Screenwriter: Rewriting your Movie Script and Pitching to Industry

SESSION 1: PITCHING & CONCEPTS WORKSHOP In this session you will pitch your idea, describing the protagonist(s) journey, the genre, the style, the themes, and the target audience. Remember that the tone of your pitch should reflect the tone of your movie. There will be a group discussion to assess what is working and what needs to be developed in order to fully express your creative vision. There will be also be creative exercises. SESSION 2: CHARACTERS In this session, each of you will choose a character to be ‘hotseated’. There will be an exploration of the intimate connection between character and dialogue, and guidance on how to write the scenes that will NOT be in your movie but which will provide the essential backstory and subtext for your overall story. SESSIONS 3, 4 AND 5: STRUCTURE WORKSHOPS Three x 1 day sessions (5 hour days). In these sessions, in which the larger group is broken down to three groups of four writers, we will look at different approaches to structure, genre and audience expectations and how they can be best harnessed to realise your creative vision. There will be practical and fun exercises to help achieve this. * During and after these workshops each writer will complete a Second Draft of their screenplay in their own time. SESSION 6: MASTERCLASS DAY A session led by a highly experienced feature film writer, which may include a Q & A session with industry professional such as producers or financiers. SESSIONS 7, 8 and 9: ROUNDTABLES/CRITIQUE WORKSHOPS There will be 3 roundtable workshops to discuss the revised drafts, one for each for the three groups of 4 writers. Each session will be chaired by an industry professional, and each of the participants in the ‘roundtable’ of 4 writers will have the opportunity to brainstorm and critique the work of their fellow writers, in a mini-Writers Room environment. Writers will learn from having their work discussed and will also develop professional, critical and script editorial skills. FEEDBACK Once the Second Draft scripts are submitted, each script will received detailed feedback from one of the Course Directors. Assignment: To submit a full revised draft based on the workshops and email feedback. SUMMER MASTERCLASSES AND SCRIPT HOTHOUSE: SESSIONS 10, 11 AND 12: THE HOTHOUSE There will be three days of pitching sessions and masterclasses, led by major industry professionals. In the second Masterclass, a second established screenwriter will talk about aspects of the craft of movie writing; and this may be complemented with a Q & A with a producer or financier or sales agent. On the Pitching Rehearsal day, one of the Course Directors will intensively workshop each of the pitches, focusing on the concept, the passion and the presentation. On the Pitching Day all 12 writers will have a chance to pitch their idea to a panel of industry executives, including producers, directors, and executives with commissioning power.