Not only was my Story Specialist Mario Moreno a consummate professional but an invaluable source of critical feedback. He brought tremendous energy and insight to each of our weekly sessions. You would think he was earning a ten-percent manager's cut. Mario (expletive) rocks.
“I just won first place in the International Family Film Festival with my coming of age script, My College Essay!! YAY! Again, thanks to you, my mentor.”
You are a thought-provoking machine!
As always, I would not have even progressed this far without the wonder that is Mario. I cannot say enough good things about him. He has patiently put up with a very green screenwriter and nurtured me into a semi-green writer. I learned more from him than all the screenwriting courses combined. Please pass this comment to whoever oversees Mario's work.
Great feedback as always. Like taking a masters class in writing!
I've had three really outstanding sessions with Mario. It is like the best lecture or high-level Q & A I've had since I started writing scripts. It would sell! It should be recorded. We are working simply off a "Save the Cat" outline. Just saying this is a class unto itself. Mario's Q & A!
Dude, you need to seriously start charging more.
I’m working hard on my script!! I have lots to go on with and really want to thank you for all your efforts on my behalf. I'm a serious fan of The Writers Store and yourself as mentor, and hope to have the opportunity to work with you again. Have to tell you that I woke up in the early hours of this morning rewriting scenes in my head, so I guess the script is not going to let go of me easily!
Your notes from previous sessions on these scenes were invaluable on my latest draft.
I've greatly enjoyed the experience, especially talking to Mario every week. I wish everyone involved the best of luck, and I know I'll take a lot from this experience and from my sessions with Mario.
Congrats by the way, on coaching another winner. You don't mess around.
I recently had the pleasure of completing a 12-week course with Mario O. Moreno of the Writer's Store to adapt one of my stage plays to a screenplay. I started the course with almost zero knowledge of the art and craft of writing a screenplay. I finished the course with a complete first draft that I am confidently revising on my own with the knowledge I gained under Mario's tutelage. Mario is one of the most dedicated professionals I've ever worked with and, equally important, he is an excellent and patient teacher. We agreed to a time each week for me to e-mail him my 10-12 pages of new material. He read the material very quickly (within half an hour) and called me exactly on time for our detailed discussion of his recommendations and/or questions. His comments and insights were always excellent, always on-point, and extremely helpful to me in learning the trade. He never pushed me in one direction or another. Instead, he offered thoughtful suggestions or options for me to consider.
I could have read books and eventually learned the technical requirements. However, I can't imagine that process providing me with the wealth of knowledge I gained from Mario in our detailed and enlightening phone discussions. Mario knows the screenwriting craft, not just at a technical level, but also at a subtle, artistic level. I strongly recommend the 12-week Writers Store sessions with Mario, or one of the other equally talented professionals. You will learn how to write a quality screenplay.
The best thing about this contest are the Story Sessions. Each week it was like picking up a conversation with an old friend, from right where you left off before. I don't know how, but my Specialist had the uncanny ability to remember even the tiniest details of my story, even when it was largely conceptual and I kept making changes to some of the bigger pieces.
“I've heard other writers scoff at the idea of paying for feedback on their work or talking to anyone about it but their peers, even though some of these same people are willing to spend countless hours and thousands of dollars on services like psychotherapy. Think of the Specialist Sessions as therapy for your story. As with any truly good and useful therapy, there's nothing doctrinaire in the approach and no BS allowed. You won't be compelled to write to an established formula or program. Your Specialist has only your story's best interest in mind and to that end you'll talk about whatever works. Any technique or approach, any reference from film or literature, any bit of wisdom from your collective experience is fair game. And as with a good therapist, a Story Specialist's attitude is a balance of sincere interest and unvarnished honesty -- all in the service of best identifying and solving your script's most pressing problems.
“I certainly clicked with my adviser, Mario. But I can imagine him being this helpful to just about anyone. He's especially great at talking out solutions on the fly and thinking through multiple permutations of any given choice. Mario's an experienced and accomplished writer in his own right, on the verge of a promising career -- so take advantage of his time will he's still able to offer it!
“I've done this twice now. I started out the first round as a skeptic, but now I'm completely sold on the concept and the process. Would I pay for this service in the future? With someone as personable, knowledgeable, encouraging and honest as my Specialist Mario, you bet I would.
It was so great meeting with you during the conference!! Your wealth of knowledge is completely inspiring, and you're a gifted teacher—always supportive and positive while also offering excellent insights... I really don't know what to say to thank you enough! You can't imagine how much I've raved about you over the past several months. All my family and close friends know what a great inspiration you are.
I HATED leaving the conference and my writing coach/mentor, it was terrible. But I remembered your words of wisdom about using the long hours on the road to let my mind ruminate over my screenplays. I highly recommend driving the long spooky roads of the Arizona desert late at night if you want a great writing-in-your-mind experience.
“I'm still reeling from the news. It's just a great feeling! And I can't thank you enough for all your help throughout the process.”
“I paid a famous guru over a thousand dollars for his feedback, and you did more for my understanding of story and writing than he ever did. You should charge more, but I’m happy you don’t.”
“Thank you again for all your help. I feel your mentoring has not only made me a better writer, but actor, director, and editor.”
“Thank you, Mario!! You are top-flight!”
“Again, thanks for everything you've done for me. I've already started editing one of my earlier scripts and I just feel like my skills went way up throughout this experience.“