Writing Co-Lab

Study the greats, become the GREATEST! For 5 weeks, SCREENPLAYS BY BADASS WOMEN (Including YOU!) offers a supportive, uproariously fun and explorative kaleidoscope of screenwriting study AND practice. Sessions will toggle between three elements—script study, community exploration, writing—connecting the dots between our lived experiences on Planet Patriarchy, the historically marginalized “female gaze,” and our vast creative reach as women writers. 

Using a fresh rubric (screw you, “Save the Cat”), you’ll learn how to write a screenplay in full possession of its gobsmacking potential. Weekly, we’ll deep-dive several of the most groundbreaking screenplays by women, engaging in conversation about what exactly these cinematic worlds offer that’s brilliantly off-kilter and essential, as well as WRITE diligently into our own fresh (first ever?!) screenplay idea. 

Absolute beginners belong here! Because everyone is moving at their own pace, this course is appropriate for true screenwriting beginners to screenwriters with mid-level experience.

Screenwriters we study may include: Ava DuVernay, Callie Khouri, Greta Gerwig, Elaine May, Maya Rudolph, Adrienne Shelly, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Polley, Katie Dippold. 

Enrollment criteria:

All female-identifying writers welcome! Roll up your sleeves, sit your ass in that chair, and become a goddamn legend already.

One-on-one support:

The class price reflects Lauren’s commitment to one-on-one support, and each student will meet one-one-one with Lauren once during the 5 weeks, to crystalize their script idea, and get hands-on guidance. Additionally, Lauren is available for Zoom “office hours” ongoingly across all 5-weeks, to help you through any struggles, troubleshoot, and buoy confidence!

Course expectations:

We’ll read 2 brilliant screenplays every week as “take-home work,” as you develop your own original script idea (or use the class to continue one you already started) and begin to write into it. Every writer will bring a “share” into class from their script-in-progress once.

About the Instructor

Lauren Veloski is a screenwriter, comedy writer, creative coach, and founder of THAT'S BANANAS. Her first feature script, the indie comedy “SORRY, THANKS,” was praised by Lena Dunham for writing “as seamless as any studio rom-com—if studio rom-coms had astute, nuanced dialogue.” An “unromantic comedy” about casual douchebaggery, “SORRY, THANKS” world-premiered at SXSW, played 15 fests internationally, and sold to IFC/Sundance. After 15 years as the “story brain in the room” on countless television and film projects, Lauren launched THAT'S BANANAS in 2022 to do what she most loves: work one-on-one with writers at all levels, helping them come fully into their badassery and power on the page. Visit her online at www.thats-bananas.com

Student Testimonials

"Lauren Veloski is like a scriptwriting oracle. I feel ready to make my own thing now, but more importantly, I feel like I have the kind of permission I was seeking to carve a spot for myself. Lauren is a cheerleader, a warrior, a sage." —Lindsay Hunter, Author of "HOT SPRINGS DRIVE"

"Lauren is the best screenwriting teacher I’ve ever had. No, seriously. Remember your favorite teacher from school who made you feel seen and met you where you were at and knew exactly what you needed to hear? That’s her.” —Aliza Small, writer & comedian