Roadmap Screenwriting Retreat (Fall 2022 - September 16-21) – Big Bear Lake, CA

Garrick Dion went above and beyond. His comments were not only technically sound, but well-rooted in reading “the market.” He was also very personable and overly generous with his time during the [Rewrite Clinic] session. Most importantly, his attention to and recall of detail was truly impressive in each and every case. His notes left me not weighed down with the humdrum thought of reworking structure, but with the true excitement of being able to logically and contemporaneously incorporate them into my work.

A BIG thanks to Garrick Dion for his insightful, informative, and producer-conscious notes on my latest screenplays. After reading two of my scripts and offering detailed feedback, I can with 100% confidence say I have two scripts ready for circulation. He helped me bring my characters to life and lifted my action description off the page. He has tons of industry knowledge and will help you get your script exec-ready. I loved his down-to-earth personality and loyal attention to my career. I can't recommend Garrick enough!

Maddie has a terrific, collaborative imagination! After integrating Maddie's notes, my Sci-Fi Pilot, SOLARPUNKS, became a Semifinalist in the 2021 ScreenCraft Sci-Fi & Fantasy Screenwriting Competition.

Garrick helped me get to the heart of my story, to focus on the characters, not the plot, and to help them move the plot forward. That made all the difference. Once I made those changes, I was able to focus on his specific questions, which helped me fine-tune the characterizations and plot points. His knowledge of the industry was invaluable in teaching me what a script needs to sell. As a new screenwriter, living outside of the LA area, I was extremely grateful to learn this. I can’t recommend Garrick highly enough. Any screenwriter would be lucky to work with him.

Pitch Prep with Dorian was challenging, clarifying, and motivating. You quickly learn how to talk about and market your writing, and you also build skills to vet future project ideas. I have not found this type of information in other programs. Highly recommended!

Spending any time with Joey is well worth it! He has the pulse of the industry and shares this vital information with all his writers. He is one of the most passionate advocates I've ever met and anyone is lucky to be in the same room as Joey Tuccio!

After YEARS of making films, winning festivals, and writing (yes, enjoy that humble brag), the Pitch Prep Program showed me how the entertainment industry actually worked. Furthermore, working with Tristan was a delight - he truly cares about the art of storytelling. I can't recommend doing this program enough!

The Pitch Prep Program completely changed my understanding of how to effectively pitch. Pitching is hard and scary because we're all sensitive artists, but there is no better environment for someone uneasy on this than Tristan's pitch prep course. He brings you up to speed on the basics and before you know it, you're confidently speaking in front of development execs and literary managers and getting instant feedback that will not only make your pitch stronger, but literally make you a better storyteller for the rest of your career. Tristan teaches an incredible class and couldn't be a better teacher. Every single exercise he met with excitement and support, even when things needed fixing and we felt like idiots, Tristan was kind and encouraging when we needed it most as we put ourselves out in the open for the world to see. There are no safer hands to be in than his. Do not hesitate, just take this course. You will thank me later. I owe so much to this!

The Roadmap Writers' Pitch Prep program was my first encounter with pitching and I'm not gonna lie - I was terrified! Pitching face-to-face is something I've managed to avoid for years but I knew it was keeping me from fully committing to screenwriting as a career. But Holy Crap! With Tristan as my coach, I not only learned to write a stellar logline, pitch and synopsis - I learned to sell myself and my story in a face-to-face pitch. So far, I've pitched at least a dozen times leading to a nice handful of script requests!

I refer to Pitch Prep as Film School 2.0 for a reason. Over the course of a month, you learn vital and beneficial lessons you can (and should) apply to every project you have. I learned more in Pitch Prep than I did in University! Uni taught me how to use Final Draft, but Pitch Prep taught me how to brand myself, tell my story, and how to move forward progressively in my writing career. I would honestly recommend this to anyone who is ready to move up in their career but doesn't know where to start. The notes (especially from my coach Tristan) are cutthroat, but what you learn is invaluable.

Taking Pitch Prep was one of the most impactful decisions I have made in my writing career. I had spent the last 18 years trying to break in as a writer in Los Angeles, to no avail. I sold a show 8 months after taking Pitch Prep and the things I learned from Tristan were directly responsible for my recent success. I literally did what he said and sold a show. He is kind, patient, funny and really breaks it down.

With Tristan as your teacher, rest assured you are in the best hands for honing the crucial skill of pitching your writing projects. Pitch Prep proved to be a transformative experience for me. It provided invaluable insights on structuring my story pitches, making them both tangible and professionally appealing for studio executive meetings. As a new writer navigating the uncertainties, this class served up a feast of education. It stands out as my favorite, offering a comprehensive guide to unpacking the art of pitching.

It takes a special personality to successfully coax introverted writers out of their shells and help them feel good enough about themselves to make effective pitches. You have to balance honesty, compassion, and hope, and Tristan does this better than anyone I have worked with. He feels as much a partner as a coach.

To say the least, because of Tristan’s help and guidance, I can take any of my projects and easily put them in perspective for a pitch, which is the guideline for my outline and the blueprint for any movie or pilot. With Tristan’s help in Pitch Prep I was able to reshape my feature, giving me the confidence and clarity to deliver my pitch in any room.

Taking pitch prep with Tristan allowed me to take my career to the next level. Ever since I decided I wanted to pursue screenwriting, pitching absolutely terrified me. Working with such a supportive, upbeat, and positive teacher washed away my nerves and allowed me to shine in front of execs, while his expert script notes allowed me to elevate my story and gain tangible traction. I truly wouldn't be where I am without Tristan or pitch prep.

The Pitch Prep classes were invaluable and thorough, and Tristan’s witty sense of humor made the session times fly by. He was always dialed in, and his notes were actionable and easy to follow. Overall, Pitch Prep has improved my pitching by leaps and bounds. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to Roadmap. Tristan, thanks for all of the above. Your sessions are the reason I felt confident in continuing the program and why I can’t stop telling other writer friends about it.

Pitch Prep is simply the best program you can get. It’s a massive amount of useful info, a step by step guide, a safe space to get feedback on your pitch and story… and if you think you already have a good pitch, wait till Tristan does his magic on it, that’s when it’ll really shine!

Pitch Prep with Tristan took the mystery out of how the industry works. It doesn't matter how much time you put into writing, if you never learn how to properly pitch your work to industry pros. With Tristan as my coach, my writing and pitching leveled up. Take this course! You'll thank yourself someday.

My month in Pitch Prep went beyond all expectations. I had so much growth and confidence in being who I am, authentically, as a writer. I felt like I was in a safe space, and Tristan and the Roadmap team worked tirelessly for us. So much time and effort were put into us in order to develop our brands and pitches as we prepare for careers as screenwriters. Months after Pitch Prep, I still remain in contact with the writers I met, which is invaluable!

If you break out into cold sweats just thinking about pitching to execs, Tristan takes the edge off. Not only is he great about giving you clear and valuable feedback on how to improve your written and verbal pitching, he keeps things fun. You are in excellent hands with Tristan!

Pitch Prep was transformative for me. I deliberately chose a project that I struggled to eloquently describe, but Tristan J's instruction enabled me to rediscover my passion for the script, express it clearly, and answer the questions why this, why now, why me. Thanks to Pitch Prep, I was ready when practice ended and meetings began.

Tristan helped take my story and craft it into a tight, specific, and compelling pitch. It can be hard to see how to market your own work and it was immensely helpful to have Tristan’s input, edits, and feedback. He has a strong, clear point of view which helped my entire group translate their stories into market-ready pitches. I still can't believe how much we accomplished in a month!

Tristan gave me the tools, skills, and confidence I needed to bring my pitch to the next level. I never thought I'd be comfortable presenting my show to executives, agents, and producers, but this program really changed everything for me.

The Pitch Prep Intensive was truly worth every penny. Tristan genuinely cares about his students’ careers and goes the extra mile to ensure everyone in his group succeeds. He creates a very positive, supportive learning environment and coaches in a way that feels empowering. Working with Tristan taught me valuable pitching skills and also elevated my skills as a story-teller.

Garrick proved to be worthy of his solid reputation. He had excellent ideas and insights, and we were able to workshop many problem areas of my (admittedly very complex) screenplay. He was generous with his time, thorough with his feedback, and thoughtful with his insights. An excellent experience - I would work with Garrick again in a heartbeat!

Participating in Pitch Prep was one of the best decisions I’ve made for my career. Not only did I walk away with a killer pitch for my pilot thanks to my coach Tristan’s honest and actionable feedback, I became clearer and more confident in my brand as a writer. I’m so clear, that I’ve since fine-tuned all of my pilots with this refocused lens and they are all better for it!

Dorian's feedback is the best I've ever had—and that includes dozens of graduate courses! She is a genius at story crafting.

I really appreciate Garrick's feedback. The sessions I had with him were incredibly helpful. He read my material so closely and gave me extremely thoughtful notes that were smart, practical, and usable. I absolutely credit him with helping me raise the level of my script, which was just selected as a finalist for the prestigious Athena List. He's a valuable Roadmap asset.