Anne Hamilton/Hamilton Dramaturgy

I had the pleasure of teaching a scriptwriting workshop at the Philadelphia Writer’s Conference from June 3rd through 5th.  One of the nation’s oldest writing conferences, past instructors have included the great novelist Pearl S. Buck. Close to 200 participants attended. I taught three one-hour sessions to about 25 class members on topics including: dramatic elements, the dramatic form, developing character and storyline, differences in formatting between screenplays and stage plays, the writer’s life, cultivating self-expression, and myths and truths about professional writers. I gave the students several writing exercises in free form expression and writing taglines. I discussed the opening from the screenplay WINTER’S BONE to demonstrate characterization, diction, and tone. Class members read roles in a scene from a terrific comedy written by another participant, and I taught them how to give feedback in an appropriate and constructive manner.  Finally, I read two excerpts from my own work to illustrate the use of imagery and high dramatic stakes – the opening of AND THEN I WENT INSIDE, Part II of  THE STACY PLAY – A LOVE SONG – VOLUME I, and the monologue RED RIBBON TIE, which is part of ANOTHER WHITE SHIRT.

I will be looking for other opportunities to serve as a conference workshop leader. Thank you, PWC.

Here are testimonials from four of my students:

“I had the privilege of attending one of Anne Hamilton’s playwriting workshops at the 2011 Philadelphia Writer’s Conference. As an emerging playwright I found her workshop to be superbly instructive; submission formats and targets for submitting plays were particularly helpful. Her in-class writing exercises and prompts were excellent workshop fuel and her reading from her own piece about the 9/11 attacks was galvanizing. It’s good to know there is a resource like her out there as my portfolio of plays continues to evolve.”

-Lisa S. Lutwyche has a BFA in painting, a BA in Art History, and spent 28 years in corporate and residential architecture and design, teaching creative writing at a community arts center since 1992.  After attending AROHO (A Room of Her Own, a selective, bi-annual women’s writing retreat in New Mexico) in 2009, and a workshop there with playwright Ellen McLaughlin, Lisa started writing plays.  She had her first one-act play, THE FALL, produced in the 2010 Philadelphia Fringe Festival.  A poet, novelist, essayist and playwright, she is currently working on her MFA in Creative Writing through a low residency program at Goddard College in Vermont.

“Anne Hamilton provides an outstanding workshop for aspiring playwrights and screenwriters.  She speaks from a wealth of experience as a playwright and dramaturg and is able to impart her knowledge clearly and in a manner that is helpful to those on every level of proficiency.  Her handouts, which cover key elements of dramatic writing as well as formatting, are useful, plus she excels at establishing a warm, encouraging presence that infuses the insightful critiques of work submitted by members of the workshop.  I strongly recommend her.”

– Diana Pazicky, Assistant Professor of English, Temple University

“Anne Hamilton’s recent Playwriting/Screenwriting Workshop at the 2011 Philadelphia Writer’s Conference was intriguing and informative. Her experience as a Dramaturge was put to good use in passing-on solid, technical information on Playwriting, together with “tricks-of-the trade” and some of her own powerful, inspirational writing.”

– Nick Lutwyche has nearly 50 years of experience in military aviation engineering and operations,with 25 of those years in Royal Navy aviation including active service. He has had long time involvement in Community Theatre in the UK and the USA, which has helped preserve his sanity. His roles in many venues include  Actor/Back Stage/Front-of-House/Scenery/Construction/Trash-hauling/Lighting. One day he will write that play…

“I had the pleasure of taking Anne Hamilton’s screenwriting workshop at the Philadelphia Writers Conference. Ms. Hamilton offered a wonderful overview of techniques, examples of works and priceless information for breaking into the business. To be honest, I was on the fence as to whether or not I wanted to pursue screenwriting. However, Ms. Hamilton was so encouraging and inspiring that I applied to MFA programs that same day! Her workshop was truly an invaluable experience and easily my favorite of the three day conference.”

– Porsha Addison, Aspiring Screenwriter/MFA Student