Four students gathered at Mitch’s Tavern in 1993 to read and critique each other’s work. Since then, members have come and gone, locations have changed, but the group remains in tact. 

The group, Screenline, still meets monthly, and although its members aren’t comprised of students anymore, screenwriters of all skill-levels and ages are encouraged to contribute to the discussion, according to Mike Everette, supervisor for Screenline.

“Screenline invites all persons with an interest in screenwriting,” Everette said. “Regardless of whether you are merely curious, have never written a screenplay but would like to learn about it, or have completed multiple scripts and maybe even had one produced, you’re absolutely welcome.”

Everette teaches creative writing courses at Wake Technical Community College. He encourages members of this group to learn as much as they can about their craft. 

Eight to ten writers regularly attend with scripts ready for collective reading and evaluation. 

“We’re all friends, which means we are honest with our comments,” Everette said. “We don’t share each other’s work without permission, and we don’t rip each other off.” 

The first screenwriting classes at N.C. State were offered in 1993, but the four students who met in Mitch’s Tavern in 1994 wanted to take their experiences beyond the classroom and into the bar, a more comfortable setting.

“It was a very basic introduction to the subject, and several students wanted to go further with the subject than these classes had taken us,” Everette said. “The instructor was approached about offering a private ‘master class’ for those so interested.” 

After going public in 1994, Screenline met on State’s campus in the Caldwell Hall Lounge twice a month. At the time, it wasn’t uncommon for 20-25 students to attend regularly. 

The group had only one problem — parking. After well over a decade of meeting on State’s campus, Screenline began to seek out a new location in 2010. Today, it meets monthly at Starbucks Coffee near Lake Boone Trail in Raleigh.

Screenline is also eager for participants to bring full length and short scripts for critique. For longer scripts, Everette arranges longer meetings.

Everette said the group is principally there for any screenwriter to grow his or her craft.

“At Screenline meetings, the principal activity is to stage dramatic readings of members’ works-in-progress, and then comment upon them,” Everette said.  

None of the writers have contributed to a major film, but Everette said he has high hopes for the group. 

“We are still waiting for the big Lightning Strike, when one of our members’ screenplays makes it to the silver screen from a major studio,” Everette said.