Description - At a glance:
Follow a proven pathway to getting your movie idea written
Study and examine case studies weekly
Each week includes optional homework for personal growth and development
About the Screenwriter’s Foundation Certificate
Screenwriters create scripts for films, television and any other filmed scripted media. They provide the blueprint for the creative contribution of the director, producer, cinematographer, designer, editor and composer, cast and crew. The Screenwriters’ Foundation Certificate is an evening course designed to take you from idea to finished page.
This five-week screenwriting course provides a detailed overview of the skills, knowledge and professional requirements for those wishing to write for the screen. The information covered in the Screenwriter’s Foundation Certificate includes viable idea generation, screenplay formatting, as well as character, plot and structure creation. The course will include a pitching skills workshop – an essential skill for screenwriters in getting their projects made.
What will the Screenwriter’s Foundation Certificate cover?
Week 1: The Beginning
The first and most important part of your screenplay is the idea. It’s important to understand how to break this down and develop it into something an audience will want to see. Often screenplays fail because the story or structure is poor – mistakes which even the most experienced of screenwriters make.
Idea-generation techniques
How to make your ideas compelling
Copyright and how to protect your ideas
Proper script format and style guide
Week 2 – Building Your Story
You may have a great story or scene and perfect formatting, but there’s also an art to understanding how to give texture to the story. This will be the difference between whether you elicit emotion in your audience or not.
Scene writing and story structure
How to create a page turner
Suspense and other dramatic tools
Week 3 – Casting your story
By understanding each of your key characters, you will be able to define the story and subplot. Then, by studying existing screenplays, you will be able to identify what works and what doesn’t work, and what you like and what you don’t like for your own script.
How to create compelling characters that stay with you
Magnification, traits and other character tools
Film analysis of a character from an existing film or screenplay
Week 4 – Pitch clinic
Pitching is one of the most important skills needed for a successful career in the film industry – and as a screenwriter, you will be doing it for your entire career. It is also one of the least considered by new entrants to the industry.
Running a pitch meeting
What the goals of a pitch meeting should be
How to use visual aids
Finding your hook
Week 5 – Writing Compelling Dialogue
Think of the last bad film you saw. Was it poor because of the acting and story, or was it because of the script? If the script isn’t good enough then the film will more than likely fail. The dialogue is an important factor in this and getting it right is not always obvious.
The tricks and traps of writing dialogue
The 3 tracks for recording dialogue
Honing and mixing effective dialogue
What will you achieve?
On completion of the Screenwriter’s Foundation Certificate, students will have acquired the skills, knowledge and confidence to write and pitch professional-level scripts.
How will you be taught?
A mix of lecture-style and group discussion with tutor guidance. The fifth week, Pitching Skills Workshop, will offer students the opportunity to pitch their film idea to the tutor to receive instant feedback on their pitch.
Who should attend?
The Screenwriter’s Foundation Certificate is suitable for anyone interested in screenwriting, of all levels and abilities. It is not necessary to have a project for this class, but you might find it even more useful if you come with something in mind. We also welcome novelists, short story writers, and storytellers seeking a five-week structured class with specific targets and measurable results.
(If you have posted a Writing Gig, please click the red GIG REQUESTS button to view your submissions. If you are a writer and want to be considered for the TOP 25, you must be an ISAConnect Member)
