Come join us for one week of Continuing Education classes on writing. The series includes practical courses exploring “the Art of Storytelling,” screenwriting, and TV writing. You’ll learn all about screenwriting basics, story development, and what a writer’s room is like through creative exercises taught by professionals. A guest writer will answer questions about their work and share insights into how you can enhance your storytelling skills.
Below you can briefly meet each of our instructors for the writing sessions. You can register to attend the series here.
INSTRUCTOR BIOs
Katya Lidsky
Class: Storytelling Workshop: Before Page One (July 20)
Katya Lidsky is a writer, a trauma-informed, certified breathwork facilitator, and a creative coach. She writes screenplays and books, has written for television, and has sold TV pilots. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Parents, Texas Monthly, and many other publications. Her one-woman play, I’m Sorry, which she wrote and performed to sold-out audiences across Los Angeles and New York City, was part of the New York Fringe Festival. After graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Katya obtained a master’s degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. She is obsessed with stories, spirituality, and shelter dogs. Her first book, Be Your Dog’s Best Friend: The Benefits of Mutual Bonding and Relationship Building, comes out this fall. Follow her on Instagram @KatyaLidsky
Stephen Ohl
Class: Principles of Screenwriting (July 21 & 22)
Stephen Ohl is an award-winning writer/director with over 15 years of professional experience. He received an MFA in directing from the AFI Conservatory. He made his feature debut with the hilarious USELESS HUMANS, which was released on Showtime in 2020. Most recently, he directed an eight-episode comedy series called Sales are Dope, which was originally released in early 2023 but has been re-released as a feature film on Amazon Prime this year.
Rachel Lewis
Class: Crafting Your Pitch (July 23)
Rachel Lewis is a four-time Emmy nominated writer/producer living in Los Angeles. She has a background in improv and sketch comedy, spending a number of years in both Chicago and LA studying, teaching, and performing at Second City, iO, The Annoyance Theater, and Groundlings. Rachel has written for shows on Disney (Bizaardvark, Raven’s Home), Apple TV+ (Helpsters, Yo Gabba GabbaLand), PBS (Odd Squad), HBO Max, Netflix, Nickelodeon, and Amazon. She (along with her writing partner Alex Fox) has also developed a variety of pilots with Disney, Nickelodeon, Lionsgate, and Sony Pictures Animation — including a DC/Warner Brothers multi-cam comedy with Bill Lawrence and Elizabeth Banks for HBO Max. Currently, Rachel serves as one of the co-creators/executive producers/showrunners of Electric Bloom, an original music-driven comedy series for Disney Channel/Disney+, featuring music by Diane Warren! Rachel is a proud graduate of the prestigious WGA Showrunner Training Program and schedules all her writing meetings around food. More info: www.jonandeddieproductions.com.
