Past Instructors
Michael Cordell's writing class "Screenwriting for Hollywood" will begin Tuesday, September 20.
When did you first feel like a writer?
In fourth grade when my teacher read a poem I had written about pollution (I’m fairly sure I came out against it) and she said I should submit it to “Weekly Reader”. From time to time ever since, I’ve had bits of encouraging things said about my writing.
What's your philosophy about teaching a writing class?
I simply share my thoughts, experiences and philosophy about writing for Hollywood, and students can pick out those things that ring true to them. I’ve had a modicum of success writing screenplays (my goal is to one day have two modicum) and so I think some of the things I say should at least be considered. I also believe, though, that there is no one right way to write, so at no time do I try to say “this is how you have to do it.”
If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be and why?
Not an easy question. While I’m sure I’ll come up with about twenty better answers in the days and weeks to come, right now I’m going to say Sherlock Holmes. He’s obviously a three-dimensional character with intelligence, wit, a sense of adventure, an artistic vein, and an interesting personal life. So I’ll go with him, since picking “Catwoman” might sound a little shallow.
