Registration Closes 12/8! Scripting and Pitching Your Documentary. Enroll today!
In Advisor Studio sessions, film and television industry professionals share field experiences and insights into their specific areas of craft, including writing, directing, and producing for TV and film.
In this exclusive Advisor Studio, screenwriter, director, author, and podcast host John August will discuss key insights from his new book, Scriptnotes.
Co-written with Craig Mazin (co-creator of the hit podcast of the same name), the book draws on more than one thousand hours of Scriptnotes podcast conversations, as well as Craig and John’s storied careers, to help readers begin, refine, and sell their own scripts. It features contributions from filmmakers such as Lulu Wang, Greta Gerwig, and Seth Rogen.
In this interactive 60-minute session, August, a frequent advisor at the Sundance Institute Screenwriting Lab, will share indispensable industry insights through both an independent and studio lens. As the screenwriter of films such as Big Fish and Corpse Bride, August knows what it takes to write a successful script for the screen. He’ll provide actionable tips on collaborating, pitching, and navigating the art of exposition. He’ll also share a few pearls of wisdom he’s learned from some of the talented guests on his show.
Whether you’re an aspiring screenwriter ready to launch your career or a seasoned professional seeking to gain new industry insights, join us for a presentation that illuminates the path to a successful screenwriting career.
Topics include:
- How to determine if your idea is worth pursuing
- The importance of point of view in your writing
- How to approach conflict
- Screenwriting rules, and when it’s OK to break them
- Tips on structure
- Pitching dos and don’ts
- Persisting in the business and thriving as a writer
- The importance of writers helping writers
If you would benefit from an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please complete this form, contact us at (435) 776-7790, or email us at accessibility@sundance.org to discuss your specific requests. Every effort will be made to accommodate advance requests; however, requests made within 5 days of the event may not be guaranteed.
A recording of this Advisor Studio will be posted to our Video Library the business day following the session. All registered attendees will find the recording in the “Purchases” section of their account once it is posted.
