EXHALE in paradise and DISCOVER how to take your SCRIPTS and career to the next level.

BALI

March 2nd – 8th 2025

Apply Now

What is Screenwriters in Paradise?

Luxury, clarity, and creativity — far from the noise, you will be inspired to craft or breathe new life and finish your next script masterpiece. Spend 7 days and 6 nights in a 5-Star Villa of the Gods where you will be nourished with private gourmet meals, indulge in Balinese massages, learn meditative techniques to combat brain fog, and dwell in an enchanting location that will give you the peace of mind to elevate your writing.

You’ll work one-on-one with top industry mentors who are actively making waves in the industry today, and who will help polish your script and get it ready for the market. Unlike other retreats, Screenwriters in Paradise offers key workshops using today and tomorrow’s current techniques and customizes the program to fit your own script and writing goals.

Key Workshops

How to use Ai to make you a better and more efficient writer.

How to create engaging pitch decks to sell your screenplay.

How to add key ingredients to your script to sell in your genre.

How to find and properly pitch your script to companies and investors.

Experience the first 5-STAR ALL-INCLUSIVE luxury retreat for screenwriters.

Who is this retreat for?

Stop dreaming. Start finishing. Whether you’re an indie filmmaker, a battle-tested screenwriter, or ready to ditch the 9-to-5 grind — this is where you break through. Bring that script you’ve started (or swear you’ll finally finish). Get real feedback. Real mentorship. Real results.

Ready to level up? Then trade the noise for palm trees. The brain fog for breakthroughs. Walk in with a draft, walk out ready to pitch. Paradise is waiting — your screenplay is too.

Imagine a retreat that CUSTOMIZES a program that caters specifically to your screenplay and career.

Customized Daily Plan

We don’t do generic – just your script, center stage.  If you’re in, we jump on a one-on-one call, then deep-dive your script and shape a custom retreat built just for you and your story. This is your personal writing escape in paradise — tailored to push your story where it needs to go.

A Typical Day Writing in Paradise:

  • Morning wellness: meditation, yoga, or mindful journaling
  • Writing workshops focused on genre, character, dialogue, or style
  • Chef prepared meals for the mind
  • Dedicated feedback with one-on-one mentorship
  • Optional adventure excursions or spa treatments
  • Group feedback and evening reflection sessions

Highlight Events:

  • Poolside welcome cocktail reception
  • Sunset Beach Tour
  • Bali Studio Tour
  • Cinema Night
  • Taco Tuesday

Each retreat only hosts a maximum of 7 WRITERS to give better PERSONAL ATTENTION.

INDUSTRY MENTORS

Our mentors don’t just talk the industry — they’re deep in it. They’ve sold scripts, closed deals, and seen their stories hit screens this year — feature films and TV shows streaming right now on Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu, Amazon, Tubi, and more. You’re not learning theory — you’re learning from the pros making it happen today.

DALLAS KING

This has been a busy 2025 as Dallas has written the feature film documentary, I Love You My Narcissist, that was just filmed in Berlin in May 2025. At the same time, he’s written the action thriller, Guap, for director Erik White (Lottery Ticket, Wake) to be shot in Atlanta this summer. Add that the horror feature film he directed and wrote, SWAP, was released by EPIC Pictures on 17 different platforms. As a bonus, his much-awaited zombie feature he penned, College of the Dead, is slated to hit the festival circuit this winter. Next, Dallas is producing the brutal action fight feature he wrote, Chess, directed by TJ Hall to be filmed in Bangkok, Thailand in 2025.

IMDB

This has been a busy 2025 as Dallas has written the feature film documentary, I Love You My Narcissist, that was just filmed in Berlin in May 2025. At the same time, he’s written the action thriller, Guap, for director Erik White (Lottery Ticket, Wake) to be shot in Atlanta this summer. Add that the horror feature film he directed and wrote, SWAP, was released by EPIC Pictures on 17 different platforms. As a bonus, his much-awaited zombie feature he penned, College of the Dead, is slated to hit the festival circuit this winter. Next, Dallas is producing the brutal action fight feature he wrote, Chess, directed by TJ Hall to be filmed in Bangkok, Thailand in 2025.

Dallas is best known for writing and producing the award-winning documentary, The Bill Murray Experience, and directing-writing the feature web series, BWFC, by Crunchyroll of Japan, the makers of ONE PIECE & DRAGON BALL Z. Dallas specializes in international productions, having produced the feature film, Oh Boy!, for China, and directed and produced the Japanese feature documentary, Behind Karate Kill. Following this, he directed and wrote the feature film, Ink & Rain, which premiered in Beijing and is exclusively available on China’s largest web network, iQiYi. Most recently, Dallas served as the US producer for the highest-grossing film in China’s history, The Battle at Lake Changjin.

Dallas created his own production company, RED RABBIT PICTURES, which has earned him the (DGA) Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing and he was nominated for an African Movie Academy Award for his film, Little Soldier, which is still distributed by WalMart. He has earned the (MPAA) Motion Picture Association of America Award, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Award, the Caucus Foundation Award for Directing, a 3-time award recipient of the National Hispanic Foundation of the Arts, Alfred P. Sloan Directing Grant, and a recipient of the prestigious National Hispanic Fund McNamara Grant.

Dallas serves as a judge and guest speaker for numerous film festivals and organizations including Comic-Con San Diego. He serves as the President of the UCLA Alumni Bruin Entertainment Network, and a proud alumnus of the (DKA) Delta Kappa Alpha film fraternity. When he’s not filming, he serves as an adjunct professor at UCLA Film School, Loyola Marymount University Film School, and Anaheim University.

ETANA JACOBSON

This has been a busy 2025 as Dallas has written the feature film documentary, I Love You My Narcissist, that was just filmed in Berlin in May 2025. At the same time, he’s written the action thriller, Guap, for director Erik White (Lottery Ticket, Wake) to be shot in Atlanta this summer. Add that the horror feature film he directed and wrote, SWAP, was released by EPIC Pictures on 17 different platforms. As a bonus, his much-awaited zombie feature he penned, College of the Dead, is slated to hit the festival circuit this winter. Next, Dallas is producing the brutal action fight feature he wrote, Chess, directed by TJ Hall to be filmed in Bangkok, Thailand in 2025.

IMDB

A writer/director/producer whose directorial debut, Advanced Chemistry, was acquired by Starz / Lionsgate and premiered in their top 3 over blockbusters such as the latest Hunger Games, John Wick 4; Trending / Popular for 18+ weeks as of 5/31/25; broadcasting; in 2025 Marche du Film, Cannes Film Festival. AC had a sold-out national theatrical release in iconic cinemas like TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. AC continues its run at top film festivals while streaming and broadcasting on every continent. As of 5/31/25 AC is in the Top 5% of Starz content.

AC stars actors from hit films and series like BARRY, Taika Waititi-led OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH, I LOVE YOU MAN, FRIENDS. AC is also on Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Hulu, most major platforms. It won Asian / African distribution with Cpics / Zee5, a major platform, ~100M active users.

Jacobson’s next project is a sci-fi epic developed with the leading LED Volume VFX group, Sweetwater NEP (BARBIE, latest SUPERMAN, STAR WARS). Jacobson has worked with leading film and media groups including Sony, Universal, Vivendi, LucasArts, 2K, BBC Studios, Deluxe, Arri, Panavision, Tod-AO, and with Sir Anthony Hopkins, the Coen Brothers, Roland Emmerich, Barry Diller, Sarah Silverman, David Byrne, and the late Heath Ledger. A keen adventurer, she has lived and worked with numerous native groups in remote areas, the subject of KLM Airlines’ viral “The Journey” podcast. She’s in top industry media such as DEADLINE, COLLIDER and COMINGSOON.

Jacobson won the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Directing Grant for STEM-driven films, a CCCI/Getty Grant, PEN Grant, Wasserman Grant, and the Motion Picture of America Award. She’s written on several AAA videogames in licenses like STAR WARS, for PlayStation launch titles and on original IP such as immersive games and experiences for Ubisoft.

Expert in film, multimedia, video games and Media Services, Jacobson has lectured at UCLA grad programs and was on the faculty of the Future Storytellers Institute, working with Michelle and Patrick Soon-Shiong at their 360 Virtual Production Stage, NantStudio on film/theater and new media integration.

HAM TRAN

IMDB

Tran received his MFA in Directing from the UCLA School of Film and Television. His first two short films, The Prescription and Pomegranate, were finalists for the Student Academy Awards®, and his thesis film, The Anniversary, was short-listed for the 2004 Academy Awards® for Best Live Action Short. In addition to fixing many of Vietnam’s biggest box office hits, Tran has successfully written, directed and edited 9 feature films and 2 streaming series. Tran is a two-time Sundance Film Festival alum, Journey from the Fall (2006) and Maika (2022). In 2019 the LA Times listed Journey From the Fall as one of 20 Asian American cannon films in the last 20 years. In 2023, Tran wrote and directed a true-crime series called, Missing on the Ever of Tet, which was released on Galaxy Play. This success was followed up with the first Vietnamese series financed by Netflix, Devil’s Diner, for which Tran wrote, directed, and was the showrunner. The series dropped worldwide at the beginning of 2025, and became Top Ten on Netflix in Southeast Asia within 36hrs.

His success has earned Ham the go-to person for Netflix when they are doctoring screenplays and projects to be made under their banner. He works tirelessly as a post consultant and series development consultant for Netflix. In addition to his feature film work, Tran also directs commercials and branded short films, and is known as the “film fixer”, helping to re-edit over 25 other feature films into becoming box office hits in the past 15 years.

Tran is currently in post for an action-suspense film called, Death In the Air, which is based on the hijacking of a commercial airline in 1977. He also just wrapped on his horror anthology feature called Red Thread. Prior to all this, Ham wrote and directed the acclaimed action-thriller feature, Bitcoin Hesit, which was a big success internationally and still ranks in the top 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.

For 2025, Tran’s next project is a Sicario meets Narcos type of action-drama that will be about the successful take-down of a heroin syndicate in 2018 as part of the Vietnamese government’s war on drugs. And in 2026, he will remake the mega-hit Chinese dramatic-comedy feature, Hi Mom, for the Vietnamese market. Tran also produces and develops projects as a co-founder of East Films –– a creative studio focused on pan-Asian stories for a global audience. When he’s not working, Tran enjoys karaoke and is known as HamPod for his musical knowledge

ALEJANDRO HIDALGO

IMDB

A Venezuelan director, writer and producer with over 15 years of experience. His debut film, The House at the End of Time, was Venezuela’s first horror film and became the highest-grossing horror film in the country’s history, earning $4.5 million at the box office. It also became the most widely distributed Venezuelan film worldwide, receiving over 15 international awards, including Best Film and Best Director at Screamfest Los Angeles. The film inspired a successful Korean remake, House of the Disappeared, and Alejandro is currently developing a Hollywood remake alongside legendary producer Mike Medavoy (Black Swan, Shutter Island), with Hidalgo set to direct.

His second feature, The Exorcism of God, grossed over $7 million internationally, becoming the highest-grossing Latin American title of 2022 and winning the Box Office International Achievement Award from ComScore. Distributed by Saban Films and Lionsgate in the U.S., it had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest and debuted in Europe at SITGES. Hidalgo was awarded Best Director at the 43rd edition of the Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal.

In 2024, Hidalgo releases his third feature, No Voltees, a supernatural horror-drama directed for the streaming platform Tubi.

**Additional surprise guest speakers will be announced prior to your arrival.

Rest, recharge, and find the clarity to TAKE CHARGE of your screenplay in a luxurious villa.

The Paradise Villa Experience

Each guest enjoys spacious living quarters, high-speed WiFi, all-you-can-drink coffee, air conditioning, and access to a pool 24/7. Depending on availability, the program will select from 1 of 4 luxurious villas to host the retreat.

Accommodations include:

  • In-house spa treatments
  • Shared or private suites
  • Spa-style bathrooms
  • Personal Chef & Butler
  • Daily housekeeping

7 DAYS TO ESCAPE and invest in your writing and professional development.

ALL INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE

All packages include all food, drink, and meals in and outside planned dinners of the villa, all writing workshops, one-on-one mentorships, yoga, meditation, Balinese massages, and holistic workshops, and villa catered events with a personal retreat gift.

BONUS

You will receive access to the Speed Script Development & Pitch Program
https://www.screenwritingstaffing.com/

One-year premium membership to WriterDuet
https://www.writerduet.com/

and 10,000 tokens for ScreenplayIQ
https://screenplayiq.com/

Pricing & Packages

Choose your experience:

STANDARD – $1,700

  • Shared room / Shared Bathroom
  • Unlimited Massages
  • Airport pickup / drop off

PREMIUM – $2,400

  • Private room / Private Bathroom
  • Extra 1-on-1 mentor session after the retreat
  • Unlimited Massages
  • Airport pickup/drop-off

VIP CUSTOM – $3,500

  • Full VIP Private suite
  • Police escort to and from the Airport
  • Unlimited Massages
  • Extra 1-on-1 mentor session after the retreat
  • Pitch Session to a selected Studio Executive
  • Script coverage post-retreat of your polished screenplay
  • Your choice of an Add-On excursion (except SAVAYA)
  • **VIP Package is limited upon availability

ADD-ON EXCURSIONS

TANAH LOT TOUR

PURIFICATION CEREMONY

WATERFALL OF THE GODS

TEMPLE FIRE DANCE

MONKEY FOREST TREK

GATES OF BALI

SAVAYA BEACH CLUB DAY BED

SPA SERVICES

Not Included:

  • Visa fees
  • Flight costs
  • Travel insurance
  • Alcohol, if and when we go out to restaurants
  • Additional spa treatments outside your plan
  • Additional activities not included in the itinerary

“I’ve started writing, but I can’t finish.”
NOW IS THE TIME TO CHANGE THIS.

Application Process

  • Step 1: Fill out a short application
  • Step 2: Take a one-on-one phone call to discuss your project and goals
  • Step 3: Submit your script or treatment for critical review
  • Step 4: If accepted, we’ll invite you to book your spot with a 35% deposit
  • Step 5: You’ll receive a welcome kit and pre-retreat prep materials and guidance on booking any travel arrangements.

** Please note that we only accept English-language submissions.

Apply Now

** If you cannot fill out the Google Form, download the application PDF and email it back directly to screenwritersinparadise@gmail.com

Structure your screenplay where the SUNSETS NEVER DISAPPOINT.

Upcoming retreats

Thailand – June 2026

Bali – September 2026

FAQS

No, but you should come with a rough draft to build on and work at the retreat to finish. In our selection process, we will take note if you have completed screenplays previously.

No, writers from all countries are welcome. However, workshops are in English. Our workshops will cover both the Domestic U.S. market and international markets.

Yes, there will be a charge for lodging, and can also include all meals and drinks as well. The price is subject to what plan you choose.

Yes. We have a 3-tier payment plan. 35% deposit, 35% 60 days prior, and 40% 30 days prior installments.

Yes, from dinner on arrival to breakfast on departure, all your meals will be prepared by a private chef using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. We’ll be serving vegetarian and gluten-free options along with a variety of traditional local cuisine.

As befits a luxurious villa, all the bedrooms are unique and range greatly in size, furnishings and views, and so will be allocated on a strictly first-come, first-served basis.

From the airport on arrival and departure, to make your travel easy and stress-free, we’re providing a private driver.

Yes, Deposits and payments are refundable 60 days before the start of the retreat. After which, they are non-refundable for any reason, including but not limited to illness, acts of God, or travel-related problems. All add-on purchases are nonrefundable.

All refunds will incur a $75 processing fee. Refunds will be issued within 10 working days, either via the original method of payment or another method approved by Screenwriters in Paradise, if such original method is not available.

Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar, Bali.

Still have questions?

Reach out anytime.

There’s never a “right time”, there’s just now to start writing your next dream