Welcome to the Main Blog: Inspiration, Edification and Entertainment

Create Your Own

March 30, 2011 in Workshops - leave a reply

Last week, Pete Goldfinger, writer of Sorority Row, Piranha 3D, and many TV pilots, came to the Kahnstitute and led a FABULOUS workshop called “Create Your Own” for actors who want to write their way to success. He did an exercise in which everybody in the class effortlessly came up with an idea and he and the class helped shape it. He talked about the importance – really the NECESSITY — of actors creating their own material in order to stay current. So many of you have great ideas for projects that would help your career; the problem is that you may not know how to facilitate writing and producing these ideas. Pete got everybody moving forward in just a couple of hours! It was an amazing thing to see. My favorite thing about the class was when Pete said his job was, in addition to teaching, to be “each student’s writing partner.” I LOVED that. I LOVED Pete!

He talked about how important it is to be an expert in what you do and to see the world as a writer (just like Betty Edwards says that it’s important to see the world the way an artist sees it in a li’l book called  DRAWING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN, and we therefore ask you to see the world as an actor sees it. Some nice antitheticals there, huh?). He suggested that we all start to notice the little things in our lives. He talked about opposites and how they help us create characters, and suggested that we write about our fears — that we MAKE something out of them.

Pete says it’s absolutely mandatory for actors to have SOMETHING on line. And when you Create Your Own stuff, it shows you’re working and productive. He told us that every million hits you get means $3,300 to you! So it’s remunerative! In addition, Creating Your Own is inexpensive right now — the pilot for IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA cost only $200. Finally – you GOTTA Create Your Own: it’s your legacy.

Pete also told this story that I loved:  “One guy hits a rock with a hammer in order to break it. He does it ninety-nine times. A second guy watches. The rock finally breaks on the hundredth attempt. The second guy says, “Wow, you must have hit it really hard that hundredth time!”

“Nah,”says the first guy. “I just had already hit it ninety-nine times before that.”

And guess what! Pete teaches a class! You bring in your stories and ideas in order to begin developing them into web-series, pilots, shorts, etc. that you can create and star in. He only teaches two of these classes a week (due to the fact that he is still a busy writer) and they are currently almost full. If you’re interested in a spot, please contact his assistant Tyler Neale (tylerneale@gmail.com, 646-714-9076) for information.

Following is some of the feedback from the actors who came to the workshop:

I loved the workshop! So inspiring!!!!!! It’s nice to hear the affirmation from a professional writer, that anyone can create and write. Its important for actors to be well rounded in the industry! I’m sure this workshop inspired everyone in the room! – Xxx, Soon to write, Sydney H

I loved it! I thought Pete was interesting and had great information to share. I loved how he made it interactive. I felt like we all left with some information on how to proceed in creating our own projects even if we don’t take his workshop. Thanks! -Courtney C

I loved it! I feel creatively charged. I thought Pete was great. I loved bouncing ideas off everyone. I would have loved hearing more about the next step regarding resources or ways to build creative team or ways to market the material once it has been created, but I recognize there is only so much that can be accomplished in a night. Thanks, -Rachel D

Great class! I love that he told us about his journey as a writer and then made it more of a workshop that allowed us to get up and work through the process that his students work through to create projects. He has great, positive energy! – Kristen W

I absolutely LOVED the writer’s workshop with Pete! I am so glad I decided to do it, as it really helped me find my direction. Classes @ LK&Co; always do that for me I felt that the insight Pete provided us with, as well as the creative encouragement, were extremely beneficial to my procrastinator’s brain. I actually made a great contact with another student, with whom I am going to bounce ideas …who knew? I feel pumped on the future and am ready to make my dreams fly! Thanks LK MANY BLESSINGS -Alexandra M

Pete’s class was good. Actually has gotten me excited about writing the pilot I’ve been holding back on. Which is what I lost…that drive…momentum. – Sydelle N

I loved it! Pete really got me thinking about things differently, I’m now looking at things like a writer. I’ll definitely be taking his class! – Cher T