WHY DO YOU REQUIRE A WRITING SAMPLE?

These are accelerated screenwriting classes and the screenwriting workshop is an advanced workshop. Your writing skill, talent, and drive, must match in.

WHY IS THE WRITING SAMPLE SO SHORT?

Max is not an amateur. She is a pro. She has read thousands of scripts. And she can get a handle on what’s happening in the writing in very few pages. But if she needs more, she’ll tell you.

WHAT IS THE BEST SAMPLE TO SEND?

Take a sample from your strongest, most recent work. It’s a good idea to go with opening pages. But if opening pages do not contain any dialogue, skip forward to a sequence that has a mix of action and dialogue.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A SCRIPT PAGE SAMPLE?

Write one.

DOES MAX TEACH ANY CLASSES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A SCRIPT PAGE SAMPLE?

Video Courses and Labs do not require writing samples.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR MAX TO REVIEW A SCRIPT FOR A SCRIPT CONSULT?

Up to two weeks from the date of delivery. Max tries to turn scripts around in one week, but it can take up to two weeks from date of delivery. A lot of time goes into reading and analyzing scripts in depth, formulating notes, and writing up the notes —  which can be 20 pages or more depending on the material and its needs. You want good notes, not rushed notes.

WHEN SHOULD I SEND MAX A SCRIPT FOR A CONSULT?

When the script has gotten as good as you can get it. Do not send Max rushed first drafts. She’s here to get you to the next level, not to clean up debris.

DO PEOPLE IN THE 5150 WORKSHOP REALLY LOVE DOGS?

Yes. We’re insane dog lovers. Cat lovers too. Horse lovers. Otter lovers. Mammal lovers, essentially. A few of us even have a love of feathered creatures….

WHY DO YOU EVEN KNOW THAT?

I talk to workshoppers. I know their pets’ names. The workshop is not ONLY a “workshop.” It’s a community.

WHY DO WRITERS NEED A WORKSHOP?

I think writers often feel disconnected and lonely not because they work alone at a keyboard for hours on end (which we do do, sometimes pulling freakishly long hours and not always in healthy ways) but because non-writers, no matter how supportive they want to be, do not understand what they are doing.

A writing community is important. A group of people compelled on some personal level that comes from inside to pursue the same insane goals and pursuits, who understand the struggle, the goals, the craft, the obstacles, the set backs, and the wins. Non-writers don’t get it. Because non-writers are not doing it. It helps to be surrounded by other writers who are.

WHAT MAKES 5150 BETTER THAN OTHER WORKSOPS?

Four members of Max workshops have won Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. ‘Nuff said.

ARE THERE POSTING & REVIEWING REQUIREMENTS IN THE 5150 WORKSHOP?

Yes. We work on works in progress in workshop and you are required to post one short upload each month — which can be pages from a script in progress or an item related to screenwriting you need feedback on like a logline, outline, query letter, pitch deck, look book — and to post three reviews of fellow workshoppers’ work posted for review each month.

WHY ARE THERE POSTING & REVIEWING REQUIREMENTS IN THE 5150 WORKSHOP?

We don’t do workshop tourists. Everyone is vulnerable. Everyone is contributing. Them’s the rules.

(There are times for workshoppers when life intrudes and someone needs an “excused” on minimum participation requirements. In those cases, when a workshopper has a strong track record and good workhop karma we bend participation rules. We don’t do that for someone who shows up and needs an “excused” from day one though.)

WHY MAX CLASSES?

Because they’re really really good. Grrr.

Okay. More seriously. These are not generic classes following a formula laid out in a screenwriting book printed fifty years ago. These are original courses created by Max to address current and real screenwriting issues screenwriters grapple with in their material today.

WHY MAX CONSULTS?

You can scatter yourself all over getting vague notes that just say, “You should fix this thing.” But not what “that thing” is. Not why. And not how.

Max (that’s me) tells you what is strong, what is weak, where, why, and gives you answers and suggestions for how to strengthen material. Max’s notes are specific and extensive. 20 pages covering what works, what doesn’t, possible ways that can be fixed, and more. And —

Max is a pro writer with twenty years experience in the industry and a truck load of know how.

DOES MAX PERSONALLY REVIEW MY WORK IN CLASSES?

In six week master classes, yes, Max reviews and gives feedback on all class assignments.

In video master classes, no. The video master classes are more convenient and less expensive but you do not get Max in person to review your assignment work in the video courses.

WILL MAX OPEN INDUSTRY DOORS AND CONTACTS FOR ME?

No. Max will work with you on your scripts and writing until your scripts and writing are strong enough to open doors and make contacts for you.

IS MAX SINGLE?

Wait. Whut?

Never you mind. Nosy!