Glenn M. Benest is an award winning writer/ producer
who has taught for many years at UCLA Extension and the
American Film Institute. He won The Best Instructor Award
at UCLA and his private screenwriting classes in Los Angeles
have launched three produced feature films, including "Scream,"
"Teaching Mrs. Tingle," and "Andre."

Glenn is not only a sought after instructor but is a working
professional writer with 7 produced films to his credit. Some
include "Deadly Blessing," directed by Wes Craven, "A Clean
Kill, starring Perry King and Daniel Benzuli, " the TV movie
"Naked Lie," starring Victoria Principal
and the first cable movie ever produced by USA Network, "The
Forgotten," starring Stacy Keach and Keith Carradine.

Glenn recently wrote and produced "Hungry Hearts" which
had its world premiere at the Hollywood Film Festival in October
2002. It's gone on to win four "Slate Awards" at the California Independent
Film Festival: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best
Actress.

Glenn's Personal Statement: "I find the biggest problem for any
writer is that his or her script goes out prematurely. Any writer
has so many contacts who can help market a script but one
can't waste opportunities by showing a script that isn't ready.
In my classes and in my private consultations I push the writer
untili we're confident the screenplay is as good as it can
possibly be.

As a working writer myself, I know how to help a writer
come up with better solutions. One of my greatest
strengths is structure and brainstorming with other writers
to find better answers, more compelling characters, even
fine tuning dialogue. I've done it myself enough times to
know what works and what doesn't and if something needs
fixing, concrete ideas on how to fix the problem.

RATE: A private 2 hour consulation costs $350, either prefereably
in person or over the phone or by e-mail.

To Contact Glenn Benest:
(323) 912-9195
gbenest@pacbell.net
http://www.glennbenest.com

Recommended Books to Read:

"The Art of Dramatic Writing" by Lajos Egri
"Adventures In The Screen Trade," by William Goldman

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
Glenn is a fantastic teacher and motivator. After a career in television (story
editor on "Laverne & Shirley," "Double Trouble" and "Charlie & Company,") I had a
script that had a good story, but in much need of work. With Glenn’s guidance,
the script became more layered, has more texture and is much funnier than the
original. The first person I gave it to is a producer who wanted to option it
before she even finished reading it. As a successful writer himself, Glenn knows
how to give notes that really make a script come alive.

--Susan Lindner

When I met Glenn over five years ago, I knew nothing about screenwriting. All I
had was the seed of an idea and a dream of turning it into a story.

Now, I'm writing two screenplays for hire, one for Revolution Studios and the
other for Warner Brothers.

Apart from story structure and character development, what I learned from Glenn is
that writing is a process. It doesn't always come out right the first time and
that's why his notes are so helpful.

--Bridget Friend

Glenn's guidance has been invaluable. I had already produced a highly acclaimed
studio picture (The Hurricane) when I decided to ask for Glenn's guidance and I
wish I had done it sooner. The process of analyzing and scrutinizing a script
prevents you from getting away with imperfect work. Glenn won’t sign off on a
script until it’s ready, and that’s why his students have done so well.

--John Ketchum

Glenn has an uncanny sense of story. He can (and often does) wade into 150 pages
of near chaos to identify the narrative thread that will bind the student's scenes
and characters into a compelling screenplay. Through the process of strengthening
that thread, the student learns screen structure, which is really what it's all
about. Lately, I wrote a television pilot, began outlining a new feature film,
and landed a literary agent. Is Glenn worth the price? You bet.

--Dean Harvey