It's rare to find a screenwriting instructor who not only has tons of teaching experience, but has also had a movie in theaters in the last year. Matthew Waynee is exactly such a teacher, and I'm thrilled to be joining his class starting June 5. I recently asked him a few questions about the business of screenwriting:

Q. What's the most common mistake screenwriters make?

A. Overwriting, in the action descriptions or especially in the dialogue. Economy is key!

Q. What kinds of screenplays are sealing right now?
A. Lower-budget films, $8-$15 million.

Q. What are the three things that make a screenplay great?

An original twist that will draw your audience in.

Powerful escalation of tension.

Engaging characters.

Matthew's class starts June 5. More info is here.

— Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Director of Community Development