Where to Take Screenwriting Classes in Ohio

Hello Ohio! Are you a screenwriter based in the Buckeye State looking for classes to hone your skills? Well, you've come to the right place! Today I'm listing some of the best screenwriting classes in Ohio.

Ohio may not immediately come to mind when you think of screenwriting hubs, but many successful screenwriters hail from this Midwestern state. Phil Hay ("Æon Flux," "Clash of the Titans"), Sam Hall ("One Life to Live," "Dark Shadows), Ernest Tidyman ("Shaft," "The French Connection"), Daniel Waters ("Heathers," "Batman Returns"), Eleanor Perry (an advocate for screenwriter recognition, Emmy-nominated for Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory," "Diary of a Mad Housewife") and Laura Jacquim ("One Piece," "Frace and Frankie," "Minecraft: Story Mode") are all from Ohio, and the list goes on.

If you reside in Ohio or have plans to move there, there are plenty of places and people to lean on for screenwriting support.

Screenwriting Classes in Ohio

Literary Cleveland

Literary Cleveland is a nonprofit organization that aims to help writers of all stages and experiences grow and develop their voices. It offers classes and workshops for various forms of writing, genres, and processes. I'd recommend screenwriters check out course offerings such as the class to help writers develop positive writing habits and the playwriting workshop. Keep an eye on their class listings for new course offerings.

Greater Cleveland Film Commission

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission is a nonprofit that strives to bring jobs and boost Northeast Ohio's economy through film and media projects. They offer numerous classes in all areas of film production, including cinematography, editing, and production design. Their screenwriting courses offer the opportunity to learn how to write a screenplay from Emmy and Oscar-winning filmmakers. They also occasionally offer screenwriting workshops led by guest artists.

Women in Film and Television Ohio

Women in Film and Television Ohio (WIFT-OH) encourages and advocates for women who work or want to work in the film, television, and media space. It offers film and script showcases, mixers, and webinars, with recent topics including film distribution,  COVID-safe film sets, developing your brand, and conversations with industry pros. Head to WIFT-OH's Facebook page for the most current offerings. Keep in mind that membership is required to receive most of the benefits from this organization.

College Path

If you're interested in learning about screenwriting via a college education, you'll find that many Ohio schools provide screenwriting offerings.

Ohio University

Ohio University offers various film degree programs; a three-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Film Production, a two-year Master in Film Studies, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film. The university's MFA program allows students to choose screenwriting as a track of focus in the program.

Ohio State University

Ohio State University offers a Screenwriting minor program along with Moving Image Production and Film Studies majors.

Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University offers The Odyssey Program for aspiring filmmakers between the ages of 13-18. Their courses include Film Fundamentals, which covers story development, screenwriting, production, and postproduction.

University of Cincinnati

University of Cincinnati has a Screenwriting Certificate program that allows students to explore both feature and television writing before picking one to focus on for their study.

Oberlin College

Oberlin College offers a Creative Writing major that focuses on five forms of writing, including fiction, poetry, nonfiction, playwriting, and screenwriting, while also offering cross-disciplinary opportunities with other programs.

While none of these schools seem to offer screenwriting specifically as an undergraduate major, your undergrad years can be an excellent time to learn and gain an overall feel for all aspects of filmmaking.

I hope this list is helpful for all the screenwriting Ohioans out there! Hopefully, it's able to introduce you to some of the state's tremendous educational screenwriting opportunities.

Happy learning and writing!