Welcome to the web site for The Coronet Writers Lab!

UPDATE
Big Congratulations to our own Mickey Fisher for turning this town upside down with his script "Extant"! Everyone was chasing him to sign with them! Looking forward to seeing where it lands and hearing equally good news about all future scripts from him!"

Congratulations to Gregg Ostrin who had his script Zombies vs. Gladiators (with writing partner Michael Weiss), get Clive Barker attached! Out of 9,000 scripts submitted to Amazon Studios, this is the one that spoke to Clive! Way to go, Gregg!

Congratulations to Jeffrey Shakoor for getting his feature film script, “Storage” produced, starring Tom Everett Scott and slated for release this December. Also congrats on having his feature scripts, “Because” and “George” both optioned.

Congratulations to alum Moira Walley-Beckett for her outstanding writing work on the series, “Breaking Bad,” where she is on staff.

Congratulations to alum Matt Sazama for getting hired to write, “Flash Gordon”, “Dracula Year Zero” and most recently “Clue” for Gore Verbinski (with his writing partner Burk Sharpless).

 * * *

Logistics
The Coronet Writers Lab meets on Monday nights at 7 PM at the Lost Studio, 130 South La Brea, between 1st and 2nd, on the east side of the street. Drop in and see for yourself what the buzz is all about!  
NOTE: It is best to contact the moderator (phone number at the left) before auditing, just in case we are "dark" that night.  The workspace is occasionally unavailable, and we'd hate to leave you waiting when nothing is going to happen.

 * * *

The Lab is always looking to add enthusiastic and committed writers, actors and actresses to its roster! The info here will bring you up to speed quickly on just who we are and what we do. 

 * * *

Mission Statement 
The Coronet Writers Lab is a group of professional writers and actors helping writers get their scripts to be the best they can be. 

One of the most important characteristics of the Lab is that it is Positively Oriented -- we all want to help you the writer realize your script as powerfully, dramatically, comically and altogether fully as it can be. Because we're all in the same boat, sharing similar experiences with writing. No one is looking to rip you a new one, or make themselves feel better by tearing your script to shreds. If there is a weakness in your script we won't let you slide, you will be called out on it -- but only to the extent that a different take on the material may indeed serve to make it better. You must be solitary in order to get your writing done.

But once your script is finished, how do you know if it's any good? How can you be totally objective about your work? That's difficult. But that is precisely where the strength of the Lab comes in. You cast your material and direct the actors. Then as they read your words and bring your characters to a rich life, the process affords you the rare opportunity to put your head down and listen, really listen to the work spring to life, and be as objective about your work as you can be. 

Utilizing the process of the Lab makes your work and your writing better. I have seen it happen over and over again. Because not only are you called upon to write, but you must offer up insights into your peers' scripts. Hearing a wide variety of material week after week and forcing you to hone in on what works or what doesn't work for you is an added benefit. It compels you to truly refine your analytical and critical thinking -- critical in the best sense of the word! And this only serves to help you in your writing. 

Above all we have a good time while we do this. There is a tremendous amount of laughter that takes place during a Lab, otherwise, what's the point? We take the work seriously but not ourselves. 

Process 
The Lab meets every Monday evening at 7 PM. We meet at the Lost Studio 130 South La Brea (between 1st and 2nd, on the east side of the street) in Hollywood. Each night three writers bring in 30 minutes worth of material. They cast their scripts from the actors present and give as much or as little direction as they wish. When it is the writer's turn, the cast comes up on stage, the writer gives a brief, capsule description of where the story is at and then the reading takes place.

Following the reading the moderator brings the writer onstage for a period of focused and positively-oriented critiquing of the work heard. If a new script, the writer can then choose, on his next turn up, to present the next section, or, as has frequently happened, to go back, rewrite the original beginning and present that again. More often than not, this rewritten beginning is sharper, tighter and more focused than the first -- and provides a much clearer, more detailed picture to the writer of where the story wants to go! 

Over the years several screenplays developed in the Lab have been bought; almost a dozen have been optioned by various studios or production companies; two films have been shot and aired on the Lifetime Channel; plays have been produced by Pasadena Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Fest and the Tony-winning Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago and over thirty plays have received commercial productions at smaller venues, locally and across the country. 

There is a very high caliber of work that comes from the Coronet Writers Lab! 

Perks 
Once a writer has worked a script completely through the Lab, then he or she has earned the right to a Full-Length Reading. That means on a given Monday night, instead of three writers we hear one -- your script read all the way through! Usually you will cast from the actors in the Lab, rehearse as much as you can get the cast together, in an outside venue, and on the scheduled night, you may invite an outside audience in to hear your reading! 

Speakers 
Periodically the moderator has brought Guest Speakers in to the Lab to share of their expertise, experiences and insights. A few of our past speakers include: 

Charles Leavitt -- writer, Blood Diamond, K-Pax 
Jim Taylor -- writer, Sideways, About Schmidt, Election 
Lexi Alexander -- writer/director, Green Street Hooligans, Johnny Flynton 
Chris Gerolmo -- writer/director, Mississippi Burning, Citizen-X 
Lee Blessing -- writer, A Walk in the Woods, Going to St. Ives, Eleemosynary, Cobb 
Rick Cleveland -- writer, Jerry and Tom, West Wing, Six Feet Under, Danny Bouncing 
William Mastrosimone -- writer, Bang, Bang You're Dead, The Woolgatherer, The Burning Bed, Extremities, Sinatra 
Anne Spielberg -- writer, Big 
Lyle Kessler -- writer, Orphans, The Saint of Fort Washington, Robbers 

Fees 
For writers, the fee is $75 per month. 

Actors participate for FREE!  However, they must audition or otherwise have permission of the moderator before they become active participants.

Sounds Great! How Do I Get Involved? 
First audit a class -- it's free. Try the room on for size and see if the process we go through is one that would be positive for you! 

Then for writers, you must submit a full-length script, stage play or screenplay, whichever you feel shows off your writing best. The moderator will read it ASAP and get back to you to discuss it and take it from there. 

For actors, if you come recommended by a present member of the Lab, then no audition is required. If not, then you must audition for the moderator -- max. 2-minute contemporary monologue. 

Questions 
Call the moderator, T. Jay O'Brien, at (310) 487-3758. 
 
Moderator 
T. Jay O'Brien has been the moderator of the Lab since its inception. As a member of SAG, AEA and AFTRA, T. Jay has numerous professional performing credits on stage, and on the small and large screen. As a member of WGA, he has written three screenplays which have been produced. He was hired by MGM to adapt the feature film, "Bird Man of Alcatraz" for the stage. He is a member of The Actors Studio, playwrights/directors unit, the Association of Los Angeles Playwrights and served as Associate Director for the Playwrights Kitchen Ensemble. 

 * * *

Now step away from the computer and get out and join a group! The Coronet Writers Lab is a dynamite group and may be the one you've been looking for! But even if it isn't, get out there and make things happen for yourself! 

And keep writing! Or acting! Or both!!