What is Farmhouse?

Farmhouse is a week-long intensive writing workshop for writers of all levels of experience, situated near Il Castello di Tabiano, in the idyllic hills of Northern Italy. 

Attendees will participate in daily workshops, screenings, readings and group discussions, led by a seasoned Hollywood screenwriter and a prize-winning book author. Participants will also enjoy plenty of independent writing time, delicious meals, pasta-making sessions and a tour of the spectacular city of Parma.  

Farmhouse Writing Intensive is an opportunity for a broad demographic of writers, working in a variety of genres— scripts, novel and non-fiction— to receive expert instruction and guidance. Fun, romantic and intensive—it’s a working and learning experience.

This year we will be concentrating on structure: it’s a well-known fact that over 90% of scripts and books are rejected because of structural problems and underdeveloped characters. Too often, good stories fail to reach their potential audience.

Knowing first-hand how driven, determined and patient a writer needs to be, Laura and Tobias want to teach writers how to avoid common pitfalls and efficiently create stories and scripts that work on all levels.

Together, they have elevated the usual, superficial approach to screenwriting instruction. By sharing their innovative skillset, they are able to teach both new and experienced screenwriters and authors how to integrate story, character and structure, saving an enormous amount of time and anguish later on.

Why is it called Farmhouse?  Because writing a screenplay is all about work, about vision and revision. Screenwriters and authors need to sweat, get their hands in the dirt, to prune and thin and harvest all that’s beautiful, wild, pathetic, funny, frightening, dangerous and vital about life. Like farmers, writers use skill, patience, laughter, tears, intuition and the magic fertilizer of research to grow something worth the effort. While farmers rely on wind, sun, rain and simple seeds to grow verdant fields, screenwriters use something no less magical and organic: the art of turning raw experience and acute observation into story gold.

CONSULTATIONS:

After our intensive week-long workshop, Laura and Tobias will be available to consult on your works-in-progress.

Press the apply button and complete a brief application form.

Please call or email if you have any questions and we’ll respond ASAP.