Teaches Screenwriting

Aaron Sorkin

Meet Aaron. He's an Oscar winner, a TV hitmaker, and the writer of some of the smartest dramas ever to hit the screen. And now, he's your instructor. 

Introduction

Every great story is born from intentions and obstacles. Learn how to build the "drive shaft" that will set your script in motion. 

Intention & Obstacle

How do you know if your idea is good enough to turn into a script? Aaron walks you through the steps every writer should take to test an idea—and decide whether it will work best in TV or film.

Story Ideas

Aaron shares some of the decisions he made to develop some of his most unforgettable characters—like The Social Network's Mark Zuckerberg and The West Wing's Toby and Leo. 

Developing Characters: Part 1

Your characters don't have to be like you—or even likeable. Drawing on examples from A Few Good Men and Steve Jobs, Aaron explains why he always empathizes with his characters even if he disagrees with them.

Developing Characters: Part 2

Good research is the key to a great script. Bad research is a waste of time. How can you tell the difference? Aaron shares lessons from Malice and The Social Network to help you gather the information you really need.

Research

You have pages of research—now what? Avoid clunky exposition and learn how to seamlessly weave research into your story. 

Incorporating Research

Aaron knows that the audience isn't just watching his work. They're participating in it, too. Learn how to write stories that will keep them engaged and entertained. 

The Audience

The rules of great drama aren't new. Here, Aaron explains how most of them were laid out more than 2,000 years ago by Aristotle in his Poetics, and how to use those lessons to become a diagnostician for your own story ideas.

Rules of Story

Page numbers don't sound exciting, but they're a great tool for tracking the act-structure and pacing of your story.

Film Story Arc

Even Aaron gets writer's block. Learn how he gets unstuck and what writing tools he uses to make sure he's ready when inspiration strikes.

Writing Habits

While workshopping J.J.'s script, Aaron shares his tips on writing action scenes that move as fast on the page as they will on the screen.

Group Workshop: Untitled by JJ Braider

The offbeat characters in Jeanie's script are a hit with Aaron, who warns about the dangers of getting feedback from close-minded studio execs. (Warning: explicit content).

Group Workshop: E is for Edie by Jeanie Bergen

Discussing Roland's script, Aaron reveals a simple trick that writers can use to justify improbable events in their stories. 

Group Workshop: Chronic by Roland Zaleski

Evelyn's TV pilot kicks off a conversation about opening scenes and the importance of showing your audience something they've never seen before.

Group Workshop: The Merc by Evelyn Yves

After workshopping Corey's script and learning about his background, Aaron discusses the importance of having confidence as a writer, and shares his own origin story, starting with his days as a struggling New York actor.

Group Workshop: From Here to Alli by Corey Wright

A great story is more than just a collection of great scenes. Learn how to give your script momentum from one beat to the next.

Writing Scenes: Part 1

Your script only has one opening scene. Make it memorable by introducing your theme, grabbing the audience, and setting up your characters' intentions and obstacles.

Writing Scenes: Part 2

In a study of a scene from Steve Jobs, Aaron explains how high stakes, strong intentions & obstacles, and competing tactics make for an exciting scene to write. 

Scene Case Study: Steve Jobs

Aaron analyzes a classic scene from The West Wing: the scathing confrontation between President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and Governor Robert Ritchie (James Brolin).

Scene Case Study: The West Wing

If you want to write Aaron Sorkin-worthy dialogue, learn from the master himself on how to make music with your words and put them to the test by performing your own scenes out loud.

Writing Captivating Dialogue

Aaron does a deep dive into the musical nuances of dialogue in the Bartlet–Ritchie scene.

Dialogue Case Study: The West Wing

Rewrites aren't a sign of a bad script; they're a sign of a good writer. Hear how Aaron reworks and strengthens his screenplays during the rewriting process.

Rewrites: First Draft

Rewrites aren't a sign of a bad script; they're a sign of a good writer. Hear how Aaron reworks and strengthens his screenplays with help from trusted advisors.

Rewrites: Notes

Aaron creates a virtual writers’ room to “break” part of the Season 5 premiere—an episode he's never seen.

The West Wing Writers' Room: Part 1

Aaron discusses what is needed in the teaser of the show and how to reverse engineer a plot. 

The West Wing Writers' Room: Part 2

Aaron and the students continue to work together to break episode 501 of The West Wing. 

The West Wing Writers' Room: Part 3

How can research drive the plot forward? Aaron and the students discuss the limitations of the 25th Amendment as a plot point. 

The West Wing Writers' Room: Part 4

Take Aaron's advice: When you have great characters, use them. Learn how to keep your protagonists active. 

The West Wing Writers' Room: Part 5

Who's got a bad idea? Aaron and the students run through various plot ideas as the writers' room continues. 

The West Wing Writers' Room: Part 6

As Aaron says, "You don't have to assault the audience with plot." The writers discuss the value of pacing—plus the limits of reality within fiction.

The West Wing Writers' Room: Part 7

Aaron and the students wrap up the virtual writers' room and discuss lessons learned.

The West Wing Writers' Room: Part 8

You've got a screenplay—now it's time to pitch. Learn what questions Hollywood's decision makers will ask you during a pitch and how to effectively answer them.

Group Workshop: Pitch Session

Aaron turns the tables on his writers and pitches them his idea for a brand-new TV series called Mission to Mars.

Group Workshop: Aaron Pitches Mission to Mars

In the final lesson, Aaron offers his parting wisdom and leaves you with one more assignment that will last the rest of your life.

Closing Thoughts

Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting

Paper is clearer

Without conflict, they'll walk out

Knowing an idea is not having an idea

The best characters aren't the most human

To understand a story, open the hood

Drama is what happens after the queen dies

Writing means hitting a snowbank

Stories don't always follow a compass

Dialogue isn't talking

When it's done, it's still just in your head

Life doesn't move forward like a story

Teaches Filmmaking

Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking

Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking

Teaches Directing

Ron Howard

Ron Howard Teaches Directing

Teaches Acting

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren Teaches Acting

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting

Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Parris Goebel

Parris Goebel Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Teaches Songwriting and Producing

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys Teaches Songwriting and Producing

Teaches Comedy

Judd Apatow

Judd Apatow Teaches Comedy

Teaches Independent Filmmaking

Spike Lee

Spike Lee Teaches Independent Filmmaking

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman Teaches Acting

Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

Ken Burns

Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

Mira Nair

Mira Nair Teaches Independent Filmmaking

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking

Teaches Creativity and Film

David Lynch

David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film

Teaches Art and Creativity

Jeff Koons

Jeff Koons Teaches Art and Creativity

Teaches Voice Acting

Nancy Cartwright

Nancy Cartwright Teaches Voice Acting

Teaches Photography

Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz Teaches Photography

Teaches Film Scoring

Hans Zimmer

Hans Zimmer Teaches Film Scoring

Steve Martin

Steve Martin Teaches Comedy

Teaches Investigative Journalism

Bob Woodward

Bob Woodward Teaches Investigative Journalism

Teaches Adventure Photography

Jimmy Chin

Jimmy Chin Teaches Adventure Photography

Teach the Art of Magic

Penn & Teller

Penn & Teller Teach the Art of Magic

Teaches Music for Film

Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman Teaches Music for Film

Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication

Robin Roberts

Robin Roberts Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication

Teaches Writing

James Patterson

James Patterson Teaches Writing

Teaches The Art of Performance

Usher

Teaches The Art Of Performance

Usher Teaches The Art of Performance

Teaches Singing

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera Teaches Singing

Teaches Country Music

Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire Teaches Country Music

Teaches Electronic Music Production

deadmau5

deadmau5 Teaches Electronic Music Production

Teaches Writing for Television

Shonda Rhimes

Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television

Teaches Design and Architecture

Frank Gehry

Frank Gehry Teaches Design and Architecture

Teaches Dramatic Writing

David Mamet

David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing

Teaches Jazz

Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz

Judy Blume

Judy Blume Teaches Writing

Teaches Dance Music

Armin van Buuren

Armin van Buuren Teaches Dance Music

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing

Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

R.L. Stine

R.L. Stine Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

Teaches Creative Writing

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing

Teaches Electric Guitar

Tom Morello

Tom Morello Teaches Electric Guitar

Teaches Writing Thrillers

Dan Brown

Dan Brown Teaches Writing Thrillers

Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar

Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar

Teaches the Art of Storytelling

Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling