Frequently Asked Questions & Answers:

Q. I'm not a screenwriter but heard great things about your school, can I attend?

A. Yes, directors, producers, actors, agents, managers, and composers have all attended our school. Composers have met writers and directors to compose their music. Also, producers have found material and contacts. Actors enjoy meeting producers and directors that are more open to taking their photos. There is networking among the students where people have worked together on different projects such as shorts, TV shows, and films together. We encourage Sherwood Oaks students to collaborate. Some famous actors have attended our school to find out what they need to do in order to get their film made or to take a role in a writer's or director's low budget movie.

Q. I'm already an established writer, why should I attend?

A. The movie industry is constantly changing, become aware of new trends and meet new contacts. If your scripts aren't selling, you may gleen insight as to how you can modify them or better yet meet the contacts that are interested.


Q. I've been to several events where top industry professionals have appeared. So far the only individuals I've been able to connect with are others who are in the same situation as myself. Why would yours be of any greater help to me than they were?

A.  Your confusing a speaker just being in your presence as compared to having accessibility to that person. If you're simply a member of an audience of hundreds you're not going to meet the speaker. At our events you personally meet each and every player, and even more importantly they meet you. And the great extra bonus is they almost always take material from the members of our group.

Q. Can you be more specific?

A. Imagine you and 15 other writers convene at a studio or conference room on an early Monday morning. Into that room comes an executive who proceeds to discuss his company with the group, in an interactive manner. This occurs five more times during that day. At the end of each session all guests take a synopsis from anyone who wishes to offer it. This is acceptable whether the writer happens to have representation or not.

The array of guests is repeated throughout the week in a different location each day. By week's end the writers will have given material to 25-30 production companies. We call it the Screenwriters Experience. Please be aware not every class is limited to 15 to 20 students.

Q. Who are the guests?

A. Producers, Executives, directors, story editors, etc.

Q. I've heard that you sometimes have the heads of companies as guests, does that really happen?

A. Yes. As a matter of fact once or twice each year we offer our Meetings With Executives. This is just what it sounds like, a week of meetings with top executives. And the best part even these top executives take material. Past guests have included Mark Gill, Bill Mechanic, Mike Medavoy, David Permut, Larry Mark and the presidents of Warners, Revolution, Radar, Scott Rudin Prod. Ridley Scott Prd, Lakeshore and Tom Cruise's CW productions.

Q. What kind of events do you do with literary agents and managers? 

A. One that is similar to the above one, except the group meets with 25-30 agents and managers in one week? We also have a different one that meets on the weekend. Guests almost always accept material from the writers. Many have obtained representation by taking one of these classes. The next one is in October.

Q. This all sounds almost too good to be true. Why is it you're not more well known.?

A. Since we're usually not looking for big numbers for our classes, we tend to keep our advertising low key. However Sherwood Oaks has been covered in the books or publications of Syd Field, Michael Hauge, Skip Press, K. Callan, Creative Screenwriting, The Los Angeles Times and People Magazine.

Q. So how it that you have been able to accomplish all this?

A. Over three decades we've built up strong industry connections and allies. Some of those are a reflection of the significant successes of many talented alumni. They include the likes of James Cameron, Dean Devlin, Matt Groening, Nancy Meyers, Tom Schulman, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Selleck, Jerry Zucker, and dozens of others. All together former Sherwood Oaks students have been the presidents of two studios, a network, two agencies, a guild and won more than 15 Academy Awards including three for the highest grossing film all time.

Q. Do you offer anything else nontraditional?

A. Yes, last we bought tables several award shows and took our writers those events. After the shows many of the nominees spoke to our group. Guests included; Jerry Bruckheimer, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino, Quentin Tarantino and others.  

Q. Can anyone attend?

A. Yes. And as a matter of fact a group from Chicago flew in especially for one of the awards shows. We are very open to other groups who would like to participate at various times of the year.  

Q. Do you ever work with other groups?

A. Yes, at last years Screenwriting Expo in Los Angeles we provided many guests including William Goldman, Shane Black Nicholas Meyer, Mike Medavoy, Peter Guber and others.   This year we will be taking part in the Expo (and "A Day After") as well as The Show Biz Expo and Knightstar Conference in June. We also have worked with The Script Writers Network, SWG.

Q. Some of the class fees are a little out of my range, what can I do?

A. We have a work-study program for many of the classes to lower the fees. Assistance ranges from faxing letters to help getting conference rooms at studios and other locations  

Q. How can I get involved in your program?

A. Go to our web site, see if there is anything that interests you. You can enroll via our web site and by paypal or send a check by regular mail.

And of course you can call any time to find out more information about our classes.

May you have good luck with your choices whatever you choose.