The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience How to Become a Professional Screenwriter with Ted Braun and Melissa Rosenberg
Oct 10, 2025
Ted Braun, a WGA-nominated writer and USC professor, and Melissa Rosenberg, renowned for her work on Twilight and Jessica Jones, discuss the new MFA in Screenwriting at Bennington College. They share insights on how diverse experiences shape storytelling and the unique curriculum focusing on mentorship and collaboration. With only 12 students per cohort, the program aims to cultivate original voices in screenwriting. Both guests emphasize the importance of imagination, dedication, and the integration of film studies into crafting compelling narratives.
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Discovering Screenwriting Later In Life
- Ted Braun discovered screenwriting in graduate school after initially being uninterested in writing screenplays.
- A transformative screenwriting teacher opened new professional doors and inspired the Bennington MFA model.
From Bennington To USC Producing
- Melissa Rosenberg followed varied interests before discovering film and television as a written profession.
- She attended USC producing grad school to learn the industry mechanics and later crossed paths with Ted Braun.
Residencies Plus Synchronous Online Work
- The program pairs intense short residencies with sustained synchronous online work to mirror modern professional life.
- This hybrid structure leverages pandemic-era norms to train adaptable, career-ready screenwriters.