Shonda Rhimes MasterClass Review 2022

This article “Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Review” will provide you with the opportunity to read an in-depth evaluation of Alicia Keys Masterclass, including information on how the lessons are presented, who the course is best suited for, and the cost, and what I enjoyed about it, etc.

I eventually came to the conclusion that I enjoyed Shonda Rhimes’ writing, so I started watching some of her other television shows, including Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal.

My screenplay’s development has benefited significantly from the Shonda Rhimes Masterclass. It is well-organized, thorough, and informative. You may learn everything you need to know about the Shonda Rhimes masterclass before enrolling, including the Pros and Cons and Costs.

Who Is Shonda Rhimes?

About Shonda Rhimes

Shonda Rhimes is a well-known name in the television and cinema industries in the United States. She is also a producer and showrunner.

She is well-known not only for the medical drama Grey’s Anatomy but also for the political thriller Scandal.

In 2015, she was honored with the Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement bestowed by the Writers Guild of America.

In addition to that, she was honored with two awards from the Publicists Guild of America: one for Showmanship in TV and the other for Lifetime Achievement.

This MasterClass is an excellent resource for you to utilize if you are an aspiring writer who has the goal of writing (or completing) a script.

Shonda Rhimes is also available on Twitter with 1.9M followers, And she truly shares some amazing stuff there, you must look

How did Shonda Rhimes get started?

Sadly, only the pilot episode of her show about war correspondents was ever produced. Grey’s Anatomy was her big break in the industry. The drama, which premiered in 2005 and is about the personal and professional lives of surgeons, was an instant success.

What Is Masterclass?

What Is A Masterclass

Masterclass has been able to bring together a diverse group of experts from a variety of sectors, since 2015.

Having access to these experts’ knowledge and advice can help you advance your career. The all-access pass allows you to sample a wide range of classes.

There are typically 20-25 lessons in Shonda Rhimes Masterclass. The length of these videos is perfect for learning new skills.

Aside from that, the majority of these classes also give study guides and forums for students to ask questions. Shonda Rhimes Masterclass is an excellent value for the money, and it’s a great resource for fans of the show.

The MasterClass is based on the simple premise that you can learn from the best in the business by listening to what they have to say.

You may learn music from Hans Zimmer, writing by Niel Gaiman, magic from Penn and Teller, acting from Helen Mirren, cooking from Thomas Keller, singing from Reba McEntire, etc. at MasterClass.com.

Course Overview – Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Review

Course Overview Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Review

From 8 to 20 minutes long, each of the 14 videos in the Shonda Rhimes MasterClass includes an introduction from Rhimes.

  • Shonda Rhimes sits in front of the camera for the courses, allowing you to see her face and hear her words.
  • As a result of the lessons’ one-on-one nature, they feel more personal rather than mass-produced.

This is why Shonda Rhimes decided to participate in the MasterClasses: to share what she has learned with the future generation of authors. Rhimes begins the MasterClass with a four-minute introduction on her love for writing.

Teach Yourself TV Writing

Rhimes begins by comparing and contrasting the process of writing for cinema with that of writing for television;

  • She asserts that the writer, rather than the director, is in charge of the situation.
  • Rhimes places a reasonable emphasis, as she says, on the significance of crafting characters who are true to life.

Rhimes takes a step back at various points during each of the lectures to emphasize how to write and construct authentic worlds. It is her insistence that you…

  • Do some research on television and familiarise yourself with what came before.
  • Read teleplays and get familiar with the established guidelines for writing for television.
  • Consume the news, and make an effort to gain an understanding of the world around you.
  • The first lesson provides a high-level overview of the fundamentals of what to do before beginning the process of writing.

The first lesson glosses over the basics of what to do before starting your writing process.

Finding an Idea

Second, Shonda Rhimes discusses, from her own point of view, how she chooses which ideas to incorporate into her writing;

  • Shonda Rhimes has a strong understanding of the ins and outs of the writing process, including its practicalities. She takes into account the fact that even if a writer is determined to maintain creative control of their work, they should be aware that the production company also has a voice in how it will be used in the future.
  • She talks about unique ideas for projects as though they are something that naturally occurs to everyone and can be obtained from a variety of different places.
  • In addition, she asserts that she never suffers from writer’s block, which is a claim that can be contested.

It seems that most of the ideas covered in this course are quite fundamental. It is a dangerous assumption to make that her approach will work for every writer. It would be beneficial to consider what would work for you personally and to take from the teachings whatever you think to be the most helpful.

Not that she promises that her methods would work for everyone, but she does say that they will work for some people.

Developing the Concept

When it comes to informing your plot, the Shonda Rhimes MasterClass focuses on how developing your characters should take precedence over any and all other aspects. Even though the questions she presents are pretty fundamental, they continue to be essential components of the writing process:

  • What drives your character? What are his or her requirements?
  • Do they have any challenges that they need to overcome?
  • What sort of a tale do you wish to recount? What is it that you hope the audience will take away from it?


The fact that Rhimes reveals how she creates a Story Bible is the most significant benefit that can be taken away from this class. Rhimes proves to be of great assistance in this situation. She explains to you how to become the expert on your own tale while simultaneously informing you that you should be the one telling it.

Researching Your Story

In this lesson, Shonda Rhimes demonstrates her resourcefulness by offering many links and connections that are helpful. You are on the correct track to ensuring that your story is original if she instructs you to research the work of others without stealing their work. She will steer you in the proper route.

  • She encourages you to listen. must spend time with the folks that assist you in researching your subject matter.
  • She provides names and addresses of locations where you can obtain information by contacting them.
  • Her philosophy is that the more mundane aspects of life contribute to the creation of a genuine environment for the characters to inhabit.

The Shonda Rhimes MasterClass delves into Rhimes’ methodology while she instructs students on the proper and improper ways to conduct research, or at the very least provides a place to begin. In striking contrast, some of her most fundamental ideas are included in the list of points that she considers being her most perceptive.

  • Although it is helpful to have an idea of how she organizes her notes, it is important to keep in mind that her method is unique to her and may not be applicable to other people.
  • Sometimes the points detailing her methods become a little repetitive, which is quite annoying because they sound fairly basic.

Creating Memorable Characters

Shonda Rhimes examines the most effective techniques for building characters that will stick with the audience by retracing the phases of her writing process. She demonstrates what makes a character memorable by using examples from her own work, such as Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and Private Practice, as case studies.

  • You will learn in this lesson to approach your fictional creations as if they were real individuals.
  • Rhimes agrees with the point that each character has a particular function in the story. They could be written with the intention of educating the audience or presenting a moral stance to the reader.
  • Think about the things that your character needs, as well as the things that they want, and see whether the two are different.

Pitching Your Show – Shonda Rhimes pitch

This is by far the most helpful lesson that Shonda Rhimes has to offer. You get a sense of the realities of the industry as well as the process from the screenplay to the screen thanks to her reference to case studies and her own personal experiences.

When attempting to market an idea, she takes into consideration how to captivate the imagination of the executives, the vocabulary that one ought to use when pitching, and other elements that one ought to be aware of.

Our lesson is the most powerful of them all since it reveals ideas that you wouldn’t necessarily be able to acquire for free anywhere else online, including on this website. Her ideas now go into greater specificity and detail than the points she made earlier, which were more fundamental.

Shonda Rhimes On Writing A Script: Structure

The first of the classes in the Shonda Rhimes MasterClass to focus on Rhimes’ fundamental writing structure, this one is presented right now. Rhimes emphasizes how important research is to the writing process multiple times.

  • She breaks down the structure of a television show in greater detail by walking through the basic transition from one activity to the next.
  • Her recommendations are excellent examples of the rules of scriptwriting that she emphasizes time and again.
  • The process of writing will be broken down and approached methodically in this session. Rhimes provides a straightforward and condensed breakdown of how to organize a pilot episode. This is the knowledge that is helpful to anyone just starting off.

Writing a Script: Process

In the same way that she encourages you to compose a Story Bible, Shonda Rhimes challenges you to compose a Beat Sheet. An additional strategic recommendation of a useful activity for you to carry out in order to simplify the process of writing.

She provides a valuable and insightful view of her own writing method, which is unquestionably successful, by providing you with in-depth explanations of her technique and presenting them to you.

Writing a Script: Effective Habits

You are the person most responsible for your own achievement. She invites you to see how you are in control of your productivity in the ninth segment of the Shonda Rhimes MasterClass that she has created.

  • She believes that having self-discipline is beneficial in many ways.
  • The best way to improve is to practice!
  • By developing a specific writing habit for yourself, you can trick your brain into going into work mode.

Here is where Shonda Rhimes really drives home the point that working according to a schedule and meeting a deadline is a reality. You can ensure that your task is completed to the highest possible standard if you don’t give yourself any room for excuses.

Her demeanor is always upbeat and positive in the videos that she creates, but she is also capable of adopting an authoritative stance when necessary to provide an accurate portrayal of the work environment.

Writing a Script: The Pilot

Once more, Shonda Rhimes emphasizes how vital it is to pay attention to the characters in a story. There is little doubt that the audience’s investment in your pilot is directly proportional to the characters. Rhimes, on the other hand, is shaping her advice to be more applicable to the writer of serialized drama.

Rhimes hardly ever reminds the learner that they are learning the skills and techniques of a drama writer and what is important to her in particular, despite the fact that it is obvious that it is most beneficial for Rhimes to talk from her own experience and that it is obvious that it is most beneficial for Rhimes to talk from her own experience.

This isn’t necessarily a negative criticism regarding the training that’s being provided. If you find that this is something that interests you, then you will find that this tutorial on a writing process is quite helpful; nonetheless, it is still something that you need to think about.

Writing Authentic Dialogue

An introduction to the importance of dialogue is provided in this condensed course. It’s not just about what your characters say; it’s also about what they don’t say that has power.

For Shonda Rhimes, character authenticity is a constant concern.
She emphasizes the importance of not striving for perfection in your dialogue because it isn’t how real people communicate.

Editing Your Script

To help you get the most out of your show and the comments you get, Rhimes provides you with a checklist-like lesson plan. This is a condensed version of her advice:

  • You can get a sense of the show’s mood and rhythm by acting it out.
  • A hook at the end of an episode will keep the viewers engaged.
  • Don’t take criticism personally; instead, pay attention to what others have to say and examine what, if anything, they don’t get about your work and why.

A Grey’s Anatomy case study is referenced as she wraps up the session. Before taking the MasterClass, it is recommended that you observe her work. If you don’t, the case study references can become a little repetitious.

Rhimes paints vivid pictures of the settings and people found within the episodes she creates. However, if you have seen her work and completely comprehend her references, the classes will be that much more informative and rewarding.

Beyond the Pilot: Writing a Series

For the sake of keeping things fresh, Shonda Rhimes doesn’t make a sweeping statement about what to keep in mind.

  • That nothing is guaranteed and that you should employ all of your wonderful ideas is emphasized by her.
  • I believe that everything has a purpose.
  • The idea that your characters are human beings with wants and needs is reiterated by her.
  • Audience members will be more forgiving if your story resonates with them on an emotional level.


While teaching, Rhimes talks about the creative process in a romantic tone. Realistic portrayal of the character in her writing. Her passion for her work is evident in her videos, as it takes center stage in all of her arguments. The lessons are made extra special because of her encouragement and affection.

Who Should Take This Course?

To put it simply, this course is best suited for individuals that fall between 1 and 7. Overall, Shonda provides a lot of basic information about television writing and devotes an entire chapter to getting started in the industry.

As a showrunner, she also discusses how writers may grow within the system and gives advice on how to do so. A career in television acting is a distinct possibility with Shonda’s MasterClass, as it teaches you how to break into the industry.

What you’ll learn in this MasterClass is how to:

  • Create TV characters that people will remember.
  • Identify and meet the needs of your target market.
  • Present your show to executives in an effective manner.
  • Consider using a five-act framework for your script.
  • Develop good writing habits.
  • Authentic and honest dialogue should be crafted.
  • Become a producer in the television industry.

Course Prices – Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Review

MasterClass now offers two methods of payment:

Single-Course Purchase
$90 buys you unrestricted access to one MasterClass of your choice for the rest of your life! It’s yours for life if you buy it (including the PDF Workbook and any other resources).

This works out to $15 an hour for Shonda Rhimes’ MasterClass. This is a reasonable fee to pay for a celebrity tutor. MasterClass’s six-and-a-half-hour course isn’t the most expensive out there, but it’s not the cheapest either.

All-Access Pass
The annual all-access pass subscription is $180. Through the use of this, you are able to enroll in an unlimited number of courses at the same time, side by side. To make the most of this, it is best to focus on a single subject or even a variety of subjects.

If you’re not satisfied with your purchase, you can request a refund within 30 days of making it.

Is This Course Content Unique?

The Anatomy of a Script, a lengthy video by Shonda Rhimes, was one of the resources I found when investigating her other TV writing guidance. This video features an interview with Shonda Rhimes where she discusses her writing approach for Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal.

I also liked how the MasterClass replicates a one-on-one learning session rather than an interview, which I found more fascinating than the interview style. The convenience of having all of your lessons in one place is another perk of using MasterClass. As a result, it’s easy to return to and is a valuable resource for any writer.

Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Review – Is It Worth It?

This course is a must-see whether you’re a fan of Shonda Rhimes or are looking to break into the TV writing industry. Shonda tells you how to get a foot in the door in a difficult market and about the various opportunities available in television production.

Pros:

  • Learn from a successful TV writer
  • Excellent resources for further study
  • Varied and interesting content

Cons:

  • Not always the best teacher
  • The writers’ room feels distant
  • Often case study-specific

In this MasterClass, you will learn how to:

  • Actively teach yourself TV writing
  • Find and develop a strong idea
  • Best research for your story
  • Create memorable characters
  • Write and deliver an effective pitch
  • Craft authentic and realistic dialogue
  • Understand TV’s 5-act structure
  • Edit and refine your script for shooting
  • Break into the industry and get noticed
  • Work as showrunner and develop good habits

Despite the $90 price tag, it’s important to consider what this course has to offer and how it could help you achieve your goals. This MasterClass may be well worth your money if you’re interested in learning from Shonda’s lesson plan.

If you are interested in writing for television but are unsure whether this particular class is right for you, you can think about purchasing an all-access pass.

In point of fact, when the amount of content you get is taken into consideration, this offers the most value for the money. With this pass, you have the flexibility to choose from among all of the MasterClass courses.

Thank you for reading this article “Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Review.” If you have any concerns, questions, or suggestions regarding this article, please write them in the comment section below. And don’t be hesitant about passing on this piece of knowledge to others.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Shonda Rhimes MasterClass cost?

Taking Shonda Rhimes’ MasterClass on its own will set you back $90. In contrast, the annual all-access pass, which costs $180, provides you access to all classes for the entire year.

Can you get Shonda Rhimes’ MasterClass free?

There is no free version of this MasterClass. This Shonda Rhimes Masterclass Review and the trailer will help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.

How long is Shonda Rhimes’ MasterClass?

In total, the Shonda Rhimes MasterClass is 6 hours and 15 minutes long.

Can I get a refund if I don’t like the MasterClass?

Yes, MasterClass offers refunds within 30 days of purchasing.

Is Shonda Rhimes MasterClass good?

This MasterClass is an excellent resource for you to utilize if you are an aspiring writer who has the goal of writing (or completing) a script. And in point of fact, the screenplay class taught by Shonda Rhimes and Aaron Sorkin came in first place in our ranking of the greatest screenwriting classes.

How do you pitch an idea to Shonda Rhimes?

What makes a good pitch, in Shonda’s opinion:

1) Let’s get into the show’s premise.
2) Outline the setting of the show for me.
3) Establish the players.
4) Provide an overview of the pilot’s plot.
5) Act naturally and get your audience invested in the story.
6) Speculate on how many episodes you intend to make.

Is Private Practice written by Shonda Rhimes?

Shonda Lynn Rhimes is an American author, screenwriter, and TV producer. She was born on January 13, 1970. She is widely recognized as the showrunner (i.e., creator, head writer, and executive producer) of the critically acclaimed television programs Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal.

Shonda Rhimes net worth

It is reported that Shonda Rhimes brings in more than $15 million a year in pay.

Shonda Rhimes shows

1) Still Star-Crossed. Disney – ABC Domestic Television.
Off the Map. Disney – ABC Domestic Television. …For the People. Disney – 2) ABC Domestic Television.
3) The Catch. Disney – ABC Domestic Television.
4) Inventing Anna. Netflix.
5) How To Get Away With Murder.
6) Station 19.
7) Private Practice.

Shonda Rhimes script

Writer and producer Shonda Rhimes (born January 13, 1970, in Chicago, Illinois, USA) is best known for her work on the critically acclaimed medical dramas Grey’s Anatomy (2005-) and Scandal (2013-). (2012–18). Rhimes is a Chicago native who spent his childhood in the suburbs.

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