How to write and pitch your screenplay

Discover what it takes to be a successful screenwriter from some of the best in the business

From plotting your first draft to pitching your script to a producer, this comprehensive one-day seminar covers everything you need to know about screenwriting. Learn the basics of the art – and the business – of writing scripts from our world-class experts, including acclaimed story editor Kate Leys (Trainspotting) and prolific screenwriter Hossein Amini (Drive).

As well as a crash course in the essentials of a great script – including crafting characters, plots and dialogue – you'll hear how to condense your script into a taut, compelling pitch that agents and producers will notice, and have the chance to get personal feedback on your own pitch from a panel of industry professionals.

This lively, interactive event also features lots of scope for individual questions to give you the best possible understanding of the realities of working as a screenwriter today. If you want to start writing screenplays, or just want to know how other people do it, this is a rare opportunity to pick the brains of some of the film industry's leading talents.

This course is for you if...

• You're an aspiring screenwriter who wants to understand the ingredients of a great script, and the best ways to get it noticed by the industry
• You're a curious film lover who wishes to learn more about the craft of screenwriting

Course description

This full-day event features talks from a panel of experts and explores all angles of the screenwriting process, from writing to pitching to working with agents. There will also be the chance to ask questions and pitch your own ideas to a panel of experts for feedback. Scheduled sessions include:

• Two in-depth sessions with celebrated story editor Kate Leys on the fundamentals of the craft of screenwriting: story, structure, character, themes and dialogue
• Two in-depth interview and Q&A sessions with leading screenwriters, including Hossein Amini. They will share their own experiences and offer practical advice on topics varying from character and dialogue to script structure and getting your work noticed
• A panel of producers and agents will discuss how to get your work noticed in the film industry and will offer live feedback on ideas pitched by the audience

Speaker profiles

Kate Leys is a script editor who works mainly on feature films. She has been head of development at several companies including Film4, where she was based for five years, commissioning and developing films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Trainspotting and The Full Monty.

Hossein Amini is an Iranian-British screenwriter and film director. His scripts include Jude, The Wings of the Dove, Drive and Snow White and the Huntsman. In the late 1990s he worked with Miramax on scripts including The Gangs of New York. His debut as a writer-director, The Two Faces of January, starring Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst, opens in cinemas in May 2014.

Host profile

Dave Calhoun is the global film editor at Time Out London. He has written on film for publications including the Guardian, the Observer, the Times and Sight & Sound. He regularly broadcasts on Sky TV and BBC Radio and TV, and hosts film events at cinemas across London. He was previously deputy editor of Dazed & Confused magazine.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website