What better way to understand the mechanics of film and TV writing than to sit down with a writer and break down a script with them?
In this virtual event series, WGF Librarians Javier Barrios and Lauren O'Connor take a painstaking look at scripts on screen to analyze and learn about description, dialogue, character voice, and more.
For this session, we welcome Winnie Holzman to talk about the screenplay for Wicked. As we go through the script's pages, we'll learn about Holzman's process for adapting her book for Act One of the beloved stage musical to the screen.
While the event is free to attend, all proceeds will go towards the Entertainment Community Fund to support those in the industry who have been impacted by the Southern California wildfires.
The Zoom webinar starts at 7PM PT. After signing up, you’ll receive information on how to access the Zoom panel.
Before the event, read the screenplay for Wicked by Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox; Based on the musical stage play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman.
Questions? Feel free to reach out to us at events@wgfoundation.org.
Click here to watch previous sessions of WGF Library Script Breakdown.
About The Writer
Photo Courtesy of Showtime
Winnie Holzman is the writer (with renowned composer/ lyricist Stephen Schwartz) of the hit musical Wicked, which has been running for over 20 years on Broadway, and has been produced all over the world. She also co-wrote both screenplays for the movie adaptations of Wicked.
After graduating from Princeton University, Winnie went to New York City where she and three friends formed a comedy group, performing in various venues Off Off Broadway. She was accepted into the first class of the newly formed NYU Musical Theatre Program, where she studied with such luminaries as Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim. Her thesis musical, Birds of Paradise, (written with composer David Evans) was eventually produced off-Broadway, directed by Laurents.
Relocating to Los Angeles, she was asked to join the writing staff of the groundbreaking TV drama thirtysomething, and went on to create another memorable TV series-- My So-Called Life.
Other TV credits include Once and Again, (reuniting with her mentors, Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz) Huge ( collaborating with her daughter, Savannah Dooley) and Roadies (with Cameron Crowe).
Her (non-musical) play Choice was recently produced at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey. She’s written two other plays with her husband, actor Paul Dooley: Post-its: Notes on a Marriage, and Assisted Living. Also an actress, she appeared in the movie Jerry Maguire and as Larry David’s wife’s therapist on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Winnie is currently at work on an original drama series for HBO, which will reunite her with the star of My So-Called Life, Claire Danes.