Michael Weiss

Instructor Biography:

Screenwriter, WGA member; former VP of Production, whose produced credits include Journey to the Center of the Earth; Eraser: Reborn; Jarhead 3: The Siege; and The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power. Mr. Weiss has sold original film and TV material, in addition to being hired on assignment by such studios as Warner Bros., Fox, Sony and Universal. He is also a narrative writer on the upcoming open-world, action-adventure video game, Dreams Quest.

Instructor Statement: Everyone has a story to tell. Not everyone knows how to turn that story into a funny, dramatic or suspenseful screenplay. In this class, I’ll share my twenty years of lessons and life working as a Hollywood screenwriter and creative executive. Our classroom will be a film lover’s workshop where we study movies and scripts, then break them down to see why they’re good and what makes them tick. We’ll take those same tools and apply them to your own emerging projects and voices, so you can start putting them to paper. You’ll learn story structure, character development, dialogue skills and tips on professional style. We’ll also explore screenwriting as a business, so you’ll have some insight as to how scripts sell and movies get made. I’ll bring the toolbox. All you need to bring are your movie ideas and the passion to work on them.

Our Students Say it Best!

"Michael is committed to our education and growth.  He offers phenomenal individual attention.  He’s very encouraging and inclusive."  — Writers' Program Student