Hi

is there any where free screen writing and direction classes in sydney

If you have access to the internet or a library you can, as with most things, teach yourself how to write a screenplay.  Directing, now that's a bit more hands on.  You have to do both to achieve satisfactory levels of acceptance, but neither are unattainable and just like anything in life you have to have a passion or desire for them in order to become good at them.

For perspective, Three years ago I knew very little about animation.  The extent of my knowledge was a lightbox and lots of paper.  I self animated 24 min of footage, wrote the script, co-wrote and co-produced, musically, (The Aquatic Astronaut) in house.  I did this by sitting down and learning something from scratch.  I always had artistic ability, to a degree.  My brother is a pro level tattoo artist, featured in many mags and sites so it was always there.  I just needed the desire to apply it.  I think that's all you need, man.  Stay away from the technical side of things, write with your heart and get some hands on time.  You will be amazed at how fast you pick things up.

Also of note, the book I'm about to recommend isn't going to teach you how to write a screenplay, but the information housed within its pages are a cut above anything you will read.  It's such a brilliant book, by a brilliant mind.  It's called "THE DEVIL's GUIDE TO HOLLYWOOD" and it's written by JOE ESZTERHAS.  It's an eye opener on the business at hand.  And, to be honest, it helped me more than any screenwriting class or book ever did.  Dude knows what it's all about -- Oh, and he also wrote JAGGED EDGE, which speaks in absolutes, man.

I read some of Eszterhas' book and I agree with Balt that it's compelling reading. In a similar vein, try books by Lloyd (Troma) Kaufman if you want to make your own independent film.

The other book that kinda does teach you how to write a screenplay, but in a no-holds barred sort of a way, is Crafty Screenwriting by Alex Epstein.

Yeah, send it to my girlfriend, who got 3 pages into the newest thing I've been working on before turning to me and telling me my characters aren't believable.

CAVEAT: She's expensive and she thinks that "Sex In the City" is "The Godfather".

Quoted from Craiger6 CAVEAT: She's expensive and she thinks that "Sex In the City" is "The Godfather".

I was a little confused, too, when Big woke up and found a horse's head in the bed with him...

It was just Sarah Jessica Parker.



Phil

Quoted from dogglebe I was a little confused, too, when Big woke up and found a horse's head in the bed with him... It was just Sarah Jessica Parker. Phil

Haha.  Poor Chris Noth.  And poor Ferris Bueller, cause you got SJP totally pegged.