Pilar Alessandra

Pilar Alessandra serves as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), where she employs an interactive "learn by doing" teaching methodology emphasizing actionable writing tools over theoretical approaches. She is the author of The Coffee Break Screenwriter and The Coffee Break Screenwriter Breaks the Rules, and hosts the long-running On the Page Podcast since 2007.

Her educational background includes:

• B.A. in Women's Studies from University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Alessandra specializes in practical screenwriting instruction with focus on television and film development. Her expertise spans pitch training, narrative structure, and industry navigation, directly preparing students for professional success through hands-on writing exercises and real-world application of concepts. She prioritizes generating immediate creative output while mastering foundational techniques.

As a mentor, Alessandra has guided students to prominent industry placements on series including House of the Dragon, The Morning Show, The Chi, and Silicon Valley, with feature film sales to A24, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Her professional training engagements form a critical component of her career:

• NBC/Universal TV Writers Program (2022-2024)
• CBS/Paramount Writing Program (2022-2024)
• Rogers-BSO (2022-2024)
• Jewish Writers Initiative (2021-2024)
• MIA Market (Italy) (2019-present)
• International engagements including Cartagena Film Festival, SP Televisão, and Filmbase