The Apprentice: Writing The Antihero

February 28, 2025 No Comments

Learn from The Apprentice the art of writing complex antagonists by connecting to the universal emotional needs that drive character choices

Join us for a Special Thursday Night Writes! Our Happy Hour of Writing Exercises with Jake every Thursday night at 7:00 pm ET, RSVP: https://www.writeyourscreenplay.com/free-writing-classes-thursday-night-writes/

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On this podcast, rather than reviewing movies and TV shows “two thumbs up, two thumbs down” Award Winning Screenwriter Jacob Krueger shows you what you can learn from them as a screenwriter.
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 The Apprentice: Writing The Antihero

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Learn from The Apprentice the art of writing complex antagonists by connecting to the universal emotional needs that drive character choicesJoin us for a Special Thursday Night Writes! Our Happy Hour of Writing Exercises with Jake every Thursday night at 7:00 pm ET, RSVP: https://www.writeyourscreenplay.com/free-writing-classes-thursday-night-writes/

https://youtu.be/Fn8mTa39ffk

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Lessons from Sundance 2025 Part 2

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Learn from Sundance 2025 genre stand-outs Together and Didn’t Die how to explore deeply human characters and questions within an elevated horror or zombie format.Join us for a Special Thursday Night Writes! Our Happy Hour of Writing Exercises with Jake every Thursday night at 7:00 pm ET, RSVP: https://www.writeyourscreenplay.com/free-writing-classes-thursday-night-writes/

https://youtu.be/zAS1m66XmDo

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Lessons from Sundance 2025 Part 1

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From an ambitious one-shot pilot to a haunting exploration of grief, Jacob Krueger unpacks how three Sundance selections demonstrate the vital principle that "form is function" in screenwriting.Join us for a Special Thursday Night Writes! Our Happy Hour of Writing Exercises with Jake every Thursday night at 7:00 pm ET, RSVP: https://www.writeyourscreenplay.com/free-writing-classes-thursday-night-writes/

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A Real Pain: Building Characters With Vignettes

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Learn from “A Real Pain” how to master the art of character vignettes - those crucial first moments that create the lens through which you can build the structure of your screenplay, hook A-list talent, and unlock your own understanding of who your characters truly are.Join us for a Special Thursday Night Writes! Our Happy Hour of Writing Exercises with Jake every Thursday night at 7:00 pm ET, RSVP: https://www.writeyourscreenplay.com/free-writing-classes-thursday-night-writes/

https://youtu.be/Wamx5cx8kfY

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A Complete Unknown: Writing The Biopic

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Learn what makes A Complete Unknown work as a biopic, and how to approach the complex relationship between truth and dramatization in the adaptation of any true life story.Join us for a Special Thursday Night Writes! Our Happy Hour of Writing Exercises with Jake every Thursday night at 7:00 pm ET, RSVP: https://www.writeyourscreenplay.com/free-writing-classes-thursday-night-writes/

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How to Prepare a 3 Minute “Elevator Pitch”

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Get your 3 minute pitch ready for our free online pitching event (or any other pitching opportunity) with this podcast recording of Jake’s recent Thursday Night Writes class.Join us for a Special Thursday Night Writes! Our Happy Hour of Writing Exercises with Jake every Thursday night at 7:00 pm ET, RSVP: https://www.writeyourscreenplay.com/free-writing-classes-thursday-night-writes/

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This is by far the most insightful and consistently rich-with-advice podcast I’ve found. Krueger has such a surgically clear understanding of what makes a story work on the screen that he’s able to crystallize the problems or successes of a film/show in the most helpful and practical ways.
I listen primarily to film-related podcasts and this is far and away the best one dedicated to the art and craft of screenwriting. Many times I found my options for insight limited to either outdated or just plain nonsensical “rules” of screenwriting gurus or non-specific if not jaded advice from even some of my favorite working writers. This podcast provides honest and nuanced lessons that can be applied to every aspect of the writing process. I can not recommend it highly enough.
Whenever I get stuck, I listen to an episode and I can write again! Thanks to Jacob, I've finished three short screenplays in three months. That's a big leap for me. He offers a lot of amazing techniques and concepts that I've never thought of before but are absolutely useful. Thank you!
Listening to Jacob is like taking a masterclass in screenwriting and having your head cleared in a therapy session at the same time… Next level, consciousness-raising stuff.
For three decades, I've aspired to write screenplays. However, as a single mother and the owner of an agency that books professional speakers, celebrities, and notable presenters (I'm an expert in the industry), along with one challenge after another, life kept getting in the way. Still, I immersed myself in the craft whenever I could. I own practically every book ever written on screenwriting and had a couple of screenplays in the works. Finally, I was able to get serious. In doing so, I recently discovered screenwriting podcasts. Without a doubt, Jacob Krueger's "Write Your Screenplay" podcast is my absolute favorite. Within the last month, I've listened to every single episode. I truly appreciate Jacob's unwavering wisdom, his uncanny ability to dig deep into the psychology of a film, the spiritual way he looks at things, and his infectious voice.
As a wanna-be screenwriter, I find the way the films are broken down in these podcasts gives me great insight for my own writing.
Jacob Krueger is very insightful and truly knows how to break down a film, whether it was good or not and helps you understand the elements that either make or break your script. I also have to say that after listening to his podcasts more and more, I have felt the urge to write more, no matter how bad my writing might be at the beginning. I know the more I write, the closer I’ll get to my best material as well as where I need to go.
I absolutely love this podcast and look forward to every episode. Jacob breaks down films and explains why they worked or why they didn’t work like no other. Each podcast inspires me to keep writing. Even if you are not a writer, this podcast will help you enjoy films more.
I have been listening to Jacob's podcast for a couple years now and finally started taking his classes. I have learned so much and have become a better writer picking his brain. They work with you every step of the way, I would highly recommend this class for anyone who wants to take their writing further.
I'm so grateful to have found Jake and the wonderful community he has built. I recently took his Write Your Screenplay class where he teaches the fundamentals in a highly entertaining way. I'm now enrolled in a Workshop so get the best of both worlds - personal instruction and peer mentors for encouragement. I also highly recommend listening to Jacob's podcast, Write Your Screenplay. It's hours of free, really high quality instruction.
I have been listening to Jacob's podcast for a couple years now and finally started taking his classes. I have learned so much and have become a better writer picking his brain. They work with you every step of the way, I would highly recommend this class for anyone who wants to take their writing further.
I don't have words for how incredibly special this studio is. As a baby writer I was so nervous, and everyone has been nothing short of wonderful and encouraging. I found Jacob through his podcast (which I also HIGHLY recommend) and I have learned so much in the short amount of time I have been in class. Not only the vast knowledge, but Jacob and everyone he has hired care so much about writers and artists and helping you in the way you need along your journey. Part professor, part mentor, part cheerleader...every artist needs a studio like this in their life!
Jacob is giving away gold.

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