The next 8-Week online Group Story Maps Master Class has not yet been scheduled. Return to this page or subscribe to my newsletter for updates on the next launch date.

“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 for screenwriters who are willing to dedicate themselves to writing a winning screenplay for the current market in Hollywood. This is an 8-week online writing workshop, taught primarily using Google Classroom, with direct email access to me (Daniel Calvisi, your instructor) and your fellow writers. It is not just a series of video lectures or auto-emailed documents. Every lesson, set of notes or reply comes directly from me to you. I teach it to groups and one-on-one with private clients.

This course does NOT require “live” logins at any specific time. There are no live lectures or required login times. You can log into the Classroom at any time from anywhere in the world. Your work will be CONFIDENTIAL. We all sign an agreement that includes a Confidentiality clause, to prevent your work from being shared anywhere else. Please read below for more information, and use the link at the bottom to reserve your spot in the group class, or email me with any questions.

The Story Maps Master Class is a proven screenwriting program that guides you from logline to submission-ready script, offering you reliable, detailed notes from:

• A teacher with 20 years of experience and extensive industry credentials
• At least two current, working professionals in the movie and television industry in Los Angeles (managers, execs, producers, pro screenwriters from TV and film)
  
• Your fellow writers

That’s a lot of feedback!

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.

“I thought this class was really helpful! I loved the structure and fast pace. I’ve gained valuable insights into my process as a writer. I had never used story engines per act or created a scene list before but those things made a big difference for me. I plan on using those and the structural secrets you’ve shared to keep me on the straight and narrow going forward. (No more writing a script that has to be completely rewritten because I didn’t do my Story Map etc.!) So THANK YOU!”
-Maggie Mahrt, award-winning writer/director, Group Master Class Student

“I absolutely loved Dan’s class! His worksheets and feedback were invaluable in streamlining my ideas. This course helped me turn a concept I’ve been thinking about for 2 years into a rough draft in 8 short weeks.”
-Julia Liu, cinematographer, Group Master Class Student

“I love how Dan emphasizes the fundamentals 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 Calvisi client and winner of Amazon Studios Script of the Month $20,000 Prize

“Dan helped me complete my first pilot script. I had a bunch of ideas and he got me to focus on one solid idea and go from there. Without him, I’d probably still be staring at a blank page. Dan doesn’t skim over your work. He looks at every detail. I definitely recommend Dan to guide you from idea to completed script. I will definitely work with him again for my next script.”
-Joe Cassandra, professional copywriter, Private Master Class Student

“Dan, I owe you a lot. Thank you again for having put me on the right track and taught me everything about screenwriting.”
-Suzanne Lutas, contest-winning screenwriter, Group and Private Master Class Student

“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.”
-Mandy Cohen, Group and Private Master Class Student

“Dan, thank you for your support and professionalism. First of all, I learned so much from your critiques and I  appreciate the way you pushed me to do better all the time. I also now understand more about the business after the critique from the industry advisors. It inspires me to improve myself!”
Max Badier, Private Master Class Student

“The 8-week Master Class course catapulted me into a solid structure system which made the story unfold organically and as a result, by the end of our time together I had created a first draft set of beats and about 40 pages of script. Dan’s weekly class notes were super in detail and he was constantly value adding to the story. Another huge asset Dan brings to the course are the mentors/industry professionals. I couldn’t have done it without you, Dan! Thank you!”
-Amelie Bonnet, Group and Private 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.

INDUSTRY ADVISORS

I bring in working professionals in the film and TV business to give Master Class writers feedback on their work and targeted advice on navigating the industry. Past pros have included managers, producers, agency assistants, story analysts, pro screenwriters and more.

To give you an example, here are some recent Advisors to my Master Class students… a TV Writer’s Assistant… a Manager… and a Producer.

Elizabeth Reichelt has worked as a writers’ assistant for Bridgerton (Shondaland/Netflix), Physical (Apple TV+) and Inventing Anna (Shondaland/Netflix). She co-wrote/co-produced the short documentary, Full Picture, which received an honorary mention at Slamdance, won best documentary short at the SLO International Festival, and was a finalist for best film at the Easterseals Film Festival. In 2018, Elizabeth was also a writer for the CBS Diversity Showcase.

Jason Lubin is a manager-producer and the principal at First Story Entertainment, which he founded in 2018. The lit management company represents a diverse roster of talented writers and directors with fresh voices in all genres for Film and TV. Prior to starting First Story, Jason worked as the Head of Production & Development at Lynda Obst Productions, a Sony-based production company whose credits include Interstellar, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Contact and the television shows Good Girls Revolt and The Hot Zone.

Richard ‘Rick’ Bosner is a prolific producer whose credits include Fruitvale Station starring Michael B. Jordan (winner Audience Award & Jury Award at Sundance 2013), Black Bear starring Aubrey Plaza, Paint starring Owen Wilson, The Manor starring Barbara Hershey (Blumhouse TV and Amazon Studios), Other People (Opening night film Sundance 2016), and Take the Ten (Netflix). His films have featured talent like Molly Shannon, Jesse Plemons, Andy Samberg, Matt Smith, Patricia Arquette and Christopher Lloyd. (IMDb)

With such industry veterans on board to advise on your concepts and career, and my 20 years of experience as a professional story analyst, teacher and writing coach, the Story Maps Master Class becomes a must for any developing screenwriter.

“Daniel’s book lays the foundation and his worksheets ask specific questions. The questions aren’t meant to jam your story into a box, but to get your creativity flowing to really develop these characters and moments further. Mr. Calvisi knows story incredibly well and distills it down so the rest of us can learn it too.”
-Cris Rice, optioned TV writer

GOALS

My goal is to get my writers repped, submitted and sold! The first and most crucial steps, of course, are centered on craft — you writing a great script to blow away the reader. I know, because I worked as a professional Reader for years for major companies like Miramax, New Line and Twentieth Century Fox. To stand out, your script can’t just be good, it has to be GREAT.

This is a long and difficult process, but an incredibly rewarding one. Once you have that killer spec script, whether feature or television, I can help you to craft a targeted marketing plan to get your script in the doors of studios, networks, production companies, agencies, management firms and streaming platforms.

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. 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 work together to help you find success.

My Story Maps method is just the way to get you there, and it begins with the eight weeks of the Master Class. In fact, my method has been endorsed and used by many top professionals:

“Using examples from some of the most respected shows on television, writers will learn to master the form from outline to Fade Out.” 
-Hilary Weisman Graham, Writer
(Orange is the New Black (NETFLIX), Bones (Fox))

“I was looking to both reinforce and challenge what I knew and also what I couldn’t yet quite articulate. I found your book on Amazon, loved what I had previewed, and decided to drop the dime. Glad I did. It’s an excellent resource.”
-Matthew-Lee Erlbach, Writer (Masters of Sex (Showtime),
MTV, Nickelodeon, WWE, Off-Broadway playwright)

“I always get asked – how do you write a pilot? Dan Calvisi has the answers!”
-Sam Ruano, Writer (Killjoys (HULU), Lost Girl (Sony TV), Little Mosque on the Prairie (CBC))

“I’ve been a fan of your process for a long time now. I follow your Story maps guide quite a bit and I plan to use it on our upcoming show in development at Starz, Executive Produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.”
-Kirkland Morris, Producer (Tomorrow, Today (STARZ))

“We had to rewrite a number of scripts at the last minute, so we turned to your Story Map beat sheet and it was a huge help. We’re now story mapping every episode of our new shows.”
-Billy Rovzar, producer (Lemon Studios and Lemon Films, HBO, 30 produced IMDb credits), Private Coaching Client

“It’s time to tell my own stories and I can safely say I’m a better writer, thanks to you.”
– Victor Perez, Visual Effects Supervisor (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Dark Knight Rises), Private Master Class Student

It all begins with a great idea. 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. Armed with notes from me, the advisors and your peers, you will then choose one concept to turn into a screenplay. 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.

THE STORY MAPS MASTER CLASS INCLUDES:

• My e-books, plus bonus story maps.
• 8 weeks of lectures, assignments and notes from me, a professional Story Analyst with over 20 years of experience evaluating material and coaching writers to create their best work.
• Direct email and message board correspondence with me and your classmates.
• Notes from your peers, including your personal “Notes Buddy.”
• Notes on your work from our current Industry Advisors (managers, producers, pro screenwriters).
• Q&A Zoom conference call (recorded) with the Advisors.
• Access to the archive of past recorded Q&A’s with other Advisors.
• A private, recorded Zoom conference call with me.
• Discounts on future classes and coaching.
• Your choice of one of my Webinars.

Let me throw in one final bonus that you’re not going to find anywhere else: GUARANTEED SUBMISSION! If you can finish a submission-quality script within six months of completing the initial 8 weeks of the course, I will guarantee you a submission to one of my industry contacts, free of charge. No extra fee.

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NOTE: The next 8-week online GROUP Story Maps Master Class has not yet been scheduled. Stay tuned to this page or my newsletter for the next launch date.

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PRIVATE CLASS:

• $850

If you have any questions, please CONTACT ME asap.

First come, first served.

LET’S MAKE YOUR SCRIPT GREAT!

Sincerely,
Dan Calvisi
(About Me)
Daniel P. Calvisi is a script doctor, writing coach and the author of Story Maps: How to Write a GREAT Screenplay and Story Maps: TV DRAMA: The Structure of the One-Hour Television Pilot. He is a former Story Analyst for major studios like Twentieth Century Fox, Miramax Films and New Line Cinema. He coaches writers, teaches webinars on writing for film and television and speaks at writing conferences. Many of his clients have worked with the top networks and studios in the industry, such as HBO, Warner Brothers, Disney, Sony, ABC, Showtime, Apple TV+, Netflix and more. He has been endorsed by Script Magazine and featured on Indie Film Hustle, Film Courage and L.A. Screenwriter. He holds a degree in Film and Television from New York University. He lives in Los Angeles.

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, including the next launch date. I will never share your email with any other party.

“Dan has created a book that is straightforward and full of valuable insight and guidance for screenwriters at different experience levels.”
-Laurie Lamson, Editor, Now Write! Screenwriting

“I’ve worked in film and television for years and I can say for certain that there is nothing else like Dan’s book anywhere out there. His system is truly unique and breaks TV pilot structure down step by step for the first time, using very specific examples from some of the great pilots of recent years.”
-Fritz Manger, Producer (A Deadly Adoption with Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig)