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Training
Screenwriting UK
Red Road - quality writing to aspire to
TWO-DAY COURSE FOR NEW SCREENWRITERS
To be repeated Autumn 2009
This programme - new in 2008 - is designed specifically for screenwriters who are working on a first draft screenplay but have yet to break into the film industry. It’s a long way from the computer screen to the big screen, and it takes talent, determination and more than a decent break to get there.
The Script Factory has devoted over a decade to working in the gap between new writers and the film industry, supporting writers through the early stages of their career and helping the industry identify and nurture new talent. Screenwriting is, of course, an artistic endeavour but a screenplay is also a product for an industry. Essential to success is an understanding of how the UK film industry works, how a reader or producer determines the potential of a film idea and an awareness of the script development process.
This two-day course combines in-depth teaching on the principles of good screenwriting and invaluable insider knowledge from working writers and producers. Screenwriting UK aims to provide participants with the understanding they need to turn a strong idea into a well-crafted screenplay that has the potential to attract interest from producers, developers and funders.
COURSE OUTLINE
Day One
10.00 - 11.30 Stories & Genre
This first session considers the universal function of storytelling and examines how cinema audiences recognise and respond to different story types. Confusion over story type or genre is often cited as one of the key reasons why screenplays are rejected. A pile-up in a thriller may add to the excitement, yet a car-crash in a drama might be devastating. An understanding of the subtle (and not so subtle!) distinctions between genres is critical to managing the audience’s emotional response to the events on the screen. By considering the expectations inherent to each genre, we will begin to consider how to develop a screenplay that offers the reader a meaningful and satisfying story experience.
11.30 - 11.45 Coffee Break
11.45 - 1.00 Premise & Conflict
Whether it’s about saving the world or growing up, the success of every screenplay depends on the clarity and strength of the dramatic conflict. This session explores the kinds of problems that a screen character might face and considers how to ensure that the story is invested with enough potential conflict to sustain the tension for the duration of a feature film.
1.00 - 2.00 Lunch Break
2.00 - 3.30 Screenplay Structure
A brilliant screenplay is one that keeps a reader turning the pages from beginning to end and tells that reader that the audience will be glued to the screen for every moment of the film that follows. This session explores the basic principles of structuring a screen story from getting the audience hooked to delivering a satisfying ending.
3.30 - 3.45 Tea Break
Somers Town screenwriter, Paul Fraser3.45 - 5.00 Guest Writer: Paul Fraser
The first day ends with the chance to hear from Paul Fraser, successful screenwriter and regular Shane Meadows collaborator, whose screenplay for Somers Town has been picking up accolades since its Cannes premiere earlier this year. Paul will share his personal experiences of working within the UK industry.
Day Two
10.00 - 11.00 Guest Producer: Robyn Slovo
The second day kicks off with an essential overview of film production in the UK from guest producer, Robyn Slovo who will explore what kind of films are currently being made; ask how a new screenwriter can get their work in front of the right decision makers; and consider the development opportunities available.
11.00 - 11.15 Coffee Break
11.15 - 12.15 Character Choices
Writers love their characters. But however great your creations are, they must also be right for their dramatic function within the screenplay. This session looks at the effectiveness of your characters and considers how you can make sure that the audience loves them too.
12.15 - 1.30 The Stuff of Good Screenwriting
As well as a damn good story, you need to convince whoever reads your screenplay that you have the technical craft skills to render your idea for the screen. This session explores how those elements of a screenplay are assessed in order to help you strengthen the dialogue, visual grammar and pace of your project.
1.30 - 2.30 Lunch Break
2.30 - 3.30 The Controlling Idea
Films, like all stories, have a cultural function: to communicate something to an audience that helps them to understand themselves better, or to make sense of the world. The meaning we take away from watching the film is called the Controlling Idea. This session explores how to identify or determine the controlling idea of a story and how to use this a tool when developing the screenplay.
3.30 - 3.45 Tea Break
3.45 - 5.00 The Development Process
This final session explores the development process from sending out the first draft to receiving feedback and planning a rewrite. We will also offer helpful approaches to preparing treatments and a simple guide to preparing a pitch.
The course is taught by Lucy Scher and Justine Hart from The Script Factory’s training team.
Booking Information
Training takes places in Central London.
The fee for Screenwriting UK is £175 + VAT (total £205.63) which includes light refreshments and a comprehensive training pack. Script Factory Members can get a 10% discount (reducing the total to £185.06) - for details of Membership click here.
Spaces are limited to 40 participants.
To book by credit / debit card, please call 0207 851 4890.
Notes on a ScandalPreparatory Viewing
We will obviously be referring to a wide range of films over the two-day course, some of which you will inevitably be more familiar with than others. To ensure that we have shared references to consider in more detail we would ask all course attendees to watch the following British Films:
Shaun of the Dead (dir. Edgar Wright scr. Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg, 2004)
Notes on a Scandal (dir. Richard Eyre scr. Patrick Marber, 2007)
Red Road (dir/sc. Andrea Arnold, 2007)
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