Screenwriting Class
FIRST WEEK FOR $1
$1 charged at signup. Try it out for a week. Cancel at any time or continue month-to-month at $150/month. First full payment on October 16, then monthly.
Thursdays 7–8pm ET / 4–5pm PT Next Class: October 15, 2026 Live online class + unlimited replays
“Talent is simply the ability to write like yourself. It’s the simplest and the hardest thing to teach, because most writers have spent a lifetime being conditioned to write like somebody else.”
— Jacob Krueger
Foundations begins by stripping away the tired old formulas and paint-by-numbers rules that keep you writing like everybody else. And teaching you instead… a dance.
Between the Subconscious Writing Brain that needs to learn how to play like a child again. And the Conscious Editing Brain that needs to learn to guide and protect that child like a healthy parent.
Between the playful exploration through which Voice emerges. And the rigorous tools of Craft & Structure through which it is shaped.
There are many classes that teach the conscious editing brain. A few that teach the subconscious writing brain. And only one that teaches the dance.
That’s Foundations.
THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGINS
Every Thursday, join Studio Founder Jacob Krueger to build the foundations you need to succeed as a screenwriter.
Learning the way any great dance is mastered. Through repeated practice. One step at a time. One week at a time. One page at a time.
Coming back to each concept in deeper and deeper ways as you develop and grow. Until the dance becomes instinct. And the talent emerges.
You’ll start writing from the very first day, learning and practicing a new foundational concept each session:
Through lectures, workshops, script analysis, video clips, 7 Act Structure breakdowns and discussions.
Into your writing through curated practice exercises throughout the week.
Returning each class with questions and pages, and learning through Jacob’s detailed guided revisions of selected student work.
“The thing I learned from my experience... is that inspiration can come from any number of things... in class [Jake] was always very eloquent about it-- writing really is self-exploration, facing certain things you may not be dealing with every day, recognizing them and giving them a voice.”
—Sebastian Stan
Academy Award nominee, I, TONYA, A DIFFERENT MAN
Feature Films. TV Series & Limited Series. Shorts. Verticals. True Stories. Adaptations. Dramedies. Comedies. Dramas. Action. Rom-coms. Sci-Fi. Fantasy. Historical Epics. Noir. Thriller. Horror. Any genre. Any format.
Get past your inner censor. Crush writer’s block forever. Meditative writing. Hypnosis for writers (and readers). The 13 Doors of Writing. Formatting for the Inner Eye. From the tools you need to unearth your unique voice, to the tools you need to shape it.
Connecting to the emotional needs of your characters (and yourself!). Writing for actors. Beats, objectives, & superobjectives. Subtext. Monologues. Voiceover. Jungian archetypes vs stereotypes. Exploding cliché. Pro-level character introductions. A distinct voice for every character.
The 4 Phases of Writing. Rewrites that make your script better rather than just making it different. How to turn bad notes into good ones. How to satisfy the demands of producers, managers and agents without losing your voice.
Pitching. Loglines. Treatments. TV Bibles. Outlines. Pitch Decks. Networking. Getting Past Gatekeepers. Raising Money. Finding Managers, Agents & Producers. Getting Sh#t Done!
Consistency & rhythm. Goal setting. Progress tracking techniques. How to begin. How to get un-stuck. Dealing with self-doubt, procrastination and fear. Building a life as a writer.
Detailed movie and TV breakdowns. When and how to outline. Plot vs voice. Primary & secondary structure. Character arcs. Theme & hook. Film & TV structure & engine.
During your $1 trial, you can watch and rewatch the live class and bonus content as many times as you like until your trial ends.
If you choose to continue in Foundations, every live class from the date you join will be added to your searchable replay library and remain available while your membership is active.
“What I learned from Jake—and what became invaluable when I worked with David Fincher—was how to use theme as my guide. It became my roadmap. Suddenly, I knew what I was writing.”
—Pamela Cederquist
MINDHUNTER
We think this is the best screenwriting program in the world. But don’t take our word for it. Check it out yourself for only $1.
If you don’t love it, we’ll give you your dollar back.
You’ll experience Jacob’s jaw dropping analysis of the movies and shows you love, dissecting clips, breaking down structure, and learning how screenplays are built: from the blank page to the final product.
What if you no longer had to wait around for the muse to visit you — and could write on demand, and fully connect to your characters, whether you felt inspired or not?
What if you could end writer’s block forever?
Over more than 20 years, Jacob Krueger has been helping writers do just that. Using techniques drawn from neuroscience, psychology, game theory, entrepreneurship, hypnosis and even behavioral economics to help you make writers block a thing of the past.
Now that teaching is part of Foundations.
Wondering if it will work for you?
Try your first week for $1.
If you don’t love the trial, we’ll refund your $1.
Foundations next class Oct 15
“Jacob is good. I mean, had-me-diving-at-the-keyboard-immediately-after-a-long-writer’s-block good. He helped me recognize what obstacles were in my way and how to confront them, and if he were smart, he’d have been billing for a percentage of all the work I turned out after just our first session.”
—Mark Waid
Writer, FANTASTIC FOUR, X-MEN, SUPERMAN: KINGDOM COME
About Your Teacher
Every Thursday, join Studio Founder Jacob Krueger to build the foundations you need to succeed as a screenwriter.
The founder of Jacob Krueger Studio and host of the popular Write Your Screenplay podcast, Jacob has worked with thousands of writers, from Academy and Tony Award winners to beginning writers picking up the pen for the first time.
Jacob’s Emmy Award-winning movie The Matthew Shepard Story (2002) also won him the Writers Guild of America Paul Selvin Award and a Gemini nomination for Best Screenplay. His work includes collaborations on original film musicals with Tony Award-winning composers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg (Les Misérables, Miss Saigon) and with four-time Academy Award-winning composer Michel Legrand (Yentl, The Thomas Crown Affair).
Coming back to each concept in deeper and deeper ways as you develop and grow. Until the dance becomes instinct. And the talent emerges.
Plus: Special Guest Lectures From Our Award Winning Faculty & Guests
We believe that foundations is the most important class for any writer at our Studio. That’s why you’ll be learning directly from Studio Founder Jacob Krueger, with special guest appearances from top members of our faculty.
Guest Lectures by Winners Of:
and many other prestigious awards.
“Not only did Jake help me with a particularly crippling case of writer's block, but the lessons I learned from those invaluable sessions are still unfolding, months and years later. He has a rare complement of talent and craft, an ability to find the core of any problem.”
—Christine Boylan
Writer-producer, LEVERAGE
Whatever your level of writing experience, Foundations meets you where you are.
Stay for a month, or for a lifetime.
Until your foundations are in your bones.
“Jacob Krueger is a true collaborator, totally dedicated to the project, leaving his ego behind, but nevertheless demanding the highest standards because of his sharp dramatic sense and intuition.”
—Claude-Michel Schönberg
Composer, LES MISÉRABLES, MISS SAIGON, THE PIRATE QUEEN
THE CLASS
You’ll be charged $1 when you sign up. Your trial runs October 10-16, 2026 and includes the next live Foundations class, unlimited replays of that class until your trial ends, and special bonus content.
Cancel before the trial ends and you will not be charged the $150 monthly payment. Otherwise, your first full monthly payment is charged on October 17. Billing then renews on the 17th of each month while you remain a member.
If you don’t love the trial, let us know and we’ll refund your $1.
You can watch and rewatch the live class and special bonus content as many times as you like through the end of your trial. If you continue, every live class from the date you join will be added to your replay library and remain available while your membership is active.
You can cancel from your account. You will not be charged again, and you will retain access through the end of your trial or current paid period.
Perfect. You’ll start writing on the very first day — no experience, no prerequisites, no catching up required. Foundations teaches one concept at a time, one week at a time, so you’re growing your practice each week.
Feeling nervous? Everyone’s scared when they’re chasing a big dream. We’ve got you.
You can start at any level that feels right to you. But if you’re new to Jacob Krueger Studio, we strongly recommend starting with Foundations. We teach screenwriting differently, and find that even experienced writers progress more quickly when they’re grounded in our philosophy — you’ll be shocked at how much you weren’t taught in film school.
Many experienced writers pair Foundations with our ProTrack 1:1 mentorship program, or with our Level 2 and 3 classes: The Craft and Voice & Structure.
And of course, if you ever find you’re at the wrong level, just let us know, and we’ll switch you to the right one.
It depends on the nature of the deadline.
If you got paid to write a script, it’s due in two weeks, and it’s a mess, you don’t have time to focus on anything but writing and rewriting that project. You need 1:1 mentorship right away and should start in our ProTrack program.
That’s the exception, though. ProTrack works best — and most cost-effectively — when it’s paired with Foundations.
This allows you to learn each concept directly from Jacob in the affordable group setting of Foundations, and use your ProTrack sessions for feedback on how you’re applying those concepts, rather than paying a pro by the hour to teach you what you could learn in a group.
Not sure exactly where to start? Reach out. We’ll help you figure it out.
Nothing. Nada. Zip. Getting you prepared is our job.
If you have an idea for a screenplay or TV show, bring it. If you don’t — don’t worry. You’ll almost certainly leave with one after the first session.
One hour of class — live or by replay — plus writing exercises you can scale to your schedule in as little as 1 hour a week. Foundations was built for writers with jobs, families, and full lives: one concept a week, so you’re never juggling more than you can practice.
Absolutely! It used to be that TV and screenwriting were seen as totally different art forms. But with the advent of streaming, the lines have blurred dramatically, with concepts that used to only apply to TV writers now bleeding into feature film writing, and vice versa.
To break in and build a career in today’s industry, most writers need to develop a library of scripts that includes TV pilots, feature films, and even shorts.
But if you’re exclusively writing in one format, and unsure how a concept applies to your writing, just ask! We’ll be happy to show you.
It’s totally up to you. The feedback in Foundations is designed to benefit all the writers in the room, whether you’re sharing your work or not.
Jacob teaches writing and rewriting by demonstrating in-class writing, homework assignments, and scenes from selected student volunteers.
Using his unique approach to feedback, he guides rewrites, gives detailed notes, and helps everyone in the room understand how to apply these concepts to their own writing.
You’ll also get a chance to share your own feedback on student scripts in the chat using Jacob’s approach. Jacob curates the best of it live, and helps you learn both how to give and receive better feedback.
Try Foundations for $1 for a week. If you don’t love the trial, let us know and we’ll refund your $1 trial payment.
To avoid the first $150 monthly charge, cancel before October 17 from My Account → Subscriptions.
Programs & Paths
Don’t worry. You’ll know.
If you’re brand new to writing, we recommend starting in Foundations for a month or two, so you can get your sea legs and build your practice as a writer.
If you’re more experienced, you may want to combine Foundations with ProTrack or Level 2 & 3 classes from the very beginning.
And if you need help figuring it out, just let us know. We’ll help you build the perfect program for your needs.
Different writers grow at different speeds, which is why Foundations is built for you to stay as long as you need.
Some writers choose to start in Foundations and then “graduate” themselves to more advanced programs like ProTrack, The Craft, or Voice & Structure.
Others choose to stay in Foundations even as they deepen their practice in our other programs — returning to the fundamentals again and again, just like an elite athlete returning to practice or a world-class musician practicing their scales.
They didn’t go away. They just became a part of Foundations.
Write Your Screenplay. Write Your TV Series. 7 Act Structure. Everything those classes taught, plus concepts we never had room for, is now part of the Foundations program, at a lower price, and in a format that better serves our writers.
If you’d still like the original 4-week classes, they’re available in video-on-demand format. And our full 300+ episode Thursday Night Writes library is available as part of Foundations Plus.
And don’t worry — our weekend intensives, deep dives into special topics like Compelling Main Character, Your First 10 Pages, and Inside The Writers Room are still running. And even more topics, plus in-person weekends and retreats are on the way.
Plans, Billing & Cancellation
The next live Foundations class is Thursday, Oct 15, 2026.
Your $1 trial gives you access for a week from the day you join, including the live class, unlimited replays, and special bonus content.
If you choose to continue your first $150 payment will be billed on October 17, and will renew monthly, giving you access to all 5 live sessions, unlimited replays, and bonus content from your first payment onwards.
Your access will renew month-to-month on the 8th of each month for as long as you choose to continue.
You’ll be billed $150 on the 8th of each month for as long as you choose to continue. You can cancel at any time and will not be billed further. If you choose to cancel you will retain access until the end of your current access period.
Cancelling is easy — you can do it anytime, right from your account. You won’t be billed further, and you’ll keep full access to live classes and your replay library through the end of your current access period.
No problem. Contact our team and we’ll set you up with any start date you want.
We get it — life happens. If it becomes necessary, once a year, you can pause your access for one billing period, then resume at your current rate without losing your replays.
If you need to step away for longer than that, you can cancel and rejoin whenever you like at the then-current rate. Just know that you’ll lose access to past replays — unless you rejoin at the Foundations Plus level.
And if you’re going through something serious — call us. We’re nice people, and we’ll do our best to work something out.
We try to offer Foundations at the lowest possible price for everyone. However, we know that many writers are struggling right now, and are committed to doing our very best to make the program accessible for everyone.
If the cost of the course is a true financial burden for you, we offer a limited version of the program with financial assistance for students who need it. Out of fairness to students paying full price, this version does not include replays. However, you will have access to all live classes, special bonus content, and the community page.
You may apply for financial assistance by filling out this form. There is a limited amount of financial support available, so please only ask for what you need so we can do our best to serve everyone.
Chat with us, email the team, or give us a call — a real human will answer, and we’ll help you find exactly the right program for your goals, your time, and your budget.
Email us or call us at 917.464.3594
By registering for the Company’s course (the “Course”), you (“You” or “Participant”) are agreeing to the following terms of this Participant Agreement (the “Agreement”), which form a legal contract between you and Jacob Krueger Studio, LLC (“Company”) and governs your attendance at and/or participation in the Course.
Course Participation.
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Prevention of “Zoom-Bomber” Disruptions; Unauthorized Publication of Class Videos. Company will record each class session, including your participation in the session, entitled “The Videos”. To prevent disruptions by “zoom-bombers” and provide Company and participants the legal standing to remove unauthorized content from platforms such as YouTube and social media sites, you agree that
(1) you are prohibited from recording any portion of the Course;
(2) in exchange for the opportunity to participate in the Course, you assign to Company your verbal contributions to the session discussions.
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Last Updated: May 13, 2025 2:00 PM EST
By registering for the course, you are agreeing to the following terms, which form a legal contract between you and Jacob Krueger Studio, LLC (“Company”) and govern your attendance at and/or participation in Company’s course (the “Course”).
Prevention of “Zoom-Bomber” Disruptions; Unauthorized Publication of Class Videos. Company will record each class session, including your participation in the session, entitled “The Videos”. To prevent disruptions by “zoom-bombers” and provide Company and
participants the legal standing to remove unauthorized content from platforms such as YouTube and social media sites, you agree that
(1) you are prohibited from recording any portion of the Course;
(2) in exchange for the opportunity to participate in the Course, you assign to Company your verbal contributions to the session discussions.
To be clear, you assign to Company only your oral statements during recorded Course sessions. You retain all copyright to any and all written materials you submit to the class and the right to use them in any way you choose without permission from or compensation to the Company.
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