Yearlong In Screenwriting: Feature Film
with Andrew Bell
Online
Online Intermediate, Advanced
Intermediate, Advanced 30 Sessions
30 Sessions If you’ve got a feature film inside you—an idea, an outline, or a half-finished draft haunting you from the depths of your laptop—this is your year to finally write it.
In this immersive, craft-focused screenwriting workshop, you’ll spend nine months planning, drafting, and revising a complete feature-length screenplay. Through weekly writing, in-class workshops, and close readings of screenplays and films, you’ll learn how to write with production in mind, sharpen your storytelling instincts, and build the stamina it takes to finish something big.
Working alongside your screenwriting cohort, you’ll move from idea to outline to finished draft, regularly giving and receiving feedback on each others’ scripts. The focus is steady momentum and deep craft—the kind of process that turns screenwriters into screenfinishers.
By the end of the year, you’ll walk away with a polished screenplay ready for competitions, fellowships, production, or your next big pitch.
This is the part of the movie where the main character gets to work. 🫵
This class focuses on:
- Craft & Technique: Focuses on improving writing skills, exploring elements like plot, character, or dialogue.
- Workshop: Students submit work and receive feedback from the instructor and/or classmates.
- Writing Life & Process: Focuses on developing writing habits, overcoming procrastination, or sustaining creative momentum.
What to expect:
- Goal-Setting & Accountability: Includes tools or practices to help students stay motivated.
- Project-Based: Students will work toward completing a specific project (e.g., a story, poem, or essay).
- Career & Industry Guidance: Focuses on navigating the writing profession.
- Reading & Analysis: Published works will be closely read as part of the learning process.
- Class Discussion: Facilitated class conversation
- In-Class Sharing: Students are invited to share their writing aloud or in small groups during class.
- Instructor Feedback: Students receive direct feedback from the instructor.
- Peer Feedback: Students share and critique each other’s work.
- 2-3 hours of reading and/or writing outside of class per week
Students say…
“Andrew is an excellent teacher. I've gotten more out of the two classes I've taken with him than any other film writing classes I've been in.”
“Script writing and TV writing (and/or pitch decks) were completely new to me and it was a great class to step outside my comfort zone – and get myself writing again. Andrew did a great job providing awesome resources and it felt like a very clear roadmap for continuing my interest.”
“I appreciated the care and time that everyone got on their scripts from the class and from Andrew. it was really helpful for my writing. Andrew was always ready with notes and went out of his way to offer office hours and extra time when we'd ask for help. I was happy with the workshop style and learning how to read other people's writing…the most learning I had was from actually sitting down and writing and reading other people's writing”
“I was always grateful for Andrew's insightful, detailed notes on our work. I also appreciated that he was so accessible for questions and assistance outside of class sessions. He fostered a really unique and productive class dynamic. We all got so much writing done!”
“The cohort of people I wrote with were some of the most kind, creative, and talented people I've gotten to work with. 2. The structure of the class was incredibly effective for being consistent in my writing to the end objective of finishing a feature film draft. 3. Andrew's feedback as an instructor was incredibly sharp, his availability outside of class was generous and helpful, and his ability to connect with the students in the class and offer thoughtful and tailored notes to each student was a large part of the ability and willingness of the group to be open, receptive, and generous with their feedback.”
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Q&A with Yearlong in Feature Film instructor Andrew Bell:
What do students need in order to take this class (craft knowledge, specific skills, projects, etc.)?
Writers should be prepared to tackle a months long writing project and invest deeply in the work of their fellow writers. Screenwriting experience is recommended, but an experienced and eager writer from any medium should be fine if they’re willing to put in the work.
What is the community-building experience like in this class?
This workshop class is all about community. We're building a cohort of like-minded writers and working together to turn each of our ideas into the best version of itself it can be. We’ll hold each other accountable, lift our fellow writers up when the going gets tough, and cross the finish line together.
What are you most excited to share and/or experience with your students?
This is going to be an adventure. We’ll go through the ups and downs together, grow tremendously as writers, and learn to better support or fellow writers and artists as we do a crazy thing. We’ll walk away with a brand-spanking-new screenplay, a renewed love and appreciation for film and filmmaking, and deeper understanding of story, character, conflict, structure, and all the other bits that go into crafting a successful and compelling screenplay of any genre.
What is your philosophy on being an artist?
Care about what you're making and have fun. Put the work in and the work gets better.
Anything else you'd like to share with your students?
I love teaching this class, getting to know new writers, and falling in love with their stories.This is going to be so much fun and I can't wait 🙂
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Registration Dates:
- August 12: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- August 19: General registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- August 26: Scholarships open
- August 31: Last day of Early Bird discount
This class is not eligible for a member discount. Learn more here »
Andrew Bell
Andrew Bell is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and educator from the Pacific Northwest. His short film work has played at festivals worldwide and is broadcast internationally on ShortsTV, BloodydisgustingTV, and streaming on CryptTV. He is currently working on his first feature film and doing what he loves most—mentoring young writers, actors, and filmmakers. He holds an MFA from Columbia University.
FAQ
Complete FAQEach class description includes a breakdown of what you can expect in terms of in-class activity, feedback, and homework (if any).
Generative means you’ll be generating new writing, either in class or at home between classes.
Workshop means you’ll be sharing work to be read and critiqued by your instructor and classmates and that you will also be critiquing the work of your peers.
Reading means you’ll be doing close reading of a work with an eye toward craft.
Craft discussion means you’ll be looking at the tools writers use to do that thing they do so well and then trying it out yourself.
Class levels are designed for various stages of the writing journey. Simply self-select the level that sounds best for where you’re at.
Introductory: This is your first creative writing workshop, first writing class since high school, or first foray into a new genre or form. You’re looking to try something new, kickstart your writing, and/or establish yourself in the fundamentals.
Intermediate: You have a strong understanding of writing fundamentals and are eager to deep dive into craft. You’re honing your writerly identity and voice through independent projects. In workshop, you look for constructive feedback and are ready to do writing and reading outside of class.
Advanced: You’ve written a significant body of work and have taken it through several stages of revision. You’re getting ready to publish or are in the early stage of publishing, and you’re interested in refining the skills that will take you to the next level in the literary industry.
All Levels: You are any of the above and are looking to play with new possibilities.
You’ll get your class information, including Zoom link if applicable, three days before the first day of class.
Write With Hugo House is our free monthly write-in program, operated in partnership with the Seattle Public Library. Two take place onsite at SPL locations, one takes place online.
Sliding-scale classes are offered every quarter. Find them in our Class Catalog.
We announce flash sales, early bird periods, and special deals through our e-newsletter; sign up at the bottom of this page.
At this time, we offer payment plans on classes 8 sessions and up. Email education@hugohouse.org with the name of the class you’re interested in to set up a payment plan. Please note that you can only have 2 active payment plans per quarter.
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We charge a 5% nonrefundable administrative fee for all payment plans.
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Extended payment plans up to 8 monthly installments and 16 semi-monthly installments are available upon request.
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We are unable to hold seats for prospective payment plan students. Students will be enrolled once their first installment has been paid.
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If you need to cancel, Hugo House will issue refunds according to its cancellation and transfer policies. Your 5% nonrefundable admin fee will not be refunded.
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If you withdraw from a class after it begins, you will not receive a refund and are still responsible for paying the full course tuition.
Asynchronous classes are perfect for students that need flexibility!
During an asynchronous class, instructors release new lessons once per week. Students then have one week to complete that lesson and any accompanying coursework. You’ll learn as much as you would in a traditional class but with the flexibility to work at the best times for your schedule!
While there are no live sessions, asynchronous classes are still a lively and rigorous experience. Async classes are not static lessons but an adaptable and energetic community space. Be ready to work in a collaborative environment, giving and receiving feedback on your writing, participating in discussions, and growing your writing practice in a way that works best for you.
Asynchronous classes take place through the website Wet Ink. Students receive an invitation to the class and to set up a Wet Ink account on the start date of the class. Each week of the class, a new lesson will be available through the Wet Ink portal. Classes close two weeks after the end date, and students receive an email containing their content from the class when it closes.
Hugo House will only process refund requests that are submitted 5 business days or more before the class start date. To request a refund, log in to your account, go to “My Account,” select the “Orders” tab on the left-hand side, click the appropriate order, and request a refund for your specific class. Administrative fees apply. Please see our full refund policy here.
In general, we do not record classes. However, an exception if a student has specific access needs.
We encourage students to only sign up for classes that fit with their schedule.
We do not tolerate racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist, transphobic or any other oppressive behaviors, regardless of who commits them. Please check out our full community guidelines by clicking here. If an instance of community guidelines are violated and not resolved within the classroom, students may let us know by filling out the student incident report.
If Hugo House needs to cancel a class for any reason, you’ll receive a full refund.
You can apply for a scholarship by clicking the red “Request a Scholarship” text on class pages. The scholarship request text is located at the top of each class page, underneath the “add to cart” button.
Due to the limited number of scholarships, please only request up to two scholarships for two different classes per quarter if you truly meet the financial need requirements.
Hugo House members get to register early for classes – a full week before they open to the general public!, receive a 10% discount on events and classes, and more. See the full list of membership benefits here!
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If you’re interested in contributing your skills, Hugo House accepts volunteer applications for a variety of roles, including event support, administrative tasks, and more. Learn more on our Volunteer page.
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