Whether you’re starting a new project, working on a rewrite, or want to learn new skills - join us to hone your craft.
All Classes take place 100% online utilizing free video conferencing software ZOOM so you can participate from anywhere in the world with an internet connection!
This five week lecture series is for anyone who wants to understand how to build and maintain a long lasting career in the industry. Host Michael Dwyer will cover everything from storytelling basics to coverage/development notes to reader expectations to marketing.
Each session is recorded, so you can watch the classes back if you can't make any live!
This 5 Week Lecture Series Will Cover:
- Storytelling fundamentals
- World building 101
- Character development
- Genre expectations
- Pilot structure
- IP and adaptations
Michael K. Dwyer is a hapa-haole Producer-and-Screenwriter with over a decade of film industry experience. A native of San Francisco, California, Michael graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts on the Dean’s List as well as the literary honors program Thematic Option.
In 2012, Michael began working for former Columbia Pictures and Sony Chairman Mark Canton, who he assisted on seasons 2 through series finale of the hit show Power, as well as tentpole films like THE LAST WITCH HUNTER. Michael also worked briefly as an assistant at the film/music/tech crossover company MX Productions for Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler, who had a television deal at Lionsgate Television.
Michael returned to working for Mark Canton (300, DEN OF THIEVES) as a Creative Executive at his new independently financed venture Cinelou Films, where he worked on independent films like Robert DeNiro’s THE COMEDIAN, Jennifer Aniston’s THE YELLOW BIRDS, Ridley Scott’s PHOENIX FORGOTTEN, and Joe Dante/Mick Garris’s fan-favorite horror anthology NIGHTMARE CINEMA. During this time, he also managed the active slates of Mark Canton’s multiple film and television ventures.
In 2019, Michael left Cinelou as Director of Development, and found a home as the Head of Screenplay and Business Development at Atlanta’s Blackhall Entertainment Ventures, and then at Los Angeles’s Ravendesk Entertainment.
Michael is currently Head of Screenplay Development and Business Strategy at Ravendesk, where he has set up Comic and Table-top RPG projects in the trans-media spaces. During Michael’s tenure at Ravendesk, he has overseen the company’s growth as it purchased 15+ comic and tabletop-RPG titles, set up an independent first-look development and production deal, as well as secured agency representation for the Company’s slate of IP. Now Ravendesk has a television project fully independently financed for production, and several IPs in deep development across all mediums.
At the end of 2022 Michael formed an independent film production company A GROUP OF FERRETS with his former colleague at Cinelou Films, David Hopwood (POWER, FREAK BROTHERS, DEN OF THIEVES). Michael also screenwrites in the genre hybrid, historical, AAPI, and dark comedy spaces.
AGOF's company bio below:
Founded in 2023 by David Hopwood and Michael K. Dwyer, A GROUP OF FERRETS is a film and television production company with projects focusing in the independent feature genre, animated, unscripted, tentpole, television, podcast, and comic publishing spaces. Formerly production and development executives at Mark Canton's AtmosphereMM (300, DEN OF THIEVES, Power) and Cinelou Films (CAKE, NIGHTMARE CINEMA), David and Michael set out to create a slate of projects designed to break new ground in the genre space by hybridizing and bending the myths and conventions audiences have grown to love.
The company wrapped its first film UNTIL HE'S DESTROYED directed by Josh Lobo (I Trapped The Devil) starring Scott Poythress (I TRAPPED THE DEVIL), Trace Lysette (MONICA), Alexis Louder (VIOLENT NIGHT, Watchmen), and Johnny Sibilly (Hacks, Pose).
The Ferrets are currently collaborating on projects with Startling Inc. (GAME OF THRONES, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON), Frank Miller Co. (300, SIN CITY), 87Eleven South (JOHN WICK), Vince Staples (THE VINCE STAPLES SHOW), Weta Workshop (5x Academy Award practical effects team from LORD OF THE RINGS), North of Now (PEPSI WHERE'S MY JET?), Banc of California, CTRLMovie+ (LATE SHIFT), and more.
With Corey Moosa (MARGIN CALL, ALL IS LOST) joining the Ferrets to kick off 2024, the 'business' is further pushing into new frontiers of creativity, while targeting productions that make sense in the current economic landscape of film-making.
As a screenwriter who operates in the sci-fi/fantasy sphere, Michael is an absolute joy to work with. He understands these genres inside and out, and because of that was able to find exactly where my TV pilot was coming up short. He continued to communicate with me regularly on my rewrite and not only greatly improve the main character thread of the story, but better tie it to the overall setting and mythos and leave me with a pilot that provided a far stronger read. If you like to write science fiction and fantasy stories with loads of myth and world-building, I highly recommend collaborating with him if you can.
~ Daniel McNaught, Screenwriter
Cancellation Policy: You may cancel for a full refund up to 5 days prior to the start of the class. Cancellations requested after this period will be ineligible for refunds.
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