Writing a screenplay
Date and time
Location
The Guardian
Kings Place 90 York Way London N1 9GU United KingdomRefund Policy
Description
Led by award-winning screenwriter Steve Attridge, this one-day course provides you with a strong introduction to some of the essential elements of a writing a good screenplay – from formatting a script for film or TV, to creating relatable characters and quotable dialogue. Ideal for novice scriptwriters, but packed with enough specialist knowledge to be of use to more experienced professionals, this course is the essential guide to getting work out of your head, onto the page and into the hands of the right people in the industry.
Course content
- Understanding the medium: the fundamental differences between film and TV
- What to do before writing: how to brainstorm ideas for a story
- Layout and technical tips for writing and submitting scripts
- Simple tools for creating strong characters, and charting a hero’s journey
- A guide to plotting
- Visualising techniques, and how they shape the writing process
- Making a scene: emotional set-up and pay-off within scenes
This course is for you if...
- You’re an inexperienced writer keen to break into film or television
- You have a strong idea for a screenplay but want to know more about layout, structure and development of characters and ideas
- You’re an author or journalist looking to adapt an existing original work for the screen
- You’ve previously done some screenwriting and want to learn how to improve your work
You may also be interested in…
- How to write a script for TV
Tutor profile
Steve Attridge’s work includes 17 books, a dozen TV series and seven feature films, as well as documentary dramas, TV films, stage plays and poetry. He also acts and directs – last year he performed his own show at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Awards include an RTS for Best TV Drama Series, two BAFTA nominations, an Eric Gregory Award and two Writers Guild Awards. His latest novel, The Natural Law, came straight in at number one in the Kindle Singles Bestsellers. Steve writes for both adults and children. In another life he worked as a performance poet. Find out more about Steve on his website.
Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website
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Welcome to Guardian Masterclasses – a unique programme of learning embedded within one of the world's most forward-thinking media organisations.
We offer a broad range of short and long courses across a variety of disciplines from creative writing, journalism, photography and design, film and digital media, music and cultural appreciation.
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