Lectures

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  1. "FADE IN"

  In the introductory lecture, Nick Vallelonga establishes the fundamentals of screenplay writing, beginning with the challenge of facing the blank page and emphasizing that the true goal of writing a screenplay is to get a movie made, not simply to create a readable script. Reflecting on his journey from writing in his New Jersey basement to winning an Oscar for Green Book, he highlights the importance of persistence, discipline, and resilience in overcoming both creative and industry challenges. He also previews key topics that will be explored throughout the course, including script formatting, story structure, character development, protecting your work, and the collaborative process of filmmaking.
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  2. Nobody Knows Anything

  In lecture two, we analyze the screenwriting process behind Green Book, revealing how the Oscar-winning script took shape as a Hero's Journey inspired by the richness of real-life sources—personal tapes, interviews, and letters—rather than rigid structural formulas. Essential screenwriting books by Syd Field, Robert McKee, Stephen King, and William Goldman are examined, with Goldman's axiom 'nobody knows anything' highlighting Hollywood's unpredictability. Vallelonga emphasizes learning through osmosis—watching films and reading screenplays—while stressing daily writing and letting structure flow naturally from authentic storytelling as keys to producing compelling work.
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  3. Writing in Practice

  In lecture three, Vallelonga provides a hands-on demonstration of professional screenplay writing using Final Draft software, walking through the essential elements of a screenplay, including slug lines, action lines, character introductions, dialogue, parentheticals, and transitions. Using a collaboratively improvised story, he demonstrates how to structure scenes, introduce characters, handle location changes, and write montage and action sequences while emphasizing the importance of proper formatting for production. The lecture concludes with discussions of the rewriting process, the importance of thinking visually and creatively beyond conventional story structures, and the challenges screenwriters face as their work moves into production.
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  4. In the Beginning

  In lecture four, Vallelonga traces the origins of storytelling from ancient epics such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Dante's Divine Comedy, and Shakespeare's biblical influences, arguing that modern screenwriting inherits its core structures, themes, and character archetypes from these works. He explores dramatic principles including tragedy and comedy, three-act structure, irony, and obstacles, while highlighting themes of morality, redemption, and human complexity. Throughout, he emphasizes crafting compelling characters through meaningful obstacles, rich backstories, and moral complexity. The lecture concludes by showing how contemporary film continues this storytelling tradition, with every screenplay forming part of a narrative legacy spanning thousands of years.
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  5. What Should We Watch?

  In lecture five, we turn to the essential films every screenwriter should study, with close analysis of Citizen Kane, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Godfather, and Rocky. Each is read through biblical and Shakespearean lenses, revealing how they grapple with timeless themes like power and corruption, identity, sacrifice, and the meaning of an ordinary life. The lecture highlights how great screenwriting transcends genre by grounding story in moral and emotional truth through structure and character. We conclude by reflecting on perseverance in creative work and the importance of connecting to universal human needs for love, purpose, and belonging.
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  6. The Professional Path

  In lecture six, we follow a screenwriter’s personal journey from early influences to professional success. Vallelonga stresses the importance of reading widely, writing what you know, and persisting through years of rejection, while taking any opportunity—from extra work on film sets to cold-calling agents—to build experience. He offers practical advice for aspiring writers and directors, including immersing oneself in relevant material, making short films to build a reel, trusting actors on set, and maintaining the daily discipline of writing. Throughout, he emphasizes that resilience, faith, and a willingness to embrace every experience are essential to sustaining a creative career through long periods of uncertainty.
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  7. Meaningful Writing

  In lecture seven, Vallelonga presents Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol as a foundational work bridging classical storytelling and modern film, with its enduring themes of greed, redemption, transformation, and the human condition rooted in theological ideas of sin, repentance, and grace. We explore its lasting cultural impact through numerous adaptations and its influence on films like It’s a Wonderful Life and Citizen Kane. Through discussion, Vallelonga emphasizes intentional, heartfelt writing and the responsibility of shaping meaningful stories, alongside practical screenwriting advice on character development, subtext, dialogue, collaboration, and simply committing to putting words on the page.
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  8. Green Book

  In our eighth and final lecture, Nick Vallelonga takes us behind the scenes of bringing the Oscar-winning Green Book to life, based on his father’s 1960s road trip with pianist Don Shirley. He reflects on the decades-long development of the project and the collaborative writing process with Peter Farrelly and Brian Currie, where key choices—like casting Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali and balancing comedy with drama—shaped the film. He also discusses protecting the script’s integrity against studio pressure, with Steven Spielberg helping preserve the filmmakers’ vision. The lecture closes with the film’s path to Best Picture and lessons on perseverance, creative integrity, and the hard work required to bring a story from page to screen.