LEARN HOW GREAT STORIES ARE BUILT

Join our live, 6-week screenwriting COURSE designed to take youR FILM OR TV PILOT from idea to a completed outline.

FILM SCHOOL - WITHOUT THE
FOUR-YEAR PRICE TAG

The Academy Live delivers the core of a film school education in a focused, six-week experience. You’ll learn the same storytelling techniques used in Hollywood — structure, character, and development — with live guidance from professionals who’ve worked on both sides of the desk.

Instead of lectures and theory, you’ll apply each lesson directly to your own project, saving time, money, and months of confusion. This is intentional training designed to move your story forward — fast.

No applications. No writing sample. Just commitment to 6 weeks of writing.

Learn more

"Do yourself a favor and JOIN THIS CLASS! The experience was a fantastic grounding I desperately needed, both in how I generated my content and how I scheduled myself to do so. Bottom line, I feel more like I have a chance at being in a writer's room or being a creative in general by taking this class."

- Tyler

The Academy Live is for writers who:

  • Have an idea but no clear blueprint to build it

  • Have started scripts before but keep getting stuck

  • Want accountability and real deadlines

  • Learn best by doing, not just watching

  • Are serious about building a strong writing sample

Six weeks is all it takes to learn how to build a professional outline — the same kind used and expected in the studio system.
Read Why outlines matter →

“This class helped open my mind to build 3-dimensional characters and understand how structure works.”

- Breaunna

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

  • Carlton L. Allen, Story Expert, The Professional Pen Script Consultancy

    Carlton Allen, Story Expert

    Working writer and master teacher, Carlton Allen (He/him) is a young mixed kid from South Los Angeles, who enjoyed escaping into good movies and television on a regular basis. He never dreamed he could one day do that as a job. Several years later during a business communication class at the University of Arizona, Carlton heard a classmate give a speech about screenwriting. The very next day, he switched his major from business to communication with the goal of writing and producing television and feature length films.

    Carlton's passion is to create unique stories with diverse voices all wrapped up in a thought-provoking yet entertaining package.  To date, Carlton has written dozens of specs, original pilots, and features, placing in such competitions as The Austin Film Festival and Final Draft’s Big Break.

    As Carlton traverses the screenwriting industry, he takes on writing gigs to keep his skills sharp. He was hired to write a CRM sales-focused interactive simulation for training and hiring practices where he crafted the story, outcome-based scenes based on player options, and wrote the dialogue for all the NPC’s (Non-Player Characters).

    Carlton also recently published a short book of fun facts and the history of tennis.  A passion project, Pocket Guide of Fun Facts About Tennis gave him an opportunity to learn about online publishing. Both of these projects had their own set of challenges, just like learning and growing in screenwriting, but it's always worth the reward. They both opened his eyes to the type of work that’s available to writers while we work like hell to make it in Hollywood.

    Highlights: (Production) Warner Bros. Nickelodeon, FOX and CBS (Teaching) Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, FIAT and Toyota

    Fun Facts:
    Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
    Favorite Film: ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND written by Charlie Kauffman
    Favorite Screenplay: BLACK PANTHER written by Joe Robert Cole & Ryan Coogler based on the Marvel Comics by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee
    Favorite Series: “The Big Bang Theory” created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady

FILM SCHOOL IN 6 WEEKS

Lived, instructor-led, 2-hour weekly sessions from idea to outline.

WEEK 1

The Business of Hollywood + Genre, Format, Structure


Start with a foundational understanding of how Hollywood operates. Learn how genre, format, and act structure shape storytelling decisions so you know what you’re writing — and who you’re writing it for.

WEEK 2

Character Development



Build characters from the inside out. Learn how backstory, stress, and trauma influence behavior so your characters feel real, active, and emotionally grounded.

WEEK 3

Plot Development
(Normal World → Midpoint)


Learn how to drive story through action and choice. Focus on establishing your protagonist’s goal, escalating conflict, and structuring the first half of your story with intention.

WEEK 4

Plot Development
(Midpoint → Resolution)


Explore how stakes rise after the midpoint and how consequences shape the path to resolution. Learn how to avoid sagging second halves and land your story with purpose.

WEEK 5

Beat Sheets



Learn how to hook the reader from the opening image, map key turning points, and organize your story beats into a clear, compelling roadmap.

WEEK 6

Outlining


Turn your beat sheet into a complete outline. Learn how theme strengthens story and how to expand beats into a professional, script-ready outline.

A complete outline — and a clear path forward.

By the end of six weeks, you won’t just understand story in theory. You’ll have a fully developed concept, a strong grasp of structure and character, and a professional outline you can confidently move into script. Along the way, you’ll receive direct feedback from our Story Experts who know what works — and what doesn’t.

The Academy Live includes:

  • Six weeks of live, instructor-led virtual training

  • Real-time feedback and live guidance throughout the program

  • Idea to Outline Workbook (starting at a $59 value) as weekly assignments designed to build a complete, professional outline

  • Outline Review (a $79 value) to assess story structure and script readiness

  • Story Jam (a $125 value) for 1:1 guidance and clarity on your Outline Review

Open to writers developing a feature film or TV pilot (no shorts)

For standout writers, this process may open the door to next-level opportunities within The Professional Pen, including an invitation to continue your work inside the Script Development Lab.

PROGRAM DATES

SUNDAYS
March 26-April 26, 2026
Time: TBD

DEADLINES

REGISTRATION OPENS: March 1st
REGISTRATION CLOSES: March 18th

*Class minimum: This live program runs with at least 5 enrolled students to ensure a strong, interactive experience.

PROGRAM FEES

$599

GET NOTIFIED WHEN REGISTRATION OPENS

What comes after your outline?

This is where writers move from planning to pages.

Once you’ve completed your outline, the next professional step is learning how to execute it under real development conditions. The Script Development Lab is our invitation-only program where writers work 1:1 with a Story Expert to move from outline to full script, receive Development Notes along the way, and prepare to pitch at a professional level. This is where structure meets execution — and where serious writers level up.

Explore the script development lab

PAST LAB INDUSTRY PROS

  • Antonio D'Intino for The Professional Pen's Script Development Lab

    Antonio D'Intino, Literary Manager, SpectreVision Artists

  • Kendall Fletcher for The Professional Pen's Script Development Lab

    Kendall Fletcher, Independent Producer

  • Amy Aniobi for The Professional Pen's Script Development Lab

    Amy Aniobi, Co-EP "Insecure"

* indicates required

CLASS IS ALMOST IN SESSION.

Sign up to stay up to date on The Academy Live.

you’ve got questions. we’ve got answers.

Browse our FAQs — or chat 1:1 with a Story Expert to get your questions answered.

Schedule a Kick-Off Jam

  • The Academy Live runs twice each year. Writers who complete the program and want to continue may be invited to move forward into the Script Development Lab, which is held once per year.

  • Open to writers developing a feature film or TV pilot (no shorts)

    The Academy Live is our 6-week, film-school–style training where writers develop an outline to be approved to script. You’ll attend six live, 2-hour workshops led by our TPP Story Experts, learn Hollywood story fundamentals, and apply each lesson directly to your own project between sessions.

    During the program, you’ll use our Idea to Outline Workbooks to complete weekly story assignments, receive professional notes through an Outline Review, and meet with a Story Expert in a private Story Jam to discuss your feedback and next steps. At the end of the course, your outline qualifies you to be considered for The Script Development Lab.

    Enrollment is limited, and writers are accepted on a first-come basis. Registration opens 2x/year.

  • There are no applications or writing samples required. Enrollment is open to writers who can commit to six weeks of live sessions, complete weekly assignments, and actively work on developing their outline throughout the program

  • The Academy Live is designed for writers at different stages who want structure, accountability, and a professional outline for a more efficient journey to script. You don’t need prior training — just commitment.

  • The Academy Live is open to writers developing a feature film or TV pilot. Shorts are not eligible for this program.

  • Sessions are live, and we expect participants to attend whenever possible. We understand real life happens, so replays will be available if you miss a class. If you anticipate frequent conflicts, The Academy Online may be a better fit for your schedule.

    Learn more here.

  • Entry into The Script Development Lab is competitive and based on one thing: the strength of your outline. We’re looking for writers who understand story fundamentals, can take notes, and show clear potential to develop a script that can be pitched to industry professionals.

    Every Lab writer must first complete our Live Academy program, where you’ll learn Hollywood story mechanics and build a script-ready outline with professional feedback.

    From each Live Academy cohort, we review the strongest outlines, evaluate the writer’s readiness for mentorship, and select a small group to move forward. Only three writers are invited into the Lab each term — making it our most focused and personalized development experience.

  • That’s great — it means you’re already doing the work. The Academy Live is designed to begin at the idea stage, focusing on the pre-work that prepares you to write a strong script. Writers should always be writing, so we recommend using this program to develop your next idea and build a new outline.

    If you already have an outline you’re excited about, submit it for an Outline Review before moving into script.

    Please note: writers are only eligible for the Script Development Lab if they complete an outline during The Academy Live.

  • We don’t offer in-house scholarships or payment plans. However, third-party payment options like Klarna may be available at checkout, allowing you to split your payment over time.