About Script Anatomy
Television & Film Screenwriting School
Tawnya Benavides Bhattacharya founded Script Anatomy in 2011, as a fledgling TV writer based in Los Angeles. Her goal: To create a course that she wished she could take herself — that would provide writers with a hands-on, applicable writing process, a supportive community, and prepare them to enter the industry.
Today, Script Anatomy is one of the foremost screenwriting schools in the country, with over 45 instructors, all of them working writers. We have helped hundreds of students get staffed, sell pilots and features, and become showrunners. For the first ten years, we grew by word of mouth alone.
In this 5 minute video, founder Tawnya (below) and working alumni talk about how Script Anatomy can transform your writing and your career. For more from our alumni, check out their testimonials.
The Script Anatomy Tools
Script Anatomy’s trademarked writing tools were borne of the belief that mere theory is not sufficient. To sustain a career, writers need an applicable process that they can use at every level to develop material and fix story problems. Tawnya devised the tools as a method to build your script idea from a concept to a polished draft.
They work, as our alumni attest. Working writers often return to take Script Anatomy classes between jobs to ‘work the tools’ on their latest projects. So many that we’ve created a Masterclass series.
The Script Anatomy method has been taught at the Disney ABC Writing Program, Writers Guild of America, Warner Media Access Program, the Austin Film Festival, the Producer’s Guild of America (PGA) Fellowship Program, Hugo House, Carleton College, and more.
What’s Unique About Script Anatomy?
Out of all the screenwriting schools out there, Script Anatomy is different in four notable ways:
ONE: We teach a consistent and practical process.
At most schools individual instructors teach whatever system they happen to use. But at Script Anatomy, they teach the tools. While they bring individual experience and expertise to the table, they all teach a proven Script Anatomy method. So whichever class you take with us, that class will have the same structure and curriculum, regardless of instructor.
TWO: Our instructors are all currently working writers.
Their credits are not 20 years old. They work on shows like Ozark, Silicon Valley, A Million Little Things, and more. If you’re serious about entering this fast-moving industry, there’s no better teacher than a working writer who is up-to-date.
THREE: We provide step-by-step feedback.
That is, we don’t wait until you reach a draft before giving you notes. We give you notes and feedback at every stage, from logline to concept to outline and so on. Better to catch a story problem early, and build a solid foundation. And our instructors don’t blow smoke, they will always give an honest evaluation of your project (see below).
FOUR: We treat all our writers as emerging professionals.
While our focus is on developing your craft, we also prepare you for life in the professional world. So we run several classes like real TV writers rooms. And we cover pitching, staffing, development, acquiring representation, and the application process for the all-important studio writing programs that have launched so many alumni careers.
Is Script Anatomy Right for me?
If you’re serious about your writing goals, then yes. We expect students to apply themselves. If you’re after a more casual experience with tea and biscuits and a certificate program, then honestly, there are other schools.
That said, you don’t need experience to join. Our students range from total novices to working pros, as you’ll see from their testimonials. Courses range from foundational to advanced. As well as network execs, directors and actors, we see journalists, lawyers, nurses, cops, teachers, and on and on. What they share is a positive outlook, an urge to tell stories, and a willingness to go for it!
To learn which course is right for you, check out our TV Writing courses, our Feature Writing courses, and our Frequently Asked Questions.