This course introduces students to an online environment where they are provided with the opportunity to connect, broaden, and reimagine a creative screenwriter’s workspace.
The course is a perfect introduction to the fantastic world of film and TV writing, from the fundamentals of the craft down to the rewriting process, exploring the easier ways to learn how to write a page-turning script.
Students will learn from a mixture of basic theory on a narrative structure, screenplay formatting, script analysis, dialogue, subtext, exposition, elements of a scene, character arcs, and theme. They will explore key principles as usually expressed in great films, then immediately apply these concepts. Videos, articles, and discussions will offer the opportunity to learn and engage with other learners on key concepts and ideas.
REQUIREMENTS
It is recommended that students have a laptop or smartphone, that enables video and sound conferencing, with a moderate internet connection for this course.
During the course, students will perform writing exercises and get personalized feedback on their work. Written exercises and interactive discussion boards/chats will assist students with their studies. By viewing videos, students can analyze screenwriting techniques of screenwriters.
At the end of the course, students will be given a personal plan on how to approach the industry. Over the four weeks course, every student will have uniquely been tutored to appreciate and achieve their different goals for a screenwriting career.
COURSE OUTCOME
At the end of the workshop, students will become a confident practitioner in all areas of writing and will develop an insight into professional working practices.
Week 1 (Introduction to Screen Writing)
Ideas to Story, Story to Treatments, Treatment to Scripts.
Screenwriting Course Quiz 1: Stages of Screenwriting
What is a story? Genres and overview, Writing action/descriptions.
Breaking Down Act 1
- What’s a Scenes?
- Constructing Effective Scenes
- Breaking into Act II
- Rise in conflict, Midpoint, All is lost
Week 2 (Character and Conflict)
- The Hero’s Journey
- Character Development
- Exploring Character Functions
- Building Character Development
- Detailing Characterization through Action, Dialogue & Description
- World Building
- What is Dialogue, and how to use it.
- What is subtext?
- Hallmark of Great Conflict: How to create Conflict, what is tension, adding it to characters vs. action.
- What’s a Scenes?
- Constructing Effective Scenes
- Breaking into Act II
- Rise in conflict, Midpoint, All is lost
Week 3 (Constructing Your Narrative)
- Welcome to Act III– techniques for creating and sustaining the momentum of the film through Act I, Act II leading into Act III
- Character must make a choice on if or how to move forward
- Final conflict and return to new normal
- The Functions of Subplot – how to use subplots to enhance your story
- The Structure of Subplot – usually the source of most loose-ends in a story
- Pacing
- Checkpoints: Character Arc - Where did your character start and where did you end?
- Your World - The world you start with and the world you end with.
- Your Story - Does your story begin (Act I) Live (Act II) and, End (Act III)
Week 4 (Rewriting and The Screenwriter Market Place)
- Completing treatment
- Transitioning to writing your script
- How to get the First Draft completed
- The Re-writing processes
- Checklist for re-writing to a finished draft; making it even better.
- Receiving notes
Checklist for re-writing to a finished draft; making it even better.