Introduction to Screenwriting

Course

In Oxford

£ 120 VAT inc.

Description

  • Type

    Workshop

  • Level

    Beginner

  • Location

    Oxford

  • Class hours

    12h

  • Duration

    2 Days

Screenwriting weekend is an introductory course for people either planning their first screenplay or hoping to brush up on their writing skills. It arms you with concepts and practices you need to be aware of, before diving in.

As an introduction, the emphasis will be on writing short rather than long form drama though there will be plenty of scope for talking about the bigger picture. There will be a stress on the difference between these forms and the problems posed for writers because so many of the available screenwriting tomes talk about writing as if feature films were the only game in town!

Facilities

Location

Start date

Oxford (Oxfordshire)
See map
54 Catherine Street, OX4 3AH

Start date

On request

About this course

Help you develop an understanding of the basics of the craft and art of screenwriting.
Gives you everything you need to start writing your first script.
Helps you to understand – “What makes a good script”!
Encourage you to develop a critical self awareness, and an enquiring, analytical and creative approach to your work.
Gives you a framework to develop your screenwriting practice.

This course is aimed at writers who want to learn the art of screenwriting or filmmakers who want to develop their writing skills. If you haven’t done any creative writing whatsoever (whether amateur or professional), or don’t have any film-making skills, then you are unlikely to be able fully benefit from this course. (See below for what you can do next).

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Reviews

Subjects

  • Creative Writing
  • Screenwriting
  • Screenplay
  • Script Writing

Teachers and trainers (1)

Michelle  Duffy

Michelle Duffy

Tutor

Over the past 15 years, Michelle has held a few different jobs that all had one thing in common: helping other people to realize their creative dreams. Michelle started out working in a small film distribution company, writing PR copy for releases from Teletubbies to the Texas Chain Saw Massacre (and you don’t ever want to get those two mixed up…) urrently Michelle is developing the original feature script School Run with Monty Films. She also regularly collaborates as a script editor with writer/director Stephen Reynolds, and has an open door relationship with Cascade Pictures.

Course programme

Introduction to the course and other course participants

Developing ideas:

  • What is a screen idea?
  • Create a framework for developing idea?
  • Develop ideas from different sources.

Themes:

  • Clarify the concept of Theme.
  • What are the common themes to all screenplays?

Stories, Plots & Narratives:

  • Defining the story as distinct from plot and narrative
  • Story types
  • Uses of story to structure a narrative
  • Dramatic forms

Tone:

  • The presence of different tones at different levels within a narrative
  • Use of tone for engaging an audience

Genre:

  • What is Genre and how does it work for an audience?
  • Define key genre in film
  • Different issues with genre and how to use them?

Formatting your script:

  • The importance of professional formatting
  • Software options (including some free ones)
  • Different industry demands.

Characters & Characterisation:

  • The concept of Character development
  • The concept of Characterisation
  • The Character Arc
  • How do you develop your characters?

Visual Style:

  • Identify different visual styles
  • The Directors Style and the writer’s style!
  • How to use visual style in your own writing

Plots & active questions:

  • Define an active question and how to use it?
  • Identify active questions within scenes and sequences
  • The three act structure

Dialogue:

  • Identifying the main uses and functions of dialogue in screenplay or film?
  • Dialogue dos and don’ts.
  • How to review your dialogue with a view to the rewrite

Where next?

  • Opportunities for further development!

Throughout the course you will be able to ask questions.

Additional information

http://www.filmoxford.org/course/introduction-to-screenwriting/

Introduction to Screenwriting

£ 120 VAT inc.