TESTIMONIALS

From writers who have taken the course.

“Tony Savant’s cogent teaching on the flesh and bones and heart of screenwriting transformed my storytelling. His insights regarding character motivation were key to clarifying my story structure, locking it into place. Highly recommend!”

Wendy Britton Young, Winner, 2018 Moondance Screenplay competition, 3rd place finalist at the Sundance TRMS competition, for her screenplay, “The Superb Lyrebird”

“Tony, this message is long over due. In 2015, taking what you taught me about screenwriting and storytelling, I wrote/produced and starred in a 23 minute TV pilot called “Luke” (Nick Acosta directed it. Here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBejFRKhl6g). A producer who lives in Florida, saw it online, loved it and contacted me. He told me that he had the movie rights to a book and wanted to know if I was interested in adapting the book to a screenplay. I said yes and he shipped me the book. I read it and took notes on how I would format the screenplay. Soon after I finished the outline, we had a few Skype meetings which resulted in them submitting an offer to write the adapted screenplay. They offered me 5 times the amount I had expected. With a smile, I accepted the offer and was hired to adapt the book into a feature length screenplay. It took me 3 months to complete the 100 page screenplay which I submitted in June 2016. And, starting in February, was hired to do the rewrite. None of this would’ve happened if you had not taught me the fundamentals of screenwriting and storytelling. Thank you. With Gratitude – Jesse”

Jesse Ruda, actor/screenwriter/producer

“This class was truly a life-changing experience. It frees the writer within you. Tony’s class gave us fundamental basics that we can use, and put in my hands the exact tools that will allow the stories within me to reach out and touch people’s lives in a profound way. The class answered every question I had about screenwriting. Writing is now an exciting experience. I now confidently know what makes a great script. I also can fully recognize one that won’t succeed, and specifically why it won’t.”

Pamela Peak, Emmy award-winning writer/producer/director

New addendum:

“Wanted to let you know that I finished my second screenplay and did a rewrite process on it and on the one you helped me with in 2014! I’m finally getting proud of my work. I’m starting in on my third screenplay soon. (They say you need “three” to go to market, so there ya go!) Thank you for helping me enter the field of screenwriting. Your handouts are always just a grasp away and alive in my heart. What you taught me is and always will be at the bedrock of my screenwriting and my “ace in the hole” (especially when it comes to creating living, breathing characters!). The screenplay I just finished is based on my hit PBS documentary Colorblind and I’m quite proud of it. Writing that was the reason I took your course in 2011. How I’ve thought of you and thanked you, all the way through this adventure, for first explaining this wonderful thing called screenwriting.

Much love and thanks, Pamela Peak”

“Tony’s class is a must take cram session of film history, screenwriting basics and in-depth class exercises that a writer at any level can benefit from. I took this class after having years of hands-on writing experience in the industry at Sony, Disney and ABC but never having taken any formal classes. From a structural stand point alone this class would be an asset to any future writer, director or producer. I will keep the notebook that I created during class for years to come, as it is chock full of usable story lines, dialogue, and in-class notes that will come in handy any time I sit down and type FADE IN on my computer.”

Kate Brooks

“You can’t find a higher value in understanding your craft as a writer, or an actor. These classes are essential ingredients to any writer or actor’s career. Tony unleashes an understanding of scripts, how to write and build them, as well as how to break down and understand how to read them, and what to act. This is a MASTER CLASS writers, directors and actors.”

Simon Blake

“Before Tony’s screenwriting class, I found myself spending a lot of time in front of a blank page. Often I would come up with vivid scenes I wanted to write, but with no idea about the story I wanted to tell or how I would go about telling it. This led to a great deal of frustration and undeveloped ideas. However, Tony’s process of approaching a screenplay from the initial idea, to the formation of a premise all the way to the first and subsequent drafts has opened up my creativity and imagination to such an extent that not only am I a better writer, but my understanding of how to approach a scene as an actor has greatly improved.”

Michael Miraula

“I had taken other screenwriting courses and workshops before, all of which had their own merit. However, in the first day of Tony’s screenwriting class I was filled with both excitement and dread. Excitement because Tony taught us the most important key factor or foundation you need to have before you even sit down at a keyboard. Dread because I realized how poorly written my previous three screenplays were. I am so grateful to Tony for sharing so much vital information with us. I look forward to now being an excellent writer as a result.”

April Barnett

“So many people have great ideas, perhaps a story that would be the perfect screenplay, but have no idea how to develop that idea into a finished product. Tony’s class teaches the fundamentals of dramatic writing that are often absent from today’s films: how to develop an idea into a solid premise or theme, how to create three dimensional characters that explore that theme, and how to construct conflict that stems from conflicting desires and produces dramatic tension. I would recommend the class to a writer trying to fine tune the screenplay form, the director learning to break down conflicts and structure, and the actor who feels creatively blocked and needs a new perspective. I would recommend the class to anyone on the creative side of film production.”

Jeff Speetjens

“Tony’s class confidently leads you through the roadmap of screenwriting. He has an answer for every question and a whole lot of patience. And to have a physical result – pages – is really rewarding. Tony’s screenwriting class: I’m really into it.”

Elspeth Keller

“The Craft of Screenwriting is a wonderful class for anyone in the movie business to take. I learned a solid technique for writing a script that utilizes simple, easy to use methods to avoid the most common errors. In the process, I also learned how to analyze a script and see the writers intentions more clearly. A great help to a fledgling actor! Thank you, Tony!”

Halimah Veon

“Tony Savant is a very gifted screenwriting teacher. He provides his students with everything they need from structuring their ideas to leaving the last class with a solid script. Los Angeles surly lost a gem when he moved to Philadelphia. I appreciate you, Tony for continuing to share your gifts and brilliance with us by launching this site! I know it will inspire so many other novice and experienced screenwriters who are seeking to share their voices and views effectively with the world.”

Daisica L. Smith

“My experience with the website has been very excellent. So far no problems or anything and its very simple to navigate. The videos are very well edited and course very easy to understand. All in all you’ve done an excellent job in what I have participated (and it feels like participation as to just watching a class online). I find this (online) option a blessing because the flexibility to pause or re-watch the course anywhere, any time as I wish. Knowing you review the work and answer questions just as in class – I personally believe this option is better. Especially considering if you allow the members to communicate in a way similar to social media networks or forums as the member numbers grow.”

Tyson Lenard