How to Write Funny, Compelling Scripts that Don't Suck
How to Write Funny, Compelling Scripts that Don't Suck
SCRIPT X 464.11E
Learn how masterful screenwriters put realistic words into their characters’ mouths in this course dedicated to the art and craft of dialogue.
Duration
As few as 11 weeks
Units
3.0
Current Formats
Live Online
Cost
Starting at $820.00
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What you can learn.
What you can learn.
Study how the moral premise of your story feeds into comedic opportunities
Turn life experience into funny dialogue that resonates in your script
Employ effective editing techniques to ensure only the best lines survive
Identify dialogue pitfalls and learn to avoid them
About This Course
Great, funny, compelling dialogue is easier than you think. It comes when you focus on one single thing: your moral premise. There’s a vice and a virtue ready to argue with each other, and funny lines arrive when you see the strengths and weaknesses in your argument. In this workshop, you learn how screenplay structure can be dialogue’s best friend, how to write great dialogue by drawing from your worst life moments, and how to be a ruthless editor. You also learn how to avoid dialogue pitfalls like wordiness, clunkiness, ambivalence, and wishy-washiness. By the end of the course, you write dialogue that cracks like a whip.
Fall 2026 Schedule
Date
Details
Format
-
Thursday 4:00PM - 7:00PM PT
Live Online
Remote Classroom
Notes
No meeting November 26.
Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.
This course is held via video teleconference. Instructors use Zoom to offer live class meetings at the designated class meeting time. Students must be present at the course meeting time as each student’s final grade may include scores for participation. Please inform your instructor if you will miss a class meeting. You are responsible for any class information you missed. We suggest you arrange with a fellow classmate to share their notes when feasible.
Deadline
Refunds only available from July 27, 2026 to October 04, 2026
Course Requirements
Internet required to retrieve course materials.
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Online
Thu Sep 24, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Thu Oct 1, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Thu Oct 8, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Thu Oct 15, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Thu Oct 22, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Thu Oct 29, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Thu Nov 5, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Thu Nov 12, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Thu Nov 19, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Thu Dec 3, 2026
4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT
Remote Classroom