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ARE YOU READY TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY THAT SELLS?

A great idea is a start. Turning it into a screenplay takes a process.

David McKenna’s Successful Screenwriter Bootcamp teaches you how to develop your story, write your screenplay, and understand the business of getting your work into the right hands.

In this six-module, self-paced online Bootcamp, the writer behind American History X and Blow takes you behind the scenes of his writing process—from the initial idea through the rewrites.

You’ll learn how to:

You'll learn...

  • Build a stronger story before you start writing pages.
  • Write a treatment that gives your screenplay a clear direction.
  • Develop compelling characters and dialogue that bring your story to life.
  • Rewrite with purpose so you can identify problems and strengthen your script.
  • Approach agents, managers, and the industry with a better understanding of how the business works.

Build the confidence, discipline, and practical skills to stop second-guessing every page—and keep moving your screenplay forward.

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WRITTEN BY DAVID MCKENNA

Various Movies Written by David McKenna (Get Carter, S.W.A.T., Blow, American History X, Embattled, E-Ring)

INTRODUCING

DAVID MCKENNA'S SUCCESSFUL SCREENWRITER BOOTCAMP

A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE CRAFT—AND BUSINESS—OF SCREENWRITING.

Learn at your own pace through six video-based modules taught by the writer behind American History X and Blow.

Drawing on his own journey in Hollywood, David breaks down the techniques, tools, and frameworks he uses to develop ideas, write treatments, build screenplays, and tackle rewrites.

You’ll get 100+ pages of downloadable worksheets, checklists, and frameworks, plus lifetime course access and updates—so you can revisit the lessons as you develop your own work.

Watch the trailer below for a taste of what’s inside.

WANT A CLOSER LOOK AT THE COURSE?

In the second video, David walks you through the curriculum, who it’s designed for, and how the lessons can help you move from an idea to a screenplay—and better understand your next steps in the industry.

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WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS SAYING...

Image of Academy Award Nominated Actor, Edward Norton

Edward Norton

Academy Award Nominated Actor

"I loved working on American History X with David. He's deeply committed to the essential truth of screenwriting, which is that it's a constant process of evolution and revision. His years in the trenches are a goldmine of insight and wisdom."

Image of Director of An Officer and a Gentleman, Taylor Hackford

TAYLOR HACKFORD

Director | An Officer and a Gentleman

“McKenna is a seasoned professional who knows how to craft provocative characters who delight audiences.”

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BRIAN WITTEN

Former Sr. VP | New Line Cinema

“Dave McKenna understands screenwriting from the inside out. Working with him on American History X, he was collaborative, sharp, and always focused on character. He understands how ideas become stories, and how those stories hold up in the real world of production.”

Image of Eryl Cochran, Producer of Embattled.

ERYL COCHRAN

Producer | Embattled

"David's work carries undeniable intensity, yet beneath it lies precision, vulnerability, and craft at the highest level. That rare balance of power and humanity is what makes him such a formidable writer.

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JONATHAN BERG
Former President of Warner Bros.

“McKenna has that incredible blend of fantastic deeply dimensional characters along with a true sense of audience."

Image of Screenwriter, John Pogue

JOHN POGUE

Screenwriter | U.S. Marshalls & The Skulls

"David is one of the most inventive, authentic and respected screenwriters in the business. What I admire most is his ability to diagnose and fix a script's problems in ways that are collaborative, clever and humorous. There's nobody better at rewriting a troubled script." 

WHAT'S INSIDE THE BOOTCAMP

A self-paced, video-based screenwriting course taught by screenwriter, producer, and author David McKenna.

Across six modules, David walks you through developing your idea, writing a treatment, completing your screenplay, and approaching the rewrite—then introduces you to the business of representation and navigating Hollywood.

Whether you’re starting with your first idea or revisiting a script you’ve already written, you’ll have a process to follow and practical resources to help you apply the lessons.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT

This isn’t just a series of lectures. Presented in the style of a “limited series,” with black-and-white flashbacks, the Bootcamp takes you through David’s own journey to becoming a professional screenwriter.

Learn through the creative decisions, setbacks, and real-world experiences that shaped his approach to writing.

Watch on your schedule, work at your own pace, and revisit the lessons whenever you need them—with lifetime course access and updates.

 

YOUR BOOTCAMP INCLUDES...

  • Six core training modules taught by David McKenna, covering the craft and business of screenwriting.
  • 100+ pages of downloadable resources, including worksheets, checklists, cheat sheets, and screenwriting frameworks.
  • Self-paced video lessons you can pause, replay, and apply to your own project.
  • Lifetime course access and updates, so you can return to the material as your writing develops.
  • Practical lessons from David’s Hollywood career, illustrated through his own stories and experiences.

 

THE MODULES

 

MODULE 1 | WELCOME TO BOOTCAMP!

David lays out exactly what this course is built to do, how the six modules connect, and what it actually takes to succeed as a screenwriter. You’ll get a clear picture of the standards professionals hold themselves to and the level of commitment required to reach them.

You’ll also begin clarifying why you write and the kinds of stories you’re driven to tell, setting the foundation for everything that follows.

MODULE 2 | BUILDING YOUR INCREDIBLE IDEA.

Learn how to turn a raw concept into a story that can carry a full film. David breaks down how professionals build a strong foundation before writing pages, using American History X as a real-world example.

In this module, you’ll learn:

  • How to define your idea and subject with clarity
  • How to effectively use note cards to build character, scene, and plot structure that sells.
  • How to pressure-test your story before committing to months of writing.

You’ll finish this module with a clear roadmap and a story built to last.

MODULE 3 | WRITE A TREATMENT THAT SELLS.

Here’s where your story takes real shape.

David shares his proven step-by-step process for turning your idea and your note cards into a tight, pro-level treatment. You’ll learn how to organize your story on the page, expose problems early, and shape the movie before ever jumping into the script.

You’ll finish this module with a treatment that sets you up to write your screenplay with confidence and clarity.

MODULE 4 | WRITING A HOT SCRIPT.

This is where the real work happens.

You’ll take your treatment and turn it into a complete screenplay.  David helps take the guesswork out of writing a first draft by sharing pro secrets on how to develop strong characters, write concise action, and craft compelling dialogue.

Arguably the greatest value in Module 4 lies in David’s unique proven and strategies for REWRITING your script. When done right, his rewriting tips and techniques will result in a screenplay that’s ready to sell.

By the end of Module 4, you'll have a polished screenplay built to be read, taken seriously, and ultimately SOLD.

MODULE 5 |  GETTING AN AGENT & SELLING YOUR SCREENPLAY.

Here we shift from the page to the industry.

David breaks down how television actually works, what happens inside writers' rooms, and how projects move from development to sale. You’ll also learn the best techniques and methods for getting an agent and/or a manager. You'll discover the right time to approach representation, and what they're really looking for.

By the end of this module, you’ll understand how to position yourself as more than a one-script writer and how to standout in an overcrowded, ever-changing industry.

MODULE 6 | NAVIGATING & WINNING IN HOLLYWOOD.

The script is important, but what happens after the script is finished could mean the difference between ultimate success and failure.

David reveals the way projects actually move forward. You'll learn how packaging works, and why attaching the right producers and directors matters. You’ll learn how to read the room, conduct yourself professionally, protect your voice and avoid costly mistakes.  You'll discover tips for navigating an evolving industry--including ways to effectively manage the reality of AI.

By the end of Module 6, you'll know how to build a lasting career as a successful screenwriter.

LET'S DO THIS.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

DAVID MCKENNA

An acclaimed screenwriter, producer, and author, David's nearly four-decade career includes some of Hollywood’s most powerful and talked-about films. Best known for writing American History X, the Academy Award–nominated drama that earned Edward Norton a Best Actor nomination, McKenna also penned the hit biopic Blow starring Johnny Depp, as well as the box office smash S.W.A.T., which grossed over $300 million worldwide.

Other notable works include Get Carter with Sylvester Stallone, the moving father-son MMA drama Embattled (featuring his son Colin in a breakout role), and the NBC political thriller E-Ring, which he created and executive produced alongside Jerry Bruckheimer.

With several other movies and TV pilots under his belt and multiple projects in development, McKenna continues to bring gripping, character-driven stories to both film and television.

Image of Screenwriter of American History X and Blow, David McKenna

 

Ready to Get Started?

FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE UPON CHECKOUT.

BASIC

$399

MOST ECONOMICAL

  • 6 core video-based coaching modules
  • 100+ pages of worksheets, cheat sheets, frameworks & more
  • Self-paced learning
  • Lifetime course access & updates
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30-DAY NO RISK GUARANTEE

If you aren’t completely satisfied with David McKenna's SUCCESSFUL Screenwriter Bootcamp, let us know within the first 30 days for a full refund. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

 

 WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING...

JESS 

BOOTCAMP SURVIVOR

Awesome course!  Fun to hang out with the videos, detailed and well-written handbook, and solid advice from a successful screenwriter with a long history of success. I put on a writer's retreats 3-4 times a year and will be sharing this program with fellow writers.  

Freddy Bloom 

BOOTCAMP SURVIVOR

"Cannot recommend this course enough! It's saved me an incalculable amount of time searching for answers about the craft of screenwriting. It delivers the perfect balance of hope, resources & motivation necessary to know that this is not just something that ‘other’ people can do, but something you yourself can do too. Most importantly, Mr. McKenna is kind, approachable and an advocate for your success."

Jackie Cordova

BOOTCAMP SURVIVOR

"If you're looking for an engaging screenwriting course and want to learn from the best, David's bootcamp is it. From craft to the business of selling your project, his lectures are uniquely fun and practical - a must watch for serious writers." 

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