Beverly Gray

Instructor Biography:

Ph.D., screenwriter, author and former development executive who oversaw the development of 170 feature films at Concorde-New Horizons Pictures. Dr. Gray’s newest book is Seduced by Mrs. Robinson: How The Graduate Became the Touchstone of a Generation. She has also written biographies of Roger Corman and Ron Howard.

Instructor Statement:

My aim is to help students transcend the familiar genre formulas so that craft becomes something resembling art. I duplicate as closely as possible the story conferences I've had over the years with scores of promising writers. As a class, we look closely at each student's work, always respecting the author's intent, always trying to find specific ways to push it to the highest possible level. At the same time, we are constantly mindful of the practical considerations that make filmmaking so challenging, so frustrating, and so much fun. A thick skin, a sense of humor and a willingness to burn the midnight oil are essential prerequisites for this course.