Richard Manning

Instructor Biography:

MFA, television writer/producer; WGA member whose credits include Farscape; Star Trek: The Next Generation; When Calls the Heart; TekWar; Beyond Reality (which he co-created); Sliders; Fame; Knightwatch; as well as features, TV pilots, animation, webisodes, and a web series pilot. He is a contributing author to Inside the Room (Gotham Books/Penguin).

Instructor Statement:  

Conceiving fresh ideas, creating intriguing characters, developing compelling stories, plotting detailed outlines, writing (and rewriting) superlative (yet producible) scripts – these can be intimidating tasks for the beginner. But here's a confession: they can be equally intimidating for us so-called “seasoned pros,” particularly when deadlines and budgets are tight. Fortunately, screenwriting is equal parts art and craft – and like any craft, there are tools and techniques that can help tame the terrifying beast known as the blank page. My goals: helping students forget their fear and find the fun in telling a television story, as well as teaching them skills that will elevate their writing to the professional level.