How to Write Hollywood
Quality Scripts in 90 Days.

Uncover the secrets of
compelling characters and gripping stories
to create a screenplay producers can’t resist.

Jacob shows you HOW to write in such a way that producers will be eager to film your script and actors will jump at the chance to play the roles of your characters. Full-feature to TV series, Jacob's knowledge of how the industry works is invaluable. Working with him has been a game-changer.
Marta Sprout
award-winning author of ISLAND OF BONES

Does This Sound Like You?

• No one in Hollywood wants to read your finished script.

• You have trouble finishing a script, and when you do, it’s a disaster.

• You get conflicting notes on your scripts, and you don’t know how to fix them.

• You want a more efficient way to write a screenplay that doesn’t take months.

You’re not alone…

Hollywood Readers
Were Rejecting Everything…
Until I Figured Out This System

I nearly threw my laptop across the room.

After years of grinding away on screenplays, I had a completed script I thought was Hollywood-ready. Sent 37 query letters. Got one response.

One.

“Thank you for submitting your screenplay. However, it doesn’t rise to Hollywood standards.”

What the—!?

All I wanted was for someone in Hollywood to read my work and say it was good. That would open doors—maybe even lead to a sale. But my writing didn’t meet “Hollywood standards.”

I didn’t even know what that meant.

I thought Film School might be the answer, so I applied to four schools, got into two, and moved with my family to LA so I could attend USC’s Writing for Screen & TV program.

I was all-in and worked like crazy, but I still was barely making any progress.

And as I sat in an empty lecture hall after listening to a lecture on the theory of deconstruction in film, I tried deconstructing what I was learning.

And that’s when it clicked. The solution was so obvious I was shocked I hadn’t figured it out sooner.

Story and storytelling are two different things.

That’s why the textbooks and other plug-and-play books like Save the Cat don’t work—they blur the lines between the two.

And once I grasped this, everything changed.

I prioritized story over storytelling for my initial drafts. And only when the story was working would I focus on the reader’s experience, which freed me to write faster and uncover my authentic writing voice sooner than I thought I would.

The rush was exhilarating!  

My scripts became rock solid. Character arcs? Bulletproof.

And one of the very next scripts I wrote won a contest and enough money for a new laptop and some screenwriting software. It was official, I was finally getting paid to be a screenwriter!

But the real personal breakthrough was that now, when I got feedback from professors and industry people, I knew exactly what they were getting at and how to fix it.

Everything was clicking.

When I first started, writing scripts took months, or sometimes a year. But now I was writing a solid script in ten weeks.

And Hollywood readers wanted what I had.

I had figured it out. And if I could do it, anyone could. My stuff was getting read. I was getting in the room. I was being paid to write stories for the screen.

But you don’t have to go through years of trial and error like I did.

That’s why I refined my process, stripped out the fluff, and started teaching it to others. And now my students have premiered films at Cannes, won contests, and attached producers to their projects, which are now under active development.

And now, I want to help more aspiring screenwriters do the same.

Jacob doesn't claim to provide some magical formula for writing great screenplays. He simply breaks down the essential ingredients of a story in a way that's easy to understand and apply. The distinction Jacob makes between story and storytelling is critical.
Patrick Peacock
screenwriter, director, & producer

How to Write a Screenplay Producers
Can’t Ignore

Writing a screenplay that gets attention comes down to three things:

✅ Crafting a marketable idea
✅ Building a solid story
✅ Executing an efficient writing process

It’s not about raw talent. That’s a myth.

It’s not about fixing a mindset problem like you’ve been told.

And it’s definitely not about following a bunch of fake “rules” for writing screenplays.

The real problem is you’ve been focusing on the wrong things (like character psychological profiles or Save the Cat plug-and-play plotting maps), which wastes a huge amount of your time, makes it take you forever to even complete a script, and keeps you from writing screenplays that grab the attention of producers.

The Crucible Screenwriting System will fix all of that.

Because it teaches you the most efficient way to write, tailored to how you work best. And you’ll begin writing scripts that can catapult you to success.

This means:

→ More contest wins.
→ More meetings with producers and reps.
→ A real shot at selling your script or landing lucrative rewrite gigs—the bread and butter of working screenwriters.

And I built The Crucible Screenwriting System to enable you to do this. 

Inside you’ll learn how to:

✅ Identify marketable, high-concept ideas (and avoid time-wasters)
✅ Write efficiently, so you can get scripts to producers faster
✅ Give, receive, and apply feedback like a pro
✅ Develop a drafting process that works for you—so you can finish scripts quicker
✅ Find producers and reps who actually want to read your scripts
✅ Cultivate your unique voice—the thing every Hollywood reader is looking for
✅ Master the difference between story and storytelling—so you can level up faster than you thought possible

I know this works because my students’ results speak for themselves. See what they have to say.

I was nervous about sharing my script, but Jacob was really respectful about my work, and it was obvious he put in a lot of time and thought. He was spot on with his suggestions! Working with Jacob is fun, hugely enlightening, and absolutely invaluable!
Mason Cardiff
screenwriter & director
I've been reading craft books, taking courses, and watching videos for over 7 years. Not even one source in screenwriting or novel writing teaches the same level of craft as Jacob. His teaching leveled up my craft across the board.
Alma Ionescu
science writer & aspiring novelist

How the Crucible Screenwriting System Moves You From Amateur to Pro

The Crucible Screenwriting System consists of four phases that will forge you into a powerful screenwriter capable of writing any screenplay in such a way as to make it irresistible to Hollywood producers.

Phase 1: Target Your Idea – refine an idea into a compelling logline that will make producers salivate and want to read your script

Phase 2: Plan Your Story – develop a solid story and compelling characters to make drafting easy and fast

Phase 3: Write Your Script – transform your plan into a complete screenplay in as little as two weeks

Phase 4: Market Your Screenplay – build a list of producers and reps who will be interested in your screenplay and submit it

It’s really that simple–just four simple phases to go from where you are to having Hollywood quality screenplays in your pocket. And with the Crucible Screenwriting System, you’ll have all the tools and skills to find the success you’re craving.

Jacob provides candid guidance for this craft. He has nourished my need to go back and review scripts I have done to improve the develop of characters for greater reader interest in their uniqueness and story.
He's the teacher you will remember. Fondly.
Reid Barwick
aspiring screenwriter
Others may tell you what you're doing right or wrong, but they never tell you WHY. Jacob does that in spades. He understood what I was trying to do even when I did not articulate it in my script. I highly recommend Jacob for anyone who needs help getting to the next level.
Pat O'Brien
aspiring screenwriter

How the Crucible Screenwriting System Gets You Hollywood Ready

Built on 20+ years of writing experience and 10+ years teaching everyone from grad students to award-winning authors, this system gives you the tools, feedback, and support you need to finally finish a script that opens doors.

Inside you get access to:

Jacob really helped crystalize my vision. His teaching on story structure and sequences is very informative and helpful, and he's been a real help.
Shaun Smith
journalist & author of Snakes & Ladders

Write a Killer Script Even If
You Don't Yet Have the Skills

BONUS: Learn how to position your screenplay so producers fall in love with it

Use my Fast Track resources to fill in any of the gaps you need.

It’s jam-packed with story and storytelling tools that will level-up your writing, and you get access to it for 180 days.

And in it you’ll learn even more ways for how to position your screenplay so producers fall in love with it.

It’s like a film school education boiled down to the critical things you must know.

I've gotten so much accelerated learning from Jacob. He has the most concise and practical guidelines available for learning the screenplay art that I've come across. The distinction between, and purpose of, story and storytelling is particularly insightful.
Dave Wright
aspiring screenwriter

BONUS: Lifetime Access to the Crucible Screenwriting System

You get lifetime access to all course materials, including any future tools and resources. You can continue learning and revisit areas you need to shore up.

Screenwriting requires a special focus.
Jacob helped me find mine.
Cliff Varnell
aspiring screenwriter
Not only does Jacob provide excellent information and insight into the craft of screenwriting, but he also provides effective mentoring. He teaches the whole student. I appreciate his
no-nonsense approach to teaching and learning and his generosity of self.
Jennifer Condrashaff-Clark
aspiring screenwriter

Your Success Is Guaranteed

I know it can be scary to change your current trajectory, so I’m going to remove the risk from your plate. I’m fully confident in the Crucible Screenwriting System, and I know it will work for you because of the success my students have found. But I want you to be fully confident, too.

If you follow the Crucible Screenwriting System and at the end of the 90 days we are not seeing Hollywood quality in your current script, I will work with you for an additional 90 days at no cost to you.

I want you to find the success you are chasing, and that success starts with having a Hollywood quality script.

You have nothing to lose, and it could permanently transform your life as a screenwriter.

There Are Limited Spaces

I want to make sure I give everyone the attention and the feedback they need, so once the spaces are full, you will have to wait until I open up applications again.

So apply now to guarantee your spot.

✅ This Is For You If...

  • You’re ready to treat screenwriting as a serious craft and business.
  • You have 5-10 focused hours a week to put in, even with a full-time job or family.
  • You’re willing to be coached, challenged, and pushed beyond your comfort zone.
  • You’re done doing this on your own and want a real plan and strategy.
  • You’re serious about turning screenwriting into a 2nd act… or a full-blown career.
  • You’ve got scripts, drafts, and ideas, but no finished script you’re proud of yet.

❌ This Is Not For You If...

  • You just want to write your one passion project and hope someone discovers you.
  • You expect Hollywood results without putting in Hollywood-level effort.
  • You think feedback is criticism and growth feels like a threat.
  • You’re more interested in complaining about “gatekeepers” than in learning how to work within the industry.
  • You don’t want to be part of a community… you’d rather go it alone.
  • You’re attached to doing things your way, even if it hasn’t worked.
With Jacob, I figured out the main issues of my script and a way to solve the problems in it.
Andrea Nocchetti
aspiring screenwriter
Jacob helped me understand the essential parts of story structure and how to make it work properly. He also really helped me get a grasp on understanding what's needed to put together a working story.
Billy O'Meara
graphic artist and aspiring screenwriter

FAQs

Not at all. Whether you want to break into Hollywood, direct your own indie films, or just write something exceptional—you need a script that meets professional standards. “Hollywood quality” isn’t about chasing fame—it’s about writing at a level where your story could be sold, produced, or optioned. That’s what this program teaches you to do.

That’s not a problem. Being a beginner means you haven’t picked up bad habits yet. 

And every pro was a beginner once. And it’s not talent that makes 99% of professional screenwriters… it’s their commitment to improving. The Crucible is designed to turn raw ambition into real results. If you’re serious, this could be the turning point where “I want to write a screenplay” becomes “I’m transforming into a professional.”

No—and honestly, it’s better if you don’t. Coming in with a blank slate means you’ll be more open to learning how to develop ideas that can actually sell. Most people start with the wrong idea. The Crucible teaches you how to think like a pro from the beginning—so you don’t waste months chasing a story that won’t go anywhere.

If you can commit just one hour a day—or even a few solid chunks each week—you can absolutely do this. Your time is limited, so every minute has to count. That’s why this program doesn’t waste time on fluff. It’s lean, efficient, and built to help you win while life keeps going.

Ideally, you will be able to spend 5-10 hours per week. You can, of course, spend more.

The Crucible “Founders Edition” will run from Saturday, April 26 – Saturday, July 26 (technically 91 days). So April 26 is the start date.

There are 14 Saturdays in this span, and we will meet for 11 of them.

No need to worry. All calls are recorded and added to the on-demand video library. You can still submit questions and work for feedback even if you do not attend.

100%. The biggest myth in screenwriting is that “who you know” matters more than what you can do. You need a process that builds professional-level skills, and that’s exactly what this program delivers.

The truth? People with connections still fail all the time—because they don’t have the writing chops to back it up. This program is your path to earning attention based on skill, not social circles.

I will read your content at specific points during the Crucible.

There will be Q&A time built in to our regular calls, so you can ask questions then.

And you can always reach out through our community discussion board if you have questions, and I’ll reply at regular intervals throughout the day.

The live calls are on Saturdays from 10 AM – 11 AM PST.

The Crucible “Founders Edition” runs from 26 April 2025 – 26 July 2025. There will be a couple of Saturdays when there will be no call due to the nature of the work (e.g., drafting). A full schedule will be available within the course information once you join.

The Crucible is an intensive course that combines more than twenty years of what I’ve learned in teaching screenwriting and storytelling, along with my own writing experience, plus an excessive dose of the screenwriting skills you’d learn at a top tier film school, but for a fraction of the cost.

So while one year at any of those schools would cost you $50k or more, the Crucible is less than one course at that same top tier film school, but in many ways you’ll be better positioned to get attention for your scripts than many film school grads. 

You have options:

  1. You can fly the nest
  2. You can join the membership and keep access to support, live calls, and feedback

At the end of the 90 days, you’ll be invited to join the on-going membership. If you fly the nest, you’ll keep access to the content, but you’ll lose access to the support and community.

Regardless, you’ll also have access to the Fast Track course for an additional 90 days.

  1. Software – you definitely need screenwriting software if you don’t own any. There will be recommendations within the course content.
  2. My book (under $10) is highly recommended if you don’t already have it.
  3. Additional equipment – live calls are via Zoom, so you’ll need a free account, a microphone, and a camera. In most cases, the built-in equipment for a laptop will suffice.
  4. Subscriptions – when you begin the Marketing System, you will want to have access to a couple of online subscriptions that total about $220 per year.

Can You Afford to Waste Any More Time on Scripts That Will Never Get Read?

You’ve spent so much time struggling to find your own way, to learn what you need to learn, and yet you’ve not yet written that seemingly elusive Hollywood quality screenplay that people want to read.

But transforming yourself into a powerful screenwriter is within grasp, so don’t pass up this opportunity.

And you have two choices at this point:

You can keep doing what you’ve been doing and getting the same, slow results with little to no read requests.

You can forge yourself into a screenwriting powerhouse that knows how to write screenplays that get attention.

The longer you wait, the longer it’ll take you to get where you want to go.

You have stories to tell that our world needs to hear, but if no one reads them, they won’t change anyone else’s life.

So it’s time to change your life. Take control of your screenwriting trajectory and click the Apply Now button… well… now!

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