Screenwriting: First Steps

Short course

In Islington

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Short course

  • Location

    Islington

Have you got a good idea for a film script but don’t know where to begin?Screenwriting can seem like a dauntingly technical form. This introduction to Screenwriting short course teaches students how to write a film script, with plenty of writing exercises and analysis of scripts and films. On completion of the course, students will have a set of tools for writing their own scripts: learning to write visually, working with character and conflict, and building narrative. The main focus is on screenwriting for the UK market but the US and European markets are also explored.Why Choose a City Short Course?Our Screenwriting: First Steps short course is a fantastic way to develop yourself both personally and professionally.Led by screenwriting experts, in a top rated London University, the Screenwriting evening course offers high quality teaching and enables you to work and study at the same time. Course Information Start DateStart TimeDurationCostCourse CodeApply Thursday 6 October 2016 18:30 - 20:30 10 weekly classes £430.00 CS2383 Apply Now Thursday 19 January 2017 18:30 - 20:30 10 weekly classes £430.00 CS2383 Apply Now Thursday 4 May 2017 18:30 - 20:30 10 weekly classes £430.00 CS2383 Apply Now Tutor Info Maeve Murphy Maeve Murphy is an award winning screen writer and film director., her film BEYOND THE FIRE won Best UK Feature at the London Independent Film Festival and was selected for New British Cinema at the ICA and received a UK/Ireland cinema release supported by the BFI. It was broadcast on BBC 2, March 2013 where it was made "pick of the day" in the Daily Mail. Maeve has recently finished post production on her new feature TAKING STOCK, a...

Facilities

Location

Start date

Islington (London)
See map
Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB

Start date

On request

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Reviews

Subjects

  • Conflict
  • IT
  • Screenwriting
  • Cinema
  • Writing
  • Screenplay

Course programme

What will I learn?

The student will be able to:

Acquire the basic tools to write a feature script
Gain an understanding of screenplay structure
Learn how to write character outlines, an outline and treatment for a feature script
Gain an understanding of the professional and industry aspects of screenwriting

Week 1 What is a screenplay? Writing a visual world
Exercises and analysis of shooting scripts in different styles with clips Week 2 Elements of a screenplay contd
Filmic elements and film grammar with clips and exercises Week 3 Character (and conflict)
Character work; protagonists and antagonists; how characters create the drama. With clips Week 4 The 3 Act 8 Sequence structure
(with pitfalls of this approach!) - film analysis Week 5 Review and regroup
Writing exercises with clips Week 6 Focussing your Idea
'Form' - shorter? Longer? Genre? Drama?
Pitches and one pager exercise. Week 7 Writing dialogue and creating 'space'
Functions of dialogue in film With clips.
Exercises Week 8 Sculpting in Time
Working with time in film writing; transitions, with clips
Exercises Week 9 Week 9 - Symbolism and iconography
Poetic cinema…with clips
OR
Writing Comedy Week 10 Industry
Scriptwriting as a collaborative form: working with script editors, financiers, directors; producers and other writers (guest lecture)

Additional information

Teaching and Assessment

The student will:
Demonstrate writing visually
Acquire the basic tools to write a feature script, Analyse screenplay structure
Write character outlines, an outline and treatment for a feature script
Understand professional and industry aspects of screenwriting
Prepare a pitch for an idea

Analyse both shooting scripts and films of varying genres and identified the screenwriting techniques involved
Worked on practical exercises in developing character outlines, a treatment, dialogue, sample...

Screenwriting: First Steps

Price on request