Live on Saturday, August 29th, 2026 at 10:00 AM Pacific
Great Characters Don't Happen by Accident.
This isn't a discussion about character "tips" or personality quizzes.
Michael will show you the same process professional screenwriters use to build characters that drive story, create conflict, and keep audiences emotionally invested.
FREE LIVE WEBCLASS WITH Q&A
How Professional Screenwriters Create Great Characters
A free live webclass on Saturday, August 29th at 10:00 AM Pacific where Michael Jamin reveals how professional screenwriters create memorable, believable characters that audiences can't stop watching. Learn the techniques working writers use to build characters with depth, flaws, wants, and emotional conflict, and why great characters are the foundation of every great story.See how a working showrunner creates memorable, believable characters — so you can stop writing characters who simply move the plot and start writing characters audiences actually care about.
Watch Michael reveal how professional screenwriters create memorable, believable characters—so you can stop writing characters who only serve the plot and start writing people who feel real.
Learn why some characters instantly connect with audiences while others fall flat—so you can make smarter decisions every time you create a new hero.
No spam. Live on YouTube • 60 Minutes • 45 Minutes of Teaching + Live Q&A
From The Writer of These Hit Shows
Everyone has an opinion about what makes a great character.
Some people think it is about making them likable.
Some think it is about giving them a tragic backstory, a funny voice, or a long list of quirks.
Others create characters who are only there to move the plot forward.
So let’s break down what actually works.
Michael Jamin has spent more than 30 years writing and producing television. In this live class, he’ll show you how professional screenwriters create characters who feel real, drive the story, generate conflict, and keep audiences emotionally invested.
Why You NEED To Attend This WebClass
Because the real question isn't whether your character has a backstory—it's whether they're compelling enough to carry an entire Story.
Most writing problems are actually story problems. If the foundation is weak, nothing you do later will fully save the draft.In This FREE Live Class, You’ll See:
How professional screenwriters create characters that drive story, generate conflict, and keep audiences emotionally invested — so you can stop writing characters who simply move the plot.
How working writers build protagonists with clear wants, flaws, and emotional needs — so your characters feel like real people instead of collections of traits.
How Michael develops characters for television and film — so you can learn the same thought process he's used in professional writers' rooms for more than 30 years.
What separates memorable, believable characters from forgettable ones — so you can create characters audiences actually care about long after the credits roll.
The biggest mistakes aspiring writers make when creating characters—and how to avoid them — so you can build stronger stories from the very beginning.
You won’t leave with a formula—you’ll leave with a toolkit.
Live on Saturday, August 29th at 10:00 AM Pacific
WHO THIS IS FOR
Should You Attend This FREE Webclass?
This class is built for writers who are serious about improving the work instead of collecting more vague advice.This webclass is for you if:
You want to create characters audiences genuinely care about.
You've ever been told your characters feel "flat" or one-dimensional.
You want to understand how professional writers build compelling protagonists.
You want practical techniques you can apply to your very next script.
You want to learn from a working showrunner—not just another screenwriting theory class.
This is not for you if…
You think a tragic backstory is the same thing as a great character.
You're looking for a magic formula that guarantees a hit screenplay.
You believe plot is all that matters.
You aren't interested in rewriting or improving your characters.
You already know everything there is to know about writing unforgettable characters. You already know everything there is to know about writing unforgettable characters.
If you read this and thought, “That’s me,” then you need to attend this WebClass.
Live on Saturday, August 29th at 10:00 AM Pacific
Michael Jamin has been a working TV writer for almost thirty years.
Michael Jamin
Showrunner. TV Writer. Author.
Michael Jamin is a veteran TV writer and showrunner who has worked on series such as King of the Hill, Beavis and Butt-Head, Wilfred, Just Shoot Me, Rules of Engagement, Tacoma FD, and more.
For over 28 years he’s been writing, producing, and running rooms in Hollywood—reading piles of scripts, rewriting them, and helping other writers fix story problems under real deadlines, with real money on the line.
Now he teaches the craft of screenwriting the way he learned it: from inside the industry, not from the outside looking in.
This webclass is your chance to learn directly from someone who has actually sat on the other side of the table and said “yes” or “no” to scripts.
Hear From Past Attendees
- Andrew & MatthewJust finishing watching yesterdays seminar - thank you - everything you said is applicable to so much in life and really is going to help reorient me in my goals. Appreciate all your online work - what a gift you're giving us!
- Erick TorresGood afternoon, Michael! Thanks to your podcast and videos you share on social media, I finally got my first PA job! It was originally for only four days but they kept me around for two weeks! I met so many talented people there and I can't wait to meet more when I get my second PA job! Thank you so much!
- Donna S.Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here and all the wonderful, helpful advice. Look forward to the next WebClass!
- Zoe T.Thank you so much for the WebClass and this chat today! We really enjoy hearing from you and follow your posts regularly!
This workshop is legendary. I've been to 2 now. I gleaned more in the first 30 minutes than from any book I've read on the subject. Michael is a legend for a good reason.- Scott C.
- Dave C.Thank you for all your time today. Amazingly generous.
Michael is a screenwriter. He’s not in the position to hire staff, nor does he make any promises that taking his course or advice guarantees employment. The only thing he does is share his experience. The rest is up to the student.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is this class?
This is a free live webclass where Michael Jamin breaks down the same process professional screenwriters use to create compelling characters. You'll learn how to build protagonists that drive story, create conflict, and keep audiences emotionally invested.Do I need to have a screenplay already?
No. Whether you're starting with a brand-new idea or already have a completed draft, the principles Michael teaches apply. Strong characters are the foundation of every great screenplay, regardless of where you are in the writing process.Is this just about creating character backstories?
No. This isn't about filling out character questionnaires or inventing quirky hobbies.It's about understanding what makes a character compelling, how they generate story, and why audiences become emotionally invested in them.
Will Michael critique my characters?
This is a teaching webclass, not a script notes session.Michael will walk you through his approach to creating great characters and use examples to illustrate the principles. The goal is to give you tools you can immediately apply to your own writing.
Is this only for beginner writers?
Not at all.Whether you're writing your first screenplay or you've been writing for years, memorable characters are one of the hardest parts of storytelling. Michael will be sharing the same techniques he's relied on throughout his professional career in television.
Reserve Your Seat and Watch A Professional Writer & Showrunner Break Down Characters
Join Michael Jamin live on Saturday, August 29th at 10:00 AM Pacific and see how professional writers look at and build characters.Free Live Webclass • Real Script Breakdown • No Hype • Just the Pages
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