Screenwriting & Storytelling
September 18 - November 6, 2024
Live Sessions on Wednesdays
9-11 am or 4-6 pm Pacific
Ignite Your Child's Inner Storytelling Genius!
Does your child's imagination run wild with visions of epic movies, gripping shows and immersive tales...and wants an outlet to tell their stories? Have past writing or filmmaking courses felt overcomplicated or uninspiring? Does your child lack a community where their storytelling interests are supported?
We’ve seen first hand so many talented writers and authors waste away in unfulfilling professions simply because they haven’t had the support or skill to craft powerful stories.
We’ve seen first hand so many talented writers and authors waste away in unfulfilling professions simply because they haven’t had the support or skill to craft powerful stories.
A Timeless & Invaluable Skill
But what if you could provide your child a mentor-guided roadmap to storytelling mastery? Imagine them exercising their unbridled creativity in compelling, emotionally-rich stories that transport audiences into wondrous worlds of their own design!
Whether or not they become a writer, this skill will benefit them for a lifetime. Being able to tell a captivating story can serve them in any pursuit, from making friends, to leadership, entrepreneurship and more.
Whether or not they become a writer, this skill will benefit them for a lifetime. Being able to tell a captivating story can serve them in any pursuit, from making friends, to leadership, entrepreneurship and more.
This Dynamic Curriculum
Works Whether:
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Your child is new to storytelling or already a passionate writer/filmmaker
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They struggle with maintaining focus or completing long-form stories
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Previous classroom experiences left them underwhelmed
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You're intimidated trying to teach complex creative skills yourself
Course Curriculum
Week 1
Basics of Story & Loglines
What IS story exactly. How does it work? We’ll look at the point of a protagonist and how conflict makes our stories turn. We’ll share story ideas and construct loglines that give the basics of our story and our protagonist.
Week 2
Constructing Captivating Characters
You’ll learn the key elements of characters that pop off the page, how their attributes determine plot and story, and you’ll discover the importance of a nuanced antagonist and look at what character types might best serve your story.
Week 3
The Fundamentals of Story Structure
You’ll discover the basic story structure that underlies almost all stories we watch. You’ll learn how to make these foundations work for your story.
Week 4
Making Story Move
You’ll discover how to make each moment in your story say what you want and keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Week 5
Hooking Your Audience
You’ll learn the keys to craft your narrative to avoid pitfalls like scenes that lack tension, story turns that fail to engage, or getting lost in your second act. We’ll also start building your character voice and look at formatting basics that can make the difference in the impression your script makes.
Week 6
Getting the Clay on the Table with Scenes
We’ll get your pages rolling in the right direction and look at the fundamentals of what makes strong, memorable dialog.
Week 7
Writing Your Best Pages
You’ll look deeper at creating art out of our blueprints and the scenes we’ve gotten on the page. We’ll look at how your unique voice influences the script.
Week 8
Beginnings and Endings
We’ll conclude our time together with hand-on workshopping of your scripts and a look at what you want to leave your audience with. We’ll also look at cliches to avoid.
Meet Your Guide
Heidi Hornbacher - Screenwriter, Co-founder of PageCraft Screenwriting
Heidi loves helping artists bring their visions to life on page and screen. A graduate of UCLA’s screenwriting program, Heidi has written numerous features, treatments, and TV pilots for various independent producers. Her script, Gristle, won Best Action/Adventure script for the 2021 Table Read My Screenplay awards in Austin, Best Family Script for 2023 The Titan Awards, and is on the 2024 Grey List. Her film, Arrow, won best short documentary at Malibu Film Festival in 2021. Her narrative short film, Washed Away, is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
My Journey as a Writer
I've been a writer since second grade, creating tales about magical cats and writing teen novellas before school. My storytelling passion blossomed during a year in Italy, although I initially pursued marketing roles at Comedy Central and Paramount. Realizing that permission to tell stories comes from within, I joined the UCLA Screenwriting program and co-founded PageCraft with my husband Carlo.
Storytelling isn't just fun; it's therapeutic. It has made me more empathetic to people’s struggles but also helped me look within at my own behaviors. We like to joke that writing is therapy for the mirror it holds up and forces you to look in but it’s really true. So I’d like to think that since I’ve fully become a writer, I have also become a more empathetic, kinder, more aware human.
Storytelling isn't just fun; it's therapeutic. It has made me more empathetic to people’s struggles but also helped me look within at my own behaviors. We like to joke that writing is therapy for the mirror it holds up and forces you to look in but it’s really true. So I’d like to think that since I’ve fully become a writer, I have also become a more empathetic, kinder, more aware human.
Our Heartfelt Guarantee
We want kids to feel capable of handling the volatile conditions of life. We want them confident in their ability to access their inner power. If your kid attends the classes, does the exercises, and you don’t witness them feeling more empowered, let us know and we will promptly provide you a full refund.
FAQ
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Can younger kids (under 12) benefit from this program?
Absolutely! While ultimately a skills-based course, we engage youthful creativity with dynamic exercises and visuals. They will need to be able to type however and so usually, kids under eight are not recommended to join.
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What's the time commitment required per week?
120 minutes of instruction per week, plus as much additional project time as desired based on their personal interest level.
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Do you provide all the software needed?
You’ll need screenwriting software. Celtx is free. Final Draft is what most screenwriters use.
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Will this course be recorded?
Yes recordings are captioned and available 48 hours after the end of the live session
What Students are Saying About Heidi
“"Heidi quickly clears out the clutter and helps you identify your character's defining traits and the seven-point structure essential for telling our story. I got more accomplished in one three-hour session with her than I had in years. I highly recommend Heidi as a mentor or writing coach if you want to find the magic in your story and get your script written!"”
Sarah Nesson - Oscar and Emmy nominated screenwriter
“Heidi has a special way of helping you understand the structure Hollywood demands and so much more. Without her patience and guidance I would still be lost. I'm incredibly grateful for her services.”
Chandra Gerson - award-winning writer of Avarice, and Then There was Us
“WOW! I want to think Heidi for all her excellent coverage and notes on the script, they were timely and helpful in shaping one of our next projects. ”
Anna Granucci - Producer/Music Supervisor & Consultant (Whiplash)