Website Text

Client: McGill University School of Continuing Studies
Date: September 2017
Summary: Wrote 100+ pages of re-branded copy for the School's website relaunch. The text was intended to focus on the reader and be both inspirational and aspirational.

Programs and Courses / Marketing

Whether you’re new to the field of marketing or looking to refresh your skills, our programs and courses will ensure you’re prepared to succeed.

The Profession
Are you searching for a career that’s as creative as you are?

In  marketing, your professional opportunities are as diverse as your imagination. By equipping yourself with the industry’s emerging digital tools and best practices, you’ll be ready to build a successful career as a marketing professional.

Guided by instructors who are leaders in the field, you’ll learn how to conduct market research, develop benchmarks, and measure feedback – everything you need to create traditional and digital marketing campaigns for any organization.

Campaign planning. Brand management. Social media strategy. With knowledge of the industry’s latest tactics, your career opportunities are endless.

Dean's Message

Client: McGill University School of Continuing Studies
Date: June 2015
Summary: Appeared online and in print in the School's magazine. 

Dean's Message

Success can take many forms. At McGill’s School of Continuing Studies, we’re surrounded by it.

We witness it every day in our classrooms as our students overcome obstacles to reach their personal and professional goals. We see it in our staff as our instructors and administrators obtain new heights in their careers. 

Success can take the form of an inaugural triumph, such as honoring the first graduating class from our Diploma in Integrated Aviation Management program. It’s also present in long-term achievements, such as the 25th-anniversary celebration of our McGill Community for Lifelong Learning program. And success is most visible at our Spring Convocation ceremony, where our graduates recognize a milestone and our academic staff are acknowledged for their outstanding service.

This issue is a celebration of success in all its forms. Every instance is the result of the hard work, dedication, and cooperation of the School’s community – including our students, staff, faculty, and partners.

Let's take a moment to acknowledge all that’s been achieved at the School, and to offer a warm congratulations to our graduates. We're proud of all you've accomplished, and we wish you continued success.

Feature Article

Client: McGill University School of Continuing Studies
Date: January 2015
Summary: Conducted telephone interviews; article appeared online

A Tale of Two Screenwriters

When the McGill Writing Centre offered a course titled ‘Introduction to Scriptwriting for Television and Film’ last winter, it resulted in an intimate classroom of students with very different backgrounds.
Among them were Jonathan Forrest Lefebvre, a former film student, and Paolo Mazza, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from McGill. Despite their diverse backgrounds, both got exactly what they wanted from the course.

“I have a background in film making, but it focused on production rather than screenwriting” says Lefebvre. “There are a few scriptwriting classes out there, teaching the usual 3-act plot line. But what I wanted was a course that was tied to the industry.”
He got it thanks to course instructor Michael Leo Donovan, a veteran scriptwriter with over 200 produced television episodes to his name. Donovan’s classes alternate between writing workshops and insider information on what it takes to launch and sustain a successful scriptwriting career.
“I liked that the teacher was a professional working in the industry, because I wanted to learn more about how to work as a screenwriter in Montreal,” says Lefebvre. “How the process works, from the idea of the project to actually writing it and submitting it to various producers and studios. Michael is very open to talking about the choices he’s made. He’s willing to help us, and he’s someone I look up to. You can trust his opinion.”

Mazza was looking for similar guidance. Although he had 15 years of experience as an engineer, “I always wanted to take a screenwriting course. It’s a way to express my creative side, and I had an idea I wanted to work on.”
Sharing that idea, however, can be intimidating. “It’s very personal to you, and it’s scary to share it. But Michael did a great job making everyone feel super comfortable expressing yourself. My favourite part of the class was reading what I wrote; I’d get excited to present my ideas, get feedback, and go back to the drawing board.”
Like Lefebvre, he believes that many scriptwriting courses present the same content, which makes the teacher all that more important. “Michael is a great teacher: super-knowledgeable, approachable, and likeable,” says Mazza. “It’s a great course for beginners and experienced screenwriters.”

Both former students are working hard on their scripts, writing on the side whenever they get the chance. “I’m still writing, still getting experience,” says Lefebvre, “and I want to write my own feature at some point.”

‘Introduction to Scriptwriting for Television and Film‘ begins March 3 at the McGill Writing Centre.