Master Class
of story telling. A great script starts with a solid
structure and that’s what one learns in Dan’s
classes.”
-Ryu Miyaki, four-time Act Four client and
winner of Amazon Studios Script of the Month
$20,000 Prize
The Story Maps Master Class is for serious screenwriters who are willing to dedicate themselves to writing a winning screenplay for the current spec script market in Hollywood.
“If you are looking for someone who combines
expert analysis with incredible credentials and experience,
put Daniel Calvisi in your script analyst black book.”
-Script Magazine.
The Story Maps Master Class is a proven screenwriting program that guides you from logline to submission-ready spec script, offering you reliable, detailed notes from:
- A teacher with 15 years of experience and extensive film industry credentials
- Two current, working professionals in the movie industry in Los Angeles (Past pro advisors have included a Literary Coordinator from one of the top five agencies, a Creative Executive from a major studio-based production company, a six-figure screenwriter, and the personal assistant to one of the top script Managers in the business.)
- Your fellow writers
That’s a lot of notes!
In many online screenwriting courses, you’re lucky to get your instructor’s notes on ONE assignment. I give you notes every week on every assignment, sometimes with same day turnaround.
“Dan’s class is fantastic. From concept to
execution, his feedback each week has been
a huge help. His industry connections add
another dimension with insight from current
professionals. His format allows you to keep
your own pace and match your own goals.
The group setting is great for the creative
process. I really feel like my writing has improved
in general and the script I’m working on
has been taken to the next level!”
-Mandy Cohen, Master Class student
In the Master Class, you may write alone, but you’re never on your own. Whether you’re in a group class or working privately with me, I foster a supportive, positive environment that’s focused on the craft, the work and the real world, not on theory.
SUBMIT NOW
At this time, I’m taking applications for new group and private classes. My writers from recent classes are doing great — at least three have complete drafts that will be ready soon to go out to my network of contacts. We’re currently working on their pitch materials as they polish up their scripts, and they continue to get regular feedback from me and their fellow writers. I’m excited to help them get their work out to reps and producers. Other students are in the process of crafting their scripts using the feedback they’ve received from me, our industry advisors and their fellow writers.
My goal for 2013 is to get at least one of my writers repped by a top manager and agency. From there, they will have an experienced team behind them to take their polished work to the currently booming spec screenplay market in Hollywood.
I can’t promise success, but I can promise that I will always work as hard as I can to guide your writing and to expose you and your work to the industry.
“I’m getting a lot out of the Master Class.
I’ve developed a real appreciation for the
structure and strategy of screenwriting.
Hopefully my “voice” will emerge with more
sweat equity. It’s been a good investment.”
-Steve Frisina, Master Class student
This is not just another screenwriting class. The goal of this program is to get motivated and talented writers REPPED, SUBMITTED and SOLD.
You must submit a writing sample to get in. If you are accepted into the class, you will be grouped with others at your experience level. Keep in mind that there is NO GUARANTEE that you will gain representation or sell your script. But if you’re willing to work hard enough, to develop that BIG IDEA into a GREAT SCRIPT that Hollywood didn’t know it needed, then we will help you to build a pipeline that gets you and your material into the right hands.
GETTING STARTED
In the Master Class, you begin by workshopping three loglines, two of which you will rewrite, submit to our industry advisors and then story map. I guarantee that you will be surprised by some of the feedback you get on your concepts, as no writer can be fully objective about their own work nor can they predict industry response. Eventually, this feedback will help you to choose the WINNING screenplay to write for the current spec market in Hollywood.
Current Pricing:
GROUP CLASS (3-6 writers):
- $600 for Stage One, Weeks 1-8
- $250 for Stage Two, Weeks 9-12
- $250 for Stage Three, Weeks 13-16
- BONUS: Extra month for free, if you book Stage Two and Three in Week 8.
PRIVATE CLASS:
- $849 for Stage One, Weeks 1-8
- $350 for Stage Two, Weeks 9-12
- $350 for Stage Three, Weeks 13-16
- BONUS: Extra month for free, if you book Stage Two and Three in Week 8.
TO APPLY FOR THE MASTER CLASS, please email your best screenwriting sample (feature or short, minimum 20 pages) and a one paragraph bio to me at dan@actfourscreenplays.com. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via this site or by the email address above.
LET’S MAKE YOUR SCRIPT GREAT!!
Daniel Calvisi
(About Me)
P.S. If you have not done so already, I suggest you sign up for my free Story Maps Newsletter for Serious Screenwriters, which will keep you up to date on any Master Class news. I will never share your email with any other party.
I am going to try my best to raise the money for the web seminar. August 31 was the 6 year anniversary of my LIVER CANCER diagnosis (HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA) I wrote a book titled: JAMES EARL RAY-THE LAST DAYS OF INMATE # 65477 after Coretta Scott King WON a civil suit proving a conspiracy existed and that Ray was INNOCENT. I visited him in prison every day of the week during the last 6 months of his life. (150 visits) He died when the prison refused to give him a liver transplant and I documented the last year of his life. After my book came out I had my life saved when I had the liver transplant that James Earl Ray never got. I want to adapt my book but I am also a stand-up comedian and I want to write comedies so I hope to take your course.
Dear Mr Gabriel:
I skimmed your book with great interest (my intent was to buy it on Kindle but your publisher has not prepared it yet for Kindle.) From what I could tell your book looked in-depth and thorough. I am glad you went the distance on the James Earl Ray saga. I think he got a very raw deal and I also do not think he was the killer of MLK — So I applaud your efforts.
As for Mr Calvisi’s Master Class, you could not go wrong taking it. I have not taken it yet but I intend to.
But I did buy and read his book today and was blown away with his breakdown of breaking a story.
I have used every approach know to man attempting to break a story and I think I own every piece of writing software ever created --
Without a doubt I am the writing software’s fool. Do you remember TIN CUP when Roy gets the shanks and has all of those bells and whistles on his head and body supposedly to cure him — Well, I feel a lot like the Roy but with a writer’s shank —
That is, until today, after reading Mr Calvisi’s book of Story Mapping. Suddenly, fogs lifted, confusion vanished, and clarity came roaring in with a vengeance. His writing and approach spoke to me.
I am not new to writing. I have been optioned, written on assignment and had the good fortune of once having been a signed client of the William Morris Agency. But that is all in the past. I have not been an active writer for a while but that is changing as I write this.
I highly encourage you to take Mr Calvisi’s Master Class and turn your book of James Earl Ray into a script and hopefully film.
As I said, I have not taken Mr Calvisi’s classes yet but, after reading his book and knowing what is out there with other writing methods and approaches, I know this is the ABSOLUTE BEST approach I have ever seen. It is so simple and so spot on.
Also, I would love to join you in one of the classes and stay in touch in a professional way because I am fascinated with the James Earl Ray saga as I am with the Bobby and Jack Kennedy miscarriages of justice. I recently saw Estevez’s BOBBY and quite enjoyed it.
Best of luck to you and congrats on the liver. I am very happy for you.
Erik Sonne