5 sessions, Saturdays, March 9 to April 6, 3-5pm Eastern, 12-2pm Pacific

Run to the airport with all the fervor of a feminist in sensible shoes! This 5-week course is equal parts craft and source text study: unbraiding commercial hit scenes, then “rewriting them” per our experience as actual human women! We’ll be scrutinizing a delightful AND delightfully problematic genre: the curse-worthy, but also popcorn-worthy, Rom-Com. Our approach is to allow for its dependable joys, but find all-new writerly freedom in subverting its tropes and reimaging its comedy front to back—with laughs based in truth and fearless play. We’ll also investigate the few brave outliers that tried to stretch the genre and beef up the genre’s intelligence (queer love anyone? women who are unflappable?). Together, we take a clear-eyed look at the commercial limitations which have historically plagued and flattened what’s possible for romance on the screen. In the process, we’ll find our own way as writers towards a version of on-screen love that does not shackle us to our culture’s worst and most sexist prescriptions. Come with your original script ideas, or none at all!

Scripts studied: “When Harry Met Sally,” “Knocked-Up,” “Kissing Jessica Stein,” “Never Been Kissed,” “Annie Hall,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “The Princess Bride,” “Moonstruck.”

Additional information:

All screenwriter levels welcome! Because everyone is moving at their own pace, this course is appropriate for beginner to experienced screenwriters.

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

I had so much fun in “YOUR TEENAGE SELF WAS A F***ING STAR"! Lauren gave the class great prompts before, during, and after the workshop, so that I felt empowered to mine my awkward teenage years in order to create comic gold. I'm also convinced that she was a therapist in a past life, because she so skillfully guided us all as we navigated our adolescent angst, while still keeping the focus on learning the craft and finding laughs. Thankfully, she is a comedy writer and teacher in this life, so that she can continue to lead great writing workshops!
—Kate Anderson

Your class was deeply healing for me. It was fantastic to be uniquely supported by you and equally so to hear your support of others. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. To be able to speak out loud my story after a lifetime of feeling unsafe to express myself was freeing. I am forgiving of myself and others. Hearing others' stories was expansive. I loved being in your class.
—Jeanne Litt

Lauren’s style in the classroom is both comforting and challenging. She created a safe space to dig deeper into my younger self and the experiences that made me the creative I am today while confronting and embracing the cringe factor that many of us feel when we think back to those moments. “YOUR TEENAGE SELF WAS A F***ING STAR” brought me back to my big feelings and helped give me the space to appreciate them for the inspiration and perspective they can offer.
—Liz Dufresne

I was lucky to be able to take a condensed version of the YTSWAFS workshop with Lauren through GOLD Comedy. The exercises that we did were so helpful in reflecting on myself in middle school and high school. Some of the exercises were very cathartic. When difficult emotions emerged, I felt validation from Lauren and the group. I really enjoyed figuring out what my teen superpower would be and how to use all of the above in different styles of comedic writing. Check this out!!!
—Emily Goldstein

You don’t have to be working on a project about your teenage years … or even thinking about one. I took this class to learn techniques for adding more humor to my writing in general. Ths class delivered.
—Courtney C.

Writing the Subversive Rom-Com: 5 session screenwriting course with Lauren Veloski