Desert Flower
Screenwriter's Retreat
April 8th – 11th, 2024
Joshua Tree District
with Paula Tiberius
Come join us in the high desert for three nights and two full days of uninterrupted, creative YOU time. Desert Flower Retreat is a magical property that borders thousands of acres of open desert with epic views of Joshua Tree National Park. Inspiring living and writing spaces - indoor and out - a pool, hot tub, hammocks and a meditation path overlooking the canyon.
THE VIBE
Learn the basics of feature film and TV pilot screenwriting in a fun, supportive environment with award-winning writer Paula Tiberius.
Tell us where you are in your writing journey and we’ll tailor the experience to your needs with group workshops and skill-building instruction.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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3 nights accommodation at Desert Flower Retreat
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Morning and afternoon writing workshops with Paula
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Uninterrupted time to write (with snacks!)
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8 nourishing meals cooked by a pro
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Optional hiking/exploring in Fortynine Palms Oasis
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30 minute follow up call with Paula's writing partner & editor, Dominique Buda to keep your momentum going
You’ll learn how to:
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Use the 3-act design to break down your feature film story or your TV pilot and season arc
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Build a plot & answer: What is your story about?
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Develop theme & answer: What is your story really about?
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Create complex characters & a transformational arc
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Write compelling narration
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Write realistic dialogue
Arrive with:
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Curiosity & imagination
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An idea for a screenplay or TV show (or a theme that excites you!)
Leave with:
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A foolproof logline
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A skeletal outline of your screenplay for acts 1, 2 & 3 (feature) OR
A skeletal outline of your pilot and season arc (TV)
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The first 10 pages (or more) of your screenplay/pilot
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A take-home packet with tools for next steps
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A free 30 minute follow up call with Dominique Buda, professional editor
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
Monday
3-4pm Guest arrival & snacks
4:30pm Welcome and intro to the workshop
5:30 Cocktails and Chit Chat
6:30pm Dinner
7:30pm Fire pit
Tuesday
7:00am Optional Morning Meditation & Coffee/Light Nibble
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am Workshop (approx. 3 hrs)
12pm Lunch
1pm Workshop (approx. 3 hrs)
4pm Free Writing & Snacks / 1 on 1s with Paula
6:30pm Dinner
Wednesday
7:00am Optional Morning Meditation & Coffee/Light Nibble
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am Optional group hike/Free writing
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Workshop (2 hrs.)
3:00pm Free Writing & Snacks / 1 on 1s with Paula
6:30pm Dinner
7:30pm Dessert & board games
Thursday
7:00am Optional Morning Meditation & Coffee/Light Nibble
8am Breakfast
9:00am - 10:00am Wrap Up
PRICING AND ACCOMMODATIONS
THE MANDALA ROOM
King Bedroom for 2 (shared bathroom)
Whole room to yourself: $1500
Bring a friend: $1100 per person
(Price is inclusive of workshop, all food/drinks, amenities)
THE OCOTILLO ROOM
King bed with en suite (sleeps 2)
Whole room to yourself: $1700
Bring a friend: $1200 per person
(Price is inclusive of workshop, all food/drinks, amenities)
THE CACTUS ROOM
King Bedroom with En Suite
(Sleeps 2 )
Whole room to yourself: $2100
Bring a friend : $1800 per person
(Price is inclusive of workshop, all food/drinks, amenities)
THE VISTA ROOM
Shared Bunk Room with shared bathroom
2 Bunk Beds (up to 4 guests)
$950 per person
This room will be a shared experience.
(Price is inclusive of workshop, all food/drinks, amenities)
A $350 non-refundable deposit reserves your stay
Your Coach
Paula Tiberius is a screenwriter and director with twenty plus years of experience. Her film and television screenplays have been featured on Netflix, Amazon, Peacock, CBC, UPtv, INSP and more. Her camp thriller for Lifetime Television, Hunting Housewives, starring Denise Richards, airs Spring 2024 and production just wrapped on her script for the third installment of Hallmark’s The Jane Mysteries, starring Jodie Sweetin. Paula co-directed the TV romance Christmas Time Capsule for UPtv’s 2023 holiday season, and her screenplay Snowbound for Christmas was the #4 Netflix movie in December 2021. She was a lead writer on the one-hour drama The Wedding Planners and her award-winning feature film Goldirocks (2004) was released theatrically in Canada.
Paula holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts, Cinema Specialist degree from the University of Toronto and studied feature film and television screenwriting at George Brown College. As an editor and writing coach, she’s been working one on one with clients since 2014 on screenplays, fiction and nonfiction. Her teaching philosophy is that storytelling thrives with clarity of structure even if you’re breaking the ‘rules’, and that complex characters spawn the most meaningful stakes.
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