THE 8 SEQUENCE SCREENPLAY SYSTEM
A Proven System for Writing a Career-Changing Script.
WRITING GROUP, LIVE Q&As and WORKBOOK included.
Have you ever struggled to finish writing a screenplay?
The script that gets finished is the script that sells. The novel that goes to first draft is the one that gets published. We’ll help you get there, with a proven step-by-step process that is all tools, and no theory.
Maybe you have read all the books, and watched all the videos. Maybe you haven’t. Maybe you have started one writing project or a hundred. Maybe you even finished some. Maybe you have not even started, because you don’t know where to begin. What you lack is not self-discipline, genius, inspiration or a better theory.
You lack the tools that will guide you from start to finish, from idea to first draft, from first draft to polished script. In this course, we teach a process used by the pros. We take the guesswork out of character, theme, structure and the writing process, with tools that will produce actual results and not confusion.
Screenwriting professor at USC
Why you never finish a script
Remember when you thought all it would take to complete a screenplay is to have an idea, rough out an outline and and run with it? Yeah, me, too. And a few weeks down the road, inspiration and motivation runs dry, and that script? It goes nowhere. You frantically read all the books, watch all the videos. Confusion reigns.
Somehow you hope that it isn’t you. And you know what? You’re right. Because so many writers I have coached have experienced the same things.
Do some of these troubles sound familiar to you?
You have started scripts – and abandoned them because the story didn’t work.
You are working on a script – but with each day, the story becomes less clear, and you burn though your motivation like a scented candle?
You have completed a script – but it’s not quite there yet and you don’t know how to make the story better.
You have ideas, but your fear that they’re unoriginal or worse, they will never be good enough for a whole script stops You – and you never EVEN start.
It’s not your fault
You had no 8 SEQUENCE SYSTEM
Once you understand this system, writing and completing your screenplay becomes SO MUCH EASIER. It will become a craft you have mastered. You will know your idea is solid. You will know your outline works. Every week, you’ll make steady progress toward completing the script you want until you hold it
in your hand.
But you can have it now!
in this course.
your script in sequences.
a screenwriter.
Hi, I’m Toni Weiss,
and I have always hated it when filmmakers have to struggle with bad tools and confusing advice. Over the course of a 30-year writing & directing career, and over 15 years of story consulting for studios, producers, brands and screenwriters, I changed that: I have assembled tools that work when I actually have to sit down and deliver a first draft.
It wasn’t always like that. Like you, I am a film nerd. I love films and filmmaking, its my life! And I have devoured all the books and videos, and have struggled through (sometimes hellish) development of more than a dozen screenplays.
I soon realised that most of the advice given works only half of the time, and that nobody gives you the tools that you really need, tools that actually work, in real life, when you sit in front of the keyboard.
I’ve created this course because I want to put an end to that. It’s the course I wish I had, and the tools I wish somebody would have given me when I was starting out: frustrated, and afraid that I was never going to be able to realise my dream. After 15 years of struggle, I have collected and taught a set of tools and systems that actually deliver.
This system works. Not only for me (I have written and sold numerous scripts and am currently in pre-production on two feature films) but for my students and mentees. And I want you to achieve the same.
THE 8 SEQUENCE SYSTEM COURSE –
THE ELAVATOR PITCH
Over 12 intensive weeks, I will work closely with you and a small group of writers to outline, write and actually complete your feature film screenplay.
In 24 short, and highly instructional videos, this course will guide you to design, outline and actually, finally write and complete your feature film screenplay. It’s 4 hours of amazing lessons, with everything explained in detail.(hey, you could binge-watch this in an afternoon, but we don’t want to overload your central nervous system. Best if you take it one clear step at a time… 😁).
Every other week, I will lead an intimate group session where I will offer notes and guidance on specific portions of the screenplay or vision documents, incrementally and methodically working towards a completed and polished product.
You will additionally have the benefit of getting support, feedback and perspective from the other members of the course, as well as the opportunity to offer your own for their projects.
The 5 Specific Tools & Questions you need to turn your story idea into a solid story concept.
A revolutionary, super-clear structure for your script that supports your plotting at every stage of the story – but is flexible enough to adapt to any genre, budget or style.
Write your script in 12 weeks – with personal accountability.
Get all your questions answered.
The 8 Sequence System is my best course. It has all my best practices from 30 years of experience as a screenwriter and director and all my knowledge from 15 years as a story coach.
AND BY THE END OF THE 8 SEQUENCE SYSTEM
COURSE YOU WILL…
You will create story concepts that contain the character arc, the theme and the basis of a strong plot. Your story will never again run out of steam during the writing, and you’ll know whether the idea is worth writing or what is still missing.
A screenwriting structure that gives you a clear story goal and story engine for each of the eight 12-page sequences in your script. It is a simple structure, encompassing the best of many existing story models (Save The Cat, Hero’s Journey, Syd Field) and beyond). It’s simplicity is what makes it elegant – and immensely usable.
It’s the time the industry will give you to complete a successful draft. And the time that will give you maximum productivity without sacrificing your life or your sanity.
How did writers already succeed with
the 8 SEQUENCE SYSTEM?
writer-producer
“I don’t save a lot of things, but I still have the sequences of a script that Toni Weiss scribbled on a piece of paper for me one November afternoon in Berlin. After that, I wrote my first film following his guidelines within 3 weeks and sold it to German TV after another 3 weeks. Which lead to me becoming a Creative Producer for Til Schweiger’s (INGLORIOUS BASTERDS) production company. Since then, I’ve written 9 screenplays that have been produced. And that piece of paper outlining the 8 sequences? I still write my movies with it today.
writer-director
“I’ve been a documentary filmmaker for most of my career, and wanted to break into features. I wrote a script for an animated film, for a producer, with another story consultant. We ended up with a unproducable 136-page draft, a mess. That’s when the producer brought in Toni to consult on the project. He taught me the 8 Sequence System – and not only did we fix the animation script: I have completed a script every year now – and each of them got financed or optioned.”
writer-director
first-time writer
This may sound crazy but I met Toni at a barber shop I was working at. He told me what he does, and when I decided to quit my job for a year and explore a different future, I became interested in screenwriting. Toni kindly agreed to coach me, and teach me the 8 Sequence System. So I developed an outlined a story idea I had in December last year. I started writing after Christmas. And by January 28th, I send Toni a 121-page first draft.
accountability and guidance you need to take this leap and
WRITE THE SCREENPLAY YOU CAN BE PROUD OF…
AND THAT WILL GET YOU NOTICED.
THE 8 SEQUENCE
SCREENPLAY SYSTEM COURSE
Screenwriting myths & better mindsets
The intro is designed to get you in touch with your creative fearlessness – so you can start this journey without some of the most limiting beliefs and negative self-talk and replace it with habits and a mindset that will help you start and complete your journey.
We will start with an Introduction that will explain what the elements of a market-ready screenplay are. Once you learn these, you will rediscover them in any Netflix film, studio comedy and Marvel blockbuster ever to stream on your devices.
We will bust the most popular myths about screenwriting, including the genius myth and the myth that writing has to be hard and painful. While a whole industry of screenwriting books and tutorials feed these myth, this part will show you that screenplays are blueprints with a precise, but artistically extremely flexible structure that works every time.
The six elements of a successful movie idea
Before digging into the 8 Sequence System, Module 1 will look at the elements of a successful movie idea: you will learn to shape your idea with tools like The Terrible Task or The Controlling Idea.
This easy-to-use Idea Grid guarantees that your story already asks you the right questions to create the most important elements for plot, character and theme and how to create clarity around in – so you will never get tripped up in the middle of writing your draft but know you have created a rock solid basis for your storyline – with no important element missing.
And with bi-weekly check-ins during the Live Coachings in the Course’s Facebook group, you’ll never have a question unanswered.
This would also be a great time to use your Free Coaching Call with Toni, and work on your story or writing challenge with him.
The 8 Sequence Structure
In the next 4 modules, we will teach you the 8 Sequence Structure that gives you a complete outline for your screenplay – every time and for every story. We will cover how…
- to set up your story in 2 specific sequences,
- the 4 sequences that create a second act that moves like a well-oiled machine
- and the 2 sequences that bring the story to its resolution in the climax and showdown.
This is the essential module of this course – and it will change the way you write and successfully complete your scripts forever.
Instead of facing a daunting 110-page-stretch with vague prompts, you will write the 8 specific sequences that make up a creatively and commercially successful film: every 2-3 days, you will complete what is essentially a short film with a clear story function. This not only makes the task easy and manageable, but it also gives you clear writing goals and creates a writing schedule that you can keep.
This is also the phase where will have LIVE COACHINGS in the courses Facebook group to give you guys feedback and tips and actionable tools if you get stuck.
Writing your first draft
In the last module, we will cover your writing schedule, tips on productive writing habits, how to find and leverage a first-readers-group and why you should go for what I call a Pyjama Draft™ – and all of this module is designed to help you do one thing:
- You will write a draft in 15 – 20 days. And you will not get stuck.
- The schedule is realistic and doable (even with a day job) and the 8 sequence outline you’ve created will make sure you’ll never run out of ideas.
In the Live Q&A, I will show you how I set up my page in the Final Draft screenwriting software, and how to write a scene and a page. Will will also address your questions and get you unstuck should you run into problems.
This might be the second best time to use your Free Coaching Call with Toni.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
this limited time period:
The 8 Sequence System Course
A 25-minute call with Toni to discuss your unique writing challenges or story problems.
with Toni and Story Experts – that include further tools, expert advice and live coaching.
A fully downloadable PDF that will serve as your guidebook, notepad & brainstorming tool.
€ 4.200,-
But I want you to be able to start immediately. So for this time, and this time only, you can enroll in the 8 Sequence System Course, (and get all the bonuses above) for
A ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF € 2,497-
€ 2,497-*
ONE TIME PAYMENT
One year access to the online course.
*The stated prices are to be understood net, therefore VAT may apply. For natural persons the legal 14-day right of return applies. In the online course ( Sequence Screenplay System you will learn writing, outlining and plotting approaches that I have successfully developed partly for myself and partly for my clients, students und writing partners, and use in a similar form. These strategies can increase your writing output as well as your commercial screenwriting abilities significantly. However, since such results always depend heavily on individual performance, course execution & presence and external factors, I cannot guarantee or warrant any improvements. Upon purchase, you are deemed to have read, understood and accepted our Terms and Conditions.
WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN THIS COURSE:
It is also great business – in the US, the EU and almost any world market:
+ 4.000,-
Even if you “only“ get optioned, the average option is around 4.000.- which immediately doubles your investment.
+ 10.000,-
If you get a screenplay grant, those are between 10.000 and 20.000 – a huge 10X return on your investment
+ 100.000,-
A completed script sells for 100.000 and 250.000.- in most markets. Your ROI is more than 100X
+ 400.000,-
Learning this system will enable to deliver up to 4 completed scripts per year. You do the math.
How will you feel after completing the course?
Confident in your story concept.
Engaging with buyers through a high potential script.
This course give creatives the inside track to story structure and a guidebook on how to use it, so we can focus on telling a story and not waste time on “how to tell it“. Toni is like a midwife for stories: he knows the process and lets the author discover their own voice.
Is the 8 Sequence System the right online course for you?
…don’t like commercial, successful films
Frequently asked questions
Does the 8 Sequence System work for screenplays, no matter what your themes, characters, or settings are?
Yes! After you understand the 8 Sequence System, you’ll see them everywhere. And you will understand: these are universal story principles that work across genres, styles and budget – they work every time.
If I haven’t finished my screenplay yet, will this course still help me?
Is this course for beginners only?
Is the course taught live, or are the videos pre-recorded?
The 20 videos are pre-recorded so you can view at your own pace, pause, take a break, rewind, or whatever you need to do to learn at your best.
Why should I invest in this course?
A completed screenplay is the only currency to establish you in the feature world. It is also great business – in the US, the EU and almost any world market.
- Even if you “only“ get optioned, the average option is around 4.000.- which immediately doubles your investment.
- If you get a screenplay grant, those are between 10.000 and 20.000 – a huge 10X return on your investment.
- A completed script sells for 100.000 and 250.000.- in most markets. Your ROI is more than 100X.
- Learning this system will enable to deliver up to 4 completed scripts per year. You do the math.
How long will I have access to this workshop?
You will have access to the online course for one full year from your date of purchase. However, you can download the workbook and bonus materials to your local computer.
How do I access the workshop?
Is there a money back guarantee?
Yes! I want to give you the opportunity to put the 8 Sequence System into action and experience how easy and exciting it can actually be to make progress on your screenplay every single week. That’s why I give you a full 30 days to go through the training, keep up with the lessons, implement the systems, and write the script you dreamed about creating.
If you still can’t work with the 8 Sequence System, let’s talk about it. I want to find a way to help you – and improve the course with the help of your insights.
What if I have more questions or need support??