Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Review 2024: Is It Worth It?
Last Updated on: January 12, 2024 by Aishwar Babber | Fact Checked
Affiliate disclosure: In full transparency – some of the links on our website are affiliate links, if you use them to make a purchase we will earn a commission at no additional cost for you (none whatsoever!).
OVERALL VERDICT
I took Shonda Rhimes' MasterClass on TV writing. It was really helpful and easy to understand. She shared great tips from her own work. I learned a lot about writing scripts. It's a good class for people who want to write for TV.
Hey there! If you’re curious about Shonda Rhimes’ MasterClass on writing for television, I’ve got the scoop for you.
As someone who loves TV shows and dreams of writing one someday, I jumped at the chance to learn from Shonda Rhimes herself.
She’s the genius behind hits like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal,” so you know she’s got some serious skills. Her MasterClass is all about showing you how to create compelling characters and stories that keep viewers hooked.
From the first lesson, I was glued to my screen. Shonda shares her personal experiences, making the lessons feel like a one-on-one chat.
She gets into the nitty-gritty of writing, but in a way that’s super easy to understand, even for beginners. Plus, the workbook and class assignments? They’re gold.
You get to practice what you learn and really develop your skills. This class isn’t just a bunch of tips; it’s a real behind-the-scenes look at how TV magic is made. Stay tuned for more details in my full review!
She dives into creating characters and stories that grab your attention. What’s great are the hands-on assignments – they really help you practice.
This class is awesome for both beginners and those who’ve been writing for a while. It’s simple to follow, super engaging, and you get real insights from a top TV writer.
If you’re into writing for TV, this course is a must-try. Highly recommend it!
Shonda Rhimes is best known as the showrunner—creator, head writer, and executive producer—of the television medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, its spin-off Private Practice, and the political thriller series.
Scandal: sheuses this masterclass as a platform to inspire and guide the next generation of showrunners and writers.
Identifying herself as more of a storyteller, she emphasizes telling stories you feel strongly about, saying, “At the center of every story you are telling, it has to be true.”
Shonda Rhimes, at this stage of her career, devotes herself to being someone her younger self would have needed, as she believes at some point, it stops being about you and starts being what you can give back.
MasterClass is an online educational platform that was established in 2015. It features more than 80 video courses taught by famous celebrities and offers a wide variety of subject areas to pick from.
Aaron Sorkin, David Lynch, Tony Hawk, and Gordon Ramsay are among the instructors at this school.
This results in a one-of-a-kind educational opportunity, which is further enhanced by the superior production standards upheld by the MasterClass team.
You will need $180 in order to purchase an all-access pass. This grants you access to an unlimited number of classes within the confines of an annual membership.
Therefore, you can choose to study a variety of topics at the same time for an interesting educational experience.
MasterClass has already altered the landscape of online education despite the fact that the company is still in its infancy.
In addition, the company is consistently evolving and improving in order to serve its audience better.
What’s Inside Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Course
Investing in this Masterclass would most definitely be worth it as Shonda really pours all of her experience and knowledge about the industry into the Masterclass.
The next generation of writers would benefit immensely from this masterclass as Rhimes has been in the industry for a very long time; her experience and success speak for themselves.
From the exclusive content on the Masterclass, you would gain insight into how the industry functions as well as the process of writing along with her journey through all these years of running a super hit series.
In this Masterclass, you will have access to 30 video lessons from one of the most consistent and successful American Television Producers and Writers.
This itself is a big gain, a chance to hear from the mainstays of the industry.
The Video lessons start with an introduction, and the 28th video ends with a conclusion.
Shonda Rhimes ensures that at the end of every lesson, the viewer longs for more, as she keeps the audience longing for more and more of her work in her series.
In addition to that, this Masterclass provides its subscribers with a class workbook.
It is a 64-page PDF that gives you a detailed understanding of the writing process and secrets on how to make it engaging and evolving.
Rhimes pours her all into this Masterclass with a view to passing on her legacy through it.
A walk Through On Each Section Of Shonda Rhimes Masterclass:
1. Television and Film: Difference
Shonda differentiates television from films. In her opinion, television is a writer’s world. In television, writers decide what makes it on screen. It is his/her visualization. This fact makes television exciting for writers.
The writer dictates everything from the story to the set design. On the other hand, films are the director’s world.
Hence, films don’t excite the writers enough.
2. Read News and Learn Storytelling:
She presses on the importance of being informed, which would enhance the writing. Her take on how to improve writing skills and be engaging is to be a good storyteller.
She says telling stories you feel strongly about, at the center of every story you are telling, has to be true.
3. Knowledge of television History:
Rhimes accentuates that the success of a writer and his/her work depends on their knowledge about their audience, the history of the genre, and general trends with time.
A writer must research similar content, look for what worked for them and what didn’t, and learn from it after that to guide his/her work onto the path of success.
Knowledge about television history, as well as the nature of the audience, is the key to being a successful story.
To explain it further, she exhibits an example of her own work on Grey’s Anatomy.
The history of equivalent works needed to be studied to get the medical drama on the right path and evade the obstacles that were likely to be faced.
4. Flexibility and no restrictions:
Shonda Rhimes described how there were so many rules in the writing of television, especially over established formats.
But in today’s world, an increase in the number of available platforms has brought about flexibility.
That made other storytelling possible.
Yet Rhimes pushes the new writer to acquire information about the rules so that they would perceive when they are breaking one of them.
5. Where should the Idea come from?
She preaches the importance of being aware. According to her, an idea can and would come from anywhere, so it is essential to be aware at all times.
Following a story, being up-to-date, and knowing your surroundings would spark an idea that could have a potent future.
According to her, sourcing the seeds of an idea is a skill a writer must attain.
6. TV ideas do not have an ending:
Shonda encourages the writers to analyze their ideas; if they could visualize a certain end to the story or the character, that idea is more suited for a film.
According to her, an idea that sparks endless possibilities is most suitable for television.
Such an idea keeps the audience guessing and hence keeps them engrossed. Longer and varied possibilities are conducive to healthy and long-lasting television.
She elaborated by giving an example of her own work, stating that she knew she could write a minimum of 7 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy.
7. Consider your Idea in the Real World:
Consideration and implication of your Idea in the real world are essential.
Weighing the factors such as the cultural climate of the present circumstances, ideas as compared to already existing television, and the network executives that might be hunting for development.
She says such factors mustn’t affect the Idea, but surely one should have the knowledge about it.
8. Idea and Premise concept:
She says that an Idea is just a thought, whereas a premise is a specified and enhanced clear picturized form of the writer’s visualization.
A premise must be encased within a couple of sentences that would give the other person a good enough understanding of your show and the concept behind it.
She gives an insight into how conceptualizing the basic idea would push the process further toward reality.
The idea is raw and must be specified. Rhimes has a way of explaining concepts with a suitable example, which she did again to explain this notion by giving an example of her own.
9. Letting the Story Inform the Structure:
The decision-making in order to develop a premise is mighty. In Shonda’s case, her decision-making is driven by the characters and their journey in the show.
Her characters help her decide the future of the structure of the premise.
In her case, the storyline forms the structure of the premise, and it surely works for and preaches about it as well.
She explains how once the writer has an idea about the nature of the character and their respective journey through the storyline, the process becomes easier and smoother.
Rhimes states sorting the story is essential so as to formulate how it is to be told in every episode.
10. Not getting hung up on Titles and Names:
Developing an obsession with the titles and names of the characters is common as one wants to attain perfection in their writing.
Shonda says that jumbling up in them would have you lose valuable time that can be invested instead of further strengthening the bases of the concept and structure of your idea.
She says the titles and names are subjective but the concept, structure, and the show itself are what matters the most in comparison, and hence, a lot of time must be invested in developing them instead of brainstorming on names and titles.
Full Class:
The above sections were just an introduction to this insightful Masterclass by Shonda Rhimes herself.
Rhimes has never done anything like this before, and these video lectures are 100% exclusive for Masterclass subscribers.
In the full class, you get access to his 30 video lectures as well as the workbook. Here, she goes in-depth on the essential elements of writing for television and other necessary sections that constitute it.
How to develop a concept?
How to research your story?
How to create characters and their character traits?
How to write authentic dialogues?
How to create memorable Characters? (one that would last in the hearts of the audience.)
How to Pitch your show properly?
How to write the script structure, pilot, process, etc?
If you have similar questions on your mind and are desperately looking for their answer, this masterclass is exactly for you, and you would, without a doubt, gain immensely from it.
Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Pros & Cons
Pros
Shonda Rhimes videos are absolutely exclusive to the Masterclass.
Access to the exclusive content of the Masterclass.
Access to all exclusive 30 video lessons by Shonda Rhimes.
Shone’s in-depth information on the profession of writing for television.
Common questions answered regarding the profession and the process involved.
Exclusive access to a class workbook that gives you every little detail you need.
Access to her Grey’s Anatomy Original pitch, story Bible, and pilot.
Exclusive access to Scandal 301 Script.
Access to Scandal Pilo (Alternative Opening scene, Early Draft, and Final Draft).
Who should opt for this Course?
This course is perfect for the new generation of writers and showrunners who intend to have a career in the field of television and writing for shows.
This course will enlighten them and help them excel in the field. Such a knowledge-packed Masterclass will definitely enhance their development process.
Shonda Rhimes is an icon as well as a role model for many up-and-coming people.
An opportunity like this, where young students will be able to learn from the best in the respective field, is rare and shouldn’t be missed.
An exclusive Masterclass from a renowned professional in the field and exposure to such opportunities would help build the basis on which your career could be structured.
Having your questions answered would truly endow a great deal of clarity.
The exclusive content that comes along with the course would let you know how the professionals themselves do what they do best.
Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Review Pricing
To get Shonda Rhimes’ MasterClass, you need to join MasterClass with a membership starting at $180 per year.
You can take any course in their library as a member, not just one. This means you can explore various topics like film writing with Aaron Sorkin or storytelling with Neil Gaiman at no extra cost.
The only things that make the memberships different are the number of devices you can use at the same
time (2 for Plus and 6 for Premium) and the ability to download movies to watch when you’re not online. You can cancel anytime, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Customer Review
Growing up with Meredith Grey’s character, I was always impressed by the manner in which her character was written.
I appreciated their storyline and character development through the passing years.
Eventually, I grew fond of Shonda Rhimes’s writing. I idolized her and even hoped to someday be able to have a conversation with her and gain some perspective.
When I came across her Masterclass, I wasted no time getting a subscription and going through it.
Everything I hoped and dreamed of just flushed in front of my eyes. I consider myself lucky to be able to have exposure like this.
I found mentorship through this Masterclass and am working hard on projects I have undertaken.
The knowledge I gained from the masterclass is priceless and is working as a guiding path as I make my way through the field.
I always felt as if I missed some important aspects as I used to pen down my stories. I always had a difficult time covering all the aspects and would give up sooner or later.
Now that I have my basics all cleared up, I focus on being original and creative.
Thanks to the masterclass, which has immensely enlightened me. I feel grateful for this exposure and opportunity.
There are some REALLY good authors (NK Jemisin!) on Masterclass, too. (I’ve been enjoying Shonda Rhimes’ screenwriting series)
When I Got Started, I Learned About scriptwriting From @shondarhimes on @MasterClass. Thank You For inspiring me to become a better writer and was that push to create my upcoming tv series!
Shonda Rhimes is best known as the showrunner—creator, head writer, and executive producer—of the television medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, its spin-off Private Practice, and the political thriller series Scandal, uses this masterclass as a platform to inspire and guide the next generation of the showrunners and writers.
👤Who should opt for this Course?
This course is perfect for the new generation of writers and showrunners who intend to have a career in the field of television and writing for shows.
🤑What is the pricing of masterclass ?
Masterclass All-Access Pass is billed at $180 and comes with a 30-day moneyback guarantee.
💁What is MasterClass?
MasterClass is the streaming platform that makes it possible for anyone to watch or listen to hundreds of video lessons taught by 100+ of the world’s best.
Conclusion: Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Review 2024
We all have a special space for a television. In this age of technology, television has become a major part of our daily life. All the series, daily soaps, shows, etc. We grew up watching has left an effect on our lives.
Having such an effect on people through the medium of your stories is, in a way, overpowering. Hence, having a career doing this is overwhelming.
Shonda Rhines herself has touched so many lives, and this masterclass is helping the future generation do the same.
The knowledge to gain from this masterclass is immense, and I would highly recommend this Masterclass to all the people hoping to have a career in the field of writing and showrunner.
The best part of this Masterclass is that Shonda Rhines wants to pass on the baton through it and give back to the community and the future of this field.
Her experience is priceless, and she wants to be an open book so that she can inspire the next generation to be a good storyteller and feel the story they want to convey.
So, guys, I hope you liked this detailed review of Shonda Rhines’s Masterclass, which teaches you how to become a great showrunner and how to write for television. If you want to pursue this course, I’ll be adding all the details in the description box below so you can go find it there.
Aishwar Babber is a passionate blogger and a digital marketer. He loves to talk and blog about the latest tech and gadgets, which motivates him to run GizmoBase. He is currently practicing his digital marketing, SEO, and SMO expertise as a full-time marketer on various projects. He is an active investor in AffiliateBay. You can find him on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook.
