Screenwriter: Writing a Film Treatment

Day 1 - 3 March 2018 A summary of basic narrative structure and character development in Story. Creative exercises to get you going. The 10 page treatment package – what is it and how can it help you develop your story. Day 2 - 10 March 2018 Presenting your treatment package and group feedback. ‘Beating’ your script – getting into the nuts and bolts of story structure and dramatic turns. What needs to happen in the 1st 10 pages of your script. Day 3 - 17 March 2018 1st Draft of the first 10 pages of your screenplay presented with group feedback. More on character development including hot seating your characters to create depth. Exploration of techniques for maximising the drama. ASSIGNMENT: To write the first 10 pages of your screenplay Day 4 - 24 March 2018 2nd Draft of the first 10 pages of your screenplay completed and discussed. General notes on pitching and awareness of the market.. Specific guidance on how to pitch your project. ASSIGNMENT: To write a 10 page treatment of your feature film idea. WRITING TIME: 4 WEEKS DELIVERY OF 10 PAGE TREATMENT, FOLLOWED BY EMAIL FEEDBACK FROM TUTOR. ASSIGNMENT: To write a revised 10 page treatment of your feature film idea. DELIVERY OF REVISED TREATMENT AND REVISED FIRST 10 PAGES. Days 5, 6 & 7 - 12, 19 & 26 May 2018: There will be three ‘roundtable’ sessions, with the group of 12 divided into three groups of 4, to discuss in a roundtable format the treatment, the characters, and the potential of the feature project. Day 8: PITCHING DAY - 16 June 2018: Each writer will pitch their movie project to the course tutor and to course leader, the screenwriter/producer/novelist PHILIP PALMER, plus invited industry guests.