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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Screenwriting Discussion    Screenwriting Class  ›  Aaron Sorkin's Master Class Moderators: George Willson
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  Author    Aaron Sorkin's Master Class  (currently 3356 views)
Grandma Bear
Posted: July 26th, 2016, 12:04pm Report to Moderator
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Anyone taking these classes?
https://www.masterclass.com

I signed up, but so far, I've only watched the first two. The first one had me a little worried, because this man isn't an expert communicator. But, he actually apologizes for that right away, so I forgave him. He can be a little hard to listen to. I think I heard more uhm's than normal when a person speaks. Especially for someone teaching. The second class was better, but still pretty basic. Intention and obstacles.

I took Patterson's class last summer, but never finished. Everything he talked about was stuff I already knew from screenwriting, so I was a little disappointed, to be honest. He spoke better though.  


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eldave1
Posted: July 26th, 2016, 12:40pm Report to Moderator
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I'm not taking them. But I'll look them up.

I do greatly admire his work.

He does a brilliant job of writing interesting, fully developed, non-stereo typical complex, women. Maybe better than anyone.  

His story telling skills are off the chart - can;t tell you how many times I've watched the "Two Cathedrals" episode from The West Wing. effing brilliant.

IMO - his Achilles heel is sometimes his dialogue gets on steroids. Some episodes of the West Wing and The Newsroom was emblematic of this. Too many of his characters know everything about everything, right down to the most arcane of facts outside their field of expertise. It makes for nice exchanges, but there can't be ten people in the room with encyclopedic knowledge of everything.  And sometimes the dialogue it is just a bit too preachy. But these are minor points - for me, he is in the pantheon.



My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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Grandma Bear
Posted: July 26th, 2016, 12:55pm Report to Moderator
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There are 35 classes in all about 10 mins each. There's also material that can be printed out for those who like to see the printed word as well.

I'll comment more after I have seen a couple more.  

Oh, and there's a forum too for those who like to discuss with other writers. I think you can ask Sorking questions too.


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Bogey
Posted: July 26th, 2016, 2:24pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from eldave1
IMO - his Achilles heel is sometimes his dialogue gets on steroids.


100%.

In Newsroom (HBO), there were too many times when it sounded like someone had a blast writing it, but it bore no resemblance to how people would really talk.

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eldave1
Posted: July 26th, 2016, 2:48pm Report to Moderator
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Better said - that is it


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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DustinBowcot
Posted: July 27th, 2016, 2:02am Report to Moderator
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Never heard of him. But then I've never seen a single episode of the West Wing. I saw it advertised, but not really my thing. I don't get along well with US drama.

Pia... why do you need this class? You write great already. I probably couldn't see you writing an episode of the West Wing but it doesn't sound like he's teaching how to do that anyway. He's drawing from his life experience and writing about it. Just like we all do. I doubt that you'll get much, if anything, from his lessons.
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Grandma Bear
Posted: July 27th, 2016, 5:59am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from DustinBowcot
Never heard of him. But then I've never seen a single episode of the West Wing. I saw it advertised, but not really my thing. I don't get along well with US drama.

He's a rather well known writer. Especially for his knack for dialogue.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815070/?ref_=nv_sr_1


Quoted from DustinBowcot
Pia... why do you need this class? You write great already. I probably couldn't see you writing an episode of the West Wing but it doesn't sound like he's teaching how to do that anyway. He's drawing from his life experience and writing about it. Just like we all do. I doubt that you'll get much, if anything, from his lessons.

I take any compliment I can get! Thank you!  

I feel very comfortable writing shorts. That's where I started and it was all I did for years. When I started writing features, I realized there was so much more to screenwriting. At least if I wanted to write a two hour movie that keeps people's attention throughout and in the end left people satisfied.

I had to start studying in order to learn this stuff. My problem with that is that although I love reading, I can only read fiction. Anything else intended for learning, I don't comprehend. I just can't learn by reading. I have a hard time even understanding a short manual for an appliance. I only learn when someone tells me or shows me. That's why I sign up for these type of things.

This past spring however, I read The Writer's Journey and something clicked. I had an epiphany! I finally realized what I've been missing in my features. Sure, I can string words together in an understandable way that reads fast. Well, in scripts at least.   What I was missing was the understanding of humans. What each character's role is in a movie and why. Why certain things need to happen and so on. I realized I have so much more to learn. Instead of being down about how little I knew, it spurred me on to get better. I have no desire to make this a career. None! But, that doesn't mean I don't have goals. I want to get to the next level. I want to be on the fucking Blacklist! Or at least the Bloodlist before I quit. That's my next goal. In order to get there, I have to get better. Dialogue is an issue for me so as well, so maybe I can learn something from Sorkin. If not, well, I've spent $99 on worse things.  


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eldave1
Posted: July 27th, 2016, 10:23am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from DustinBowcot
Never heard of him. But then I've never seen a single episode of the West Wing. I saw it advertised, but not really my thing. I don't get along well with US drama.

Pia... why do you need this class? You write great already. I probably couldn't see you writing an episode of the West Wing but it doesn't sound like he's teaching how to do that anyway. He's drawing from his life experience and writing about it. Just like we all do. I doubt that you'll get much, if anything, from his lessons.


A Few Good Men - Social Network - Money Ball - etc. The dude's a writing machine.
West Wing was my favorite series of all time.


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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DustinBowcot
Posted: July 27th, 2016, 3:02pm Report to Moderator
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Out of all those, the only thing I've seen is A Few Good Men. It was OK, but I can't really remember what it was about. A courtroom drama, I think... ala John Grisham. I've read a few John Grisham novels. Got a bit samey after a while though. Like Robin Cook, the doctor. I think Michael Crichton was also a doctor. Although, to be fair, I'd place Crichton a league above Grisham and Cook.

I'm not so sure that being on the Blacklist actually means anything other than being there. I just want things made and I one day want to sell a script and raise a few million off it. Maybe some royalties from merchandising. See people wearing t-shirts with the name of one of my films on it... I don't want much.
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AnthonyCawood
Posted: July 27th, 2016, 3:14pm Report to Moderator
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Money Ball and Steve Jobs are great, he's a very talented writer.

Gis dialogue is a little like Tarantino, not necessarily realistic but punchy, witty and engaging.

Hope the course is good Pia, look forward to the end verdict... I may take a look myself.

Anthony


Anthony Cawood - Award winning screenwriter
Available Short screenplays - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/short-scripts
Available Feature screenplays - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/feature-film-scripts/
Screenwriting articles - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/articles
IMDB Link - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm6495672/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
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Grandma Bear
Posted: July 27th, 2016, 6:19pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from AnthonyCawood

Hope the course is good Pia, look forward to the end verdict... I may take a look myself.

Will report as I go along. Didn't have time to watch one today. There are 35 of them so it might take a month or so to finish.  


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AnthonyCawood
Posted: July 29th, 2016, 6:48pm Report to Moderator
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Sorkin is on James Corden's Late Late Late show promoting this... same episode James does carpool karaoke with Michelle Obama!


Anthony Cawood - Award winning screenwriter
Available Short screenplays - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/short-scripts
Available Feature screenplays - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/feature-film-scripts/
Screenwriting articles - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/articles
IMDB Link - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm6495672/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
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Grandma Bear
Posted: July 30th, 2016, 5:40am Report to Moderator
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Yeah, it's everywhere. I firsst saw it on FB. Haven't had the time to watch further though. Maybe this weekend.  


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Steven
Posted: August 29th, 2016, 8:52am Report to Moderator
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Speaking of this class, someone on Reddit posted some cliff notes.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Scree.....tdxy&sh=3c077374
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Grandma Bear
Posted: August 29th, 2016, 9:44am Report to Moderator
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To be honest, and I hate to say this because I want to be supportive of everyone, but I find this class to be hard to sit through. Sorkin might be an amazing script writer, especially his dialogue, but listening to him speak is a chore. I also find that if you've written for a few years already, this course will seem geared more towards beginning story tellers. I felt the same about the James Patterson classes. I didn't finish them either. That's just me though. Others might love this.


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