Academy Award®-Winner Aaron Sorkin to Teach Online Screenwriting MasterClass

SAN FRANCISCO, June 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The online education platform MasterClass announced today that acclaimed screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (known for films such as A FEW GOOD MEN and THE SOCIAL NETWORK and television shows including "THE WEST WING") will be joining its roster of instructors to teach an online course on screenwriting. Pre-enrollment for the class opens today at www.masterclass.com/as in advance of the class launch later this summer.

Aaron Sorkin's MasterClass will include over 25 video lessons from the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter along with a 30+ page workbook and interactive assignments. In his first-ever online class, Sorkin will teach his unique approach to screenwriting for both television and feature films. The class will cover topics including dialogue, character development, story pacing, plot, and Sorkin's process. To demonstrate his process, in a portion of the class, Sorkin will lead a writers' room to work on a new episode of "THE WEST WING." He will also share practical advice he's learned, using examples from his own work in films including A FEW GOOD MEN, THE SOCIAL NETWORK, MONEYBALL, and STEVE JOBS and television shows "THE WEST WING" and "THE NEWSROOM."

Aaron Sorkin is a renowned playwright and screenwriter. He made his Broadway playwriting debut with the award-winning military courtroom drama A FEW GOOD MEN which he later adapted into film, starring Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise. A FEW GOOD MEN received four Academy Award® nominations, including "Best Picture" and five Golden Globe nominations, including "Best Screenplay." Sorkin's additional film credits include THE SOCIAL NETWORK, for which he won the Academy Award®, Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, and BAFTA for "Best Adapted Screenplay;" MONEYBALL, which won the Critics' Choice Award and New York Film Critics Award for "Best Adapted Screenplay;" and recently STEVE JOBS, for which he won a Golden Globe for "Best Screenplay." He will next be seen making his directorial debut with the film MOLLY'S GAME, based on Molly Bloom's memoir about her years running an underground poker ring. Sorkin is also adapting Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD for Broadway, which will run during the 2017-2018 season. Barlett Sher will direct with Scott Rudin producing. Sorkin's television credits include "THE WEST WING," which earned 26 Emmy Awards throughout its seven seasons, "SPORTS NIGHT," which garnered 8 Emmy Award nominations, "STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP," and "THE NEWSROOM," which both respectively earned five Emmy Award nominations.

Launched by David Rogier and Aaron Rasmussen in 2015, MasterClass provides online classes from world-renowned instructors, making it possible for anyone to learn from the best. Each class offers a unique learning experience which includes video lessons from the instructor, interactive exercises, course materials, peer interaction, and more. All classes are available online for individual purchase at www.masterclass.com for $90 each. MasterClass' current roster of courses includes Christina Aguilera (singing), Kevin Spacey (acting), Usher (performance), Serena Williams (tennis), James Patterson (writing), and Dustin Hoffman (acting). Most recently, the company announced pre-enrollment for Werner Herzog's filmmaking class.

"There's a great tradition of writers from one generation giving a hand to the next group coming up—a tradition I got a lot of benefit from. I think new screenwriters will come away from the MasterClass with a new sense of confidence," said Aaron Sorkin, MasterClass instructor.

"There's no question that Aaron Sorkin is a genius. Whether you are a fan, a screenwriter, a writer or an actor -- there is nothing like being able to learn how Aaron wrote some of the greatest movies and television shows of all time. We're excited to bring him on as an instructor and for the world to see his genius translated into what will be an incredible class," said CEO and Co-Founder David Rogier of MasterClass.

"Writing can be one of the most mysterious art forms, but Aaron Sorkin takes us inside his own mind, from where some of the most treasured and memorable cinematic and television moments have emerged. His analysis of his own work, his table-reads of student work, and seeing him actively work with a writer's room on an episode of "THE WEST WING" gives enormous insight into his process of crafting exceptional television and movies," said Co-Founder, Creative Director, and CTO Aaron Rasmussen of MasterClass. 

ABOUT MASTERCLASS
San Francisco-based MasterClass was founded by David Rogier and Aaron Rasmussen on the idea that everyone should have access to genius. MasterClass makes it possible for anyone with an Internet connection to learn from the best through immersive online classes from the world's greatest authors, actors, performers, athletes, filmmakers, and more. For more information, please visit www.masterclass.com.

Download & view the trailer for Aaron Sorkin's MasterClass below:
https://youtu.be/ujdVdQkw24M

Download stills here:
Courtesy of MasterClass:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dcvstsf4n1qczzm/AAAhaeeC2jK99C_UiF73puxJa?dl=0  

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