Derek Rydall is one of the top creative people in this business. His insight on story and knowledge of structure consistently amazes me. Creative, conscious, and insightful, Derek (and the rest of the staff at Scriptwriter Central) is an attribute and a gift to any project,”

Matt Seigel, Producer, WideAwake Films, "Big Brother (Fox),” “Pop (New Regency),” “Life Coach (Fox),” “Soul Mates (Sony),” “Holiday Club (Fox),” “Destiny (New Regency)

Derek Rydall understands the heart and soul of screenwriting. He combines his experience as an actor, his craft as a writer, his knowledge of structure and his love of storytelling to make up a solid foundation for his skillful coaching. Probably the most powerful element of his teaching, however, is something more subtle and profound that all of these skills combined. Derek has an intuitive ability to locate the emotional essence of a story and to help illuminate the spiritual significance of the character’s arc. Derek knows that if you find the heart and soul, the story will reveal itself.

Ed Munter. Award-Winning Composer, Writer, Producer



Derek Rydall is coach of the screenwriter coach. His many years of experience have taken him through all phases of script development and all aspects of coaching. He has written several screenplays, coached many writer and has advised many coaches. His knowledge of the craft, his skill as a coach and his excellent people skills make him an excellent resource for coaches who are looking for inside tips, development executives seeking guidance for a specific project and studio executives seeking product analysis. Derek is the go-to-guy for script development support.

Ed Munter. Award-Winning Composer, Writer, Producer


As a writing teacher, Derek Rydall directs the author toward his/her fullest self-realization in language via his knowledge of the creative writing process. Brainstorming story ideas and creative visualization of scenes are two techniques that he used to guide me towards a deeper expression of my own voice.

Uriah Carr, Actor/writer, North Hollywood, CA


Derek's love of narrative inspires writers to let their stories tell themselves.

Kimberly King-Burns, TV/Stage writer/actor, Bahamas Film Commission.

Derek recognized and finely delineated story and form weaknesses, offering hints, by example, for strengthening the storyline, building and introducing characters, and constructing proper script structure. What I found most helpful were his examples, and, especially, his explanation of ‘structure’. Though effective with his own explanation, Derek suggested, as augmentation to his explanation, reading books on script structure, explaining “….for the writer to be able to see what material is superfluous, what material is essential, and where the gaps exist. Since reading Mr. Rydall’s Report of my spec script, I have initiated, with much enthusiasm, a comprehensive rewrite of the structure and characters of my spec script, have just completed an eleven page Treatment on a new script, and have reorganized my thoughts on the resumption of yet another script-in-progress which I’ve delayed for nearly two years!

Robert A. De Christofaro, Jr., Screenwriter

It doesn’t take many words to express my joy of working with and knowing Derek Rydall. Derek has surely over the years helped to broaden my horizon and captured my visions and ideas on paper. His heart is as genuine as his talent.

Jeff Etheridge

Derek works with beginning and advanced storytellers to help them get out
of their own way, to finesse their narrative with bold and original choices.

Kimberly King-Burns, TV/Stage writer/actor, Bahamas Film Commission