Legendary screenwriter and director Steven E. de Souza (Die Hard, 48 Hrs., Commando, The Flintstones) will be on campus February 26-27, 2025, sharing insights from his Hollywood career and providing hands-on learning experiences for students interested in screenwriting, filmmaking, and storytelling.
These events are open to all the UVU campus and community.
10:00-11:30 a.m.
KB 302
Think you need a Hollywood budget to make a great film? Think again. In this masterclass, legendary screenwriter and director Steven de Souza shares tips on crafting compelling films with limited resources. Featuring clips from his online TV series Unknown Sender, created during the 2008 WGA strike, de Souza will explore how constraints fuel creativity. Students will be challenged to apply these hacks in their own no-budget short films, to be featured on the UVU Greenroom website. Don’t miss this chance to learn from a master of resourceful filmmaking!
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Vallejo Auditorium
Join legendary screenwriter Steven de Souza for an exclusive session on the art of screenwriting! In this engaging discussion, de Souza will share insights from his storied Hollywood career, offering practical advice for aspiring screenwriters on crafting compelling stories, breaking into the industry, and navigating the creative process. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A—your chance to ask questions and learn directly from one of Hollywood’s most successful storytellers. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable screenwriting wisdom from a master of the craft!
6:30-10:30 p.m.
Geneva Megaplex
Yippee-ki-yay, movie lovers! Don’t miss this special screening of “Die Hard” followed by an exclusive Q&A with legendary screenwriter Steven de Souza. Experience one of the greatest action films of all time on the big screen then hear firsthand from the mind behind the script as de Souza shares behind-the-scenes stories, screenwriting insights, and answers your burning questions - for free!
Before the screening begins, we’ll unveil the 2025 UVU-FanX Studios Writer’s Room and Brandon Fugal Award recipients, celebrating the next generation of outstanding storytellers.
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
CS 404
Great filmmaking isn't about how much money you have—it's about how well you use it. In this session, director Seven de Souza will demonstrate budget-saving techniques from his film “Possessed”, showing how creative problem-solving can turn limitations into opportunities. From last-minute set transformations to clever location tricks, get ready for an illuminating and entertaining deep dive into filmmaking magic.
3-5 p.m.
LA 101
submissions Now closed
Hollywood screenwriting legend Steven de Souza challenged UVU students to put their scriptwriting skills to the test for a chance to win $1,000! Participants had 72 hours to craft a 1–3 page screenplay based on a prompt revealed on Feb. 15. Submissions are now closed, but the excitement isn’t over!
Join us for the Scriptwriting Masterclass, where de Souza will provide live feedback on approximately 20 random submissions, offering expert insights into what makes a script stand out and selecting the winning script!
As a special highlight, a group of UVU improv students will bring the winning script to life on stage!
Must be present for the entire session to win. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn from an industry legend!
Among the handful of screenwriters whose films have earned over $2 billion at the box office, Steven de Souza was introduced to Hollywood on camera--as a contestant on an L.A. game show. There the Philadelphia-based writer for PBS, The New York Times, Premiere and other media outlets won a car and a color TV--and then talked his way into the office of several producers to leave behind some writing samples. A contract with Universal Television as a story editor was the result. From there, he moved into producing (Knight Rider (1982)) and then earned his first film credit, on 48 Hrs. (1982). That film, along with Commando (1985), Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard 2 (1990), established his reputation as a writer who could juggle both action and humor. That combination remains evident in all of his subsequent work, which expanded to include science-fiction (V (1984), The Running Man (1987), Judge Dredd (1995)), horror (Tales from the Crypt (1989), Possessed (2000)) and fantasy (The Flintstones (1994), Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (1993), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life (2003)). He has been nominated two times each for the Edgar Allen Poe award for best mystery screenplay and the Saturn award for best Science Fiction/Fantasy Film. In 2000 he was honored with the Norman Lear Award for Lifetime Achievement in writing.
In 2009 his web series Unknown Sender (2008) became an unprecedented triple honoree in the 13th annual Webby Awards--for best series and best writing and for Timothy Dalton's performance in If You're Seeing This Tape... (2008).
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