Lodestone Theatre offers TV Comedy Writing Workshop

The Lodestone Theatre Ensemble has established a TV Comedy Writing Workshop for next summer which will be geared toward preparing the writer for working in the real world of commercial television. This will be the inaugural step in Lodestone's endeavor to increase the number of Asian American writers in the areas of film, television and stage.

Class will run for twelve weeks from May to September and will be taught by Quan Phung, Director of Comedy Development for Fox Broadcasting Company. It will be conducted in the Los Angeles area. Guest writers, agents and other television executives will be brought in as needed to help with the course.

Class members will learn about what goes on in a writers' room; the mechanics of breaking a story and developing characters; and how to deal with agents, managers, studio and network executives.

Due to the nature of the course, class size is limited. As a result, we are making a call for applications. If interested, please supply the following between now and April 1, 2000:

Name
Phone Number
Mailing Address
E-mail Address
Writing Sample

to

Lodestone Theatre Ensemble
TV Writers' Workshop
P.O. Box 1072
Studio City, CA 91614

Writing samples should contain comic elements and can be one of the following: screenplay, play, television pilot (no spec scripts for existing shows--must be original concept) or poetry collection.

There will be an informational seminar in late February which will further spell out the goals of the workshop. One of these goals will be for each class member to be able to enter the real world of agents, producers and network studios with a completed spec script in hand. If you are interested in attending this seminar, please let us know by February 4, 2000 by e-mailing SHPLodestone@aol.com or calling our hotline - (323) 993-7245.

Quan Phung is Director, Comedy Development for Fox Broadcasting Company. His responsibilities include working with agents, managers, studio executives, writers and producers to develop new comedies for the network. He is part of the team that is responsible for the new FOX comedy Malcom in the Middle. Prior to this position, Mr. Phung was Director, Saturday Morning Programs and Primetime Series for NBC Entertainment. He was part of the primetime team which developed NBC's hit comedy Will & Grace. Quan is a graduate from Stanford University with a bachelors degree in American Studies.

In accordance with our mission to develop, create, promote and present edgy, compelling and impassioned works that bridge communities through truthful and entertaining artistry, Lodestone is proud to join forces with Mr. Phung in strengthening the Asian American voice in the television landscape.