The Art of Screenwriting: A Six-Week Writing Workshop for Writers Adapting Their Work to the Screen with Andy Mingo

Weekly Zoom Meet-Ups on Mondays from 12pm-2pm PST: March 3 - April 7, 2025

(Recordings available for all registrants.)

Are you ready to adapt your work for the screen?
As the old studio model of filmmaking collapses, new opportunities are emerging for independent productions to rise in its place. This six-week screenwriting workshop is designed for writers who are ready to bring their stories to the screen. Whether novelists, memoirists, or poets, participants will receive the essential tools to make a seamless transition into screenwriting.

Building on the success of Andy Mingo's Summer 2024 MFA screenwriting workshop at the University of Nevada Reno at Lake Tahoe, this course dives even deeper into the craft of adaptation. Participants will explore screenwriting fundamentals—structure, character development, dialogue, and visual storytelling—while staying true to the heart of their original work. By the end of this course, participants will have completed a short-film script ready for production, preparing them to join the new wave of independent filmmakers.

The workshop is designed to be flexible, accommodating writers at all stages of development. Whether you're new to screenwriting or an experienced writer looking to adapt your existing work, this course will provide the support and tools you need to succeed.

This class is ideal for:

• Writers who want to adapt their existing work for the screen.

• Authors looking to expand their storytelling into film or television.

• Creatives eager to gain the screenwriting tools needed to thrive in this new era of independent film.

What Participants Will Learn:

• Screenwriting Fundamentals: The basics of screenplay structure, character arcs, and scene development.

• Character Development for the Screen: Adapting literary characters into multidimensional, visually engaging screen personas.

• Plot Structure & Scene Construction: Translating stories into cinematic form, mastering both big-picture plotting and individual scene dynamics.

• Dialogue & Subtext: Writing dialogue that is rich with meaning and moves the story forward.

• Visual Storytelling & Cinematic Techniques: Using imagery, setting, and visual motifs to enhance the emotional impact of a screenplay.

• Collaborative Feedback: Sharing work in a supportive community and refining scripts through constructive insights from peers.

How It Works:
Every Monday, participants will meet on Zoom for in-depth discussions on key screenwriting techniques, collaborative exercises, and scene workshops. Each week, writers will bring scenes or concepts from their work-in-progress to explore how they can be adapted for the screen. By the end of the course, participants will leave with a completed short-film script, ready for the next stage of development.

The course is designed to be accessible for all levels of experience, with flexible options for personalized guidance and extra feedback, ensuring that each participant can develop their story at their own pace.

Weekly Topics Include:

• Week 1: Screenwriting Basics – Understanding structure, format, and what makes a screenplay work.

• Week 2: Adapting Characters – Turning literary characters into fully realized screen personas.

• Week 3: Scene Construction & Dialogue – Crafting scenes that advance the story and engage the audience.

• Week 4: Visual Storytelling – Using imagery, symbols, and cinematic techniques to enhance the story.

• Week 5: Instigating Events & Dramatic Turns – Creating the moments that define the plot and drive the narrative forward.

• Week 6: Final Revisions & Presentations – Workshopping scenes and reflecting on the journey from the page to the screen.

Optional Personalized Feedback:
For an additional contribution of $250, participants can submit up to 10 pages of their screenplay for personalized feedback. Detailed notes will be provided to help refine the adaptation and take it to the next level.

Pricing:
This workshop follows a sliding-scale payment model based on financial circumstances:

• $500: Partner

• $400: Supporter

• $300: Companion

Payment plans and financial assistance are available. Please contact the team to discuss options.

About Andy Mingo:
Andy Mingo is a screenwriter, producer, director, and educator with extensive experience in independent film. He has co-written and produced numerous projects, including The Chronology of Water with Kristen Stewart, an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch's acclaimed memoir. As an independent filmmaker, Andy has dedicated his career to helping writers bring their unique voices to life on the screen, outside of the traditional studio system. His work spans independent films and collaborative storytelling efforts that emphasize creative freedom, visual depth, and emotional resonance.

Andy’s interdisciplinary approach draws from traditional narrative, visual art, and multimedia, making his workshops engaging and accessible to writers at all levels. He is one of the founders of Corporeal Writing, where he leads screenwriting and film adaptation workshops that foster community, collaboration, and the transformation of stories into compelling films. His teaching emphasizes the importance of a supportive, interactive environment where writers can hone their craft alongside peers.

In addition to his work in film, Andy has taught at numerous institutions, including a successful screenwriting workshop at the University of Nevada Reno at Lake Tahoe during the Summer 2024 MFA residency. He continues to develop film projects and mentor emerging writers in Oregon, where he focuses on creating opportunities for independent storytelling in the evolving landscape of film.

Andy’s workshops are tailored to be flexible for writers at all stages, ensuring each participant can make meaningful progress, whether they're starting from scratch or adapting existing work for the screen.

Writers who are ready to bring their story to life on the screen are invited to join this six-week journey and discover how to adapt their writing for the next generation of independent film, while leaving with a fully realized short-film script.