Mastering the Scene: Crafting Unforgettable Moments (Morning)

with David Kirkpatrick

Legendary director John Ford once said, “You need five great scenes to make a great movie.” Kirkpatrick has built his career on this principle, collaborating with writers to craft indelible production-ready moments in their screenplays.

“The scene is the foundation of any movie or play,” says Kirkpatrick. “You’ve got to immerse yourself into the psyche of the actor to create ‘playable’ stories.” In this dynamic four-day workshop, you’ll not only learn how to conceptualize and write compelling scenes, but you’ll also embody them.

Through immersive Scene Labs, participants will bring their scripts or plays  to life—acting out their own scenes, exploring iconic moments from award-winning films, and using wardrobe pulled from your suitcase and objects found around the hotel to uncover how simple details can elevate the read.

You’ll delve into the subtle yet powerful “temperature change”—the emotional shift that occurs when an actor enters a scene and  exits the scene.

This hands-on approach emphasizes a powerful truth: to truly master a scene, you must play every part. By stepping into the shoes of actors, writers gain invaluable insights into dialogue, pacing, and physical storytelling.

When you leave this workshop, Kirkpatrick’s goal is clear: to equip you with the “secret sauce” of scene-making—ensuring your screenplay isn’t just good on paper, but irresistible to directors, producers, and audiences alike.

Prepare to write, act, refine, and feel your scenes. Prepare to create moments that don’t just sit on the page—they command the stage and screen.

“I never learned so much about writing than at the literary Disneyland David created for all of us in Kauai.” – Playwright

“Embodying the character as I write changed the whole trajectory of my career. I’ve had a script produced and two others optioned since taking David’s workshop.” Screenwriter