Praise for Andy Wolk's annual Screenwriting and Directing Symposium

Andy Wolk

In January of 2003, screenwriter and director Andy Wolk, C'70, convened the first-ever Screenwriting and Directing Symposium at the Kelly Writers House. The symposium format, modeled after the Sundance Lab Institute, has two basic components: (1) Public "Master Classes" or seminars on issues germane to the craft of writing and directing screenplays, and (2) One-on-one sessions with four Penn students or recent graduates chosen from a pool of applicants based on the merit of submitted work, usually a play or screenplay. Andy returned to Writers House in February of 2004 to convene a second symposium. Below please find responses from Symposium participants and related newspaper articles.

And thank you Andy!

Andy Wolk's seminars were more than inspiring -- they were downright useful. As soon as I put his strategies to work, the dimly lit path to creating a screenplay was suddenly much brighter.

--Suzanne Maynard Miller

Working with Mr. Wolk was one of the most enlightening, invaluable experiences I've yet to have. It isn't every day that, as a student, you get the opportunity to sit down and have a one-on-one critique session with a professional in any industry, much less an exclusive one like screenwriting. The lessons and skills I learned are things I will remember and utilize in my writings for the rest of my life.

--Robert Forman

I wanted to let you know that I completely enjoyed the screenwriting workshops with Andy Wolk. I did not know what to expect and this far exceeded anything I envisioned ... and thanks to Andy who truly was inspiring and a great teacher.

--seminar attendee

As a novice writer who learned screenwriting from a book and watching movies, Andy really helped me learn the structure that sells a story and the overall formula in screenwriting of how a story translates into film. He is very knowledgeable about the moviemaking business. It was an inspiring session and forced me to be "ruthless" with me writing and restructuring my story. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to discuss my work him.

--Kristin Haskin, C'93

I just wanted to send a note of THANKS to you. My son Don, completely enjoyed the class with Andy Wolk last night. After about 1 1/2 hours, I walked by the Writers House and notice through the window that Don was well into the class. He seemed mesmerized by Mr. Wolk.

--parent of seminar attendee

Thanks so much for organizing the seminar. it was a great learning experience for me. My preconceived notions of what a hollywood writer would be like were totally off the mark after hearing Mr. Wolk speak. His love for the genre and pride in his own work were inspiring to an aspiring writer like myself.

--seminar attendee

Thanks so much for organizing the seminar. It was a great learning experience for me. My preconceived notions of what a Hollywood writer would be like were totally off the mark after hearing Mr. Wolk speak. His love for the genre and pride in his own work were inspiring to an aspiring writer like myself. Thanks for making it happen.

--Niels Rosenquist, attendee of Master Class on the "Nuts and Bolts of Writing a Screenplay"