 2021 with the support of the local nonprofit organization Groundwork Bridgeport.

As a writer, his television pilot script entitled, "Chasers" was a semifinalist at the 2017 Independent Television Festival and made it to the second round of the 2018 Macro Lab Screenwriting contest sponsored by The Blacklist and Lena Waithe. In March 2021 he was the winner of the Roadmap Writers Diversity Initiative Program. He's produced a handful of award winning short films including "John and Clara", "The Duchess" and "Cocoon Redux" that have premiered in over two dozen film festivals worldwide including The La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival, Miami Independent Film Festival, Los Angeles CineFest, Brussels International Fashion Film Festival, Dumbo Film Festival, The Astoria Film Festival and the Australian Film Awards, among others.

His award winning web series "SHAW", which he wrote, produced and starred in is currently streaming on SEEKATV. The six episodes of season one currently has over 12,000 views online. His latest short film, “The Morning After”, which he wrote and directed premiered at the 2021 Chelsea Film Festival and won the SHORT SPECIAL MENTION AWARD.

He had the privilege of working as the Co-Director of Operations for Studio 4 NYC, an acting and filmmaking school for three years. Part of his many duties included assisting the teaching staff with a 12 week filmmaking masterclass and feature film project, "Sleepaway Slasher" as well as help coordinate student casting on the Emmy award winning web series, "Making A Scene With James Franco". He has worked on set and in the production offices of the television shows, "White Collar" (USA Network), "Celebrity Ghost Stories" (ID Channel), "The Haunting Of" (ID Channel) and "I Killed My BFF" (ID Channel), among others.

Jason had the honor of being mentored and taught by many writers and filmmakers including Paul Calderon ("Pulp Fiction", "Fear the Walking Dead", "Bosch") AnnaRose King ("Good Enough", "American Viral"), Victor Verhaeghe ("Boardwalk Empire", "Cop Doc", "The Night Of") Gabrielle Demeestere ("Yosemite", "The Color of Time"), Pamela Romanowsky ("The Adderall Diaries", "Riverdale"), David Van Asselt (Artistic Director of The Rattlestick Theater) and Gabe McKinley (award winning playwright), among others! More info here: www.JasonACoombs.com