Screenwriting: a taster
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
Course Code: HW390
Duration: 1 session
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Screenwriting is an ideal way to explore themes, events, and characters, and to re-ignite our imaginations. In this short, one-off taster session you'll have fun and express yourself through guided writing exercises, and try out your skills to produce some original writing.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
Some basic screenwriting principles
Writing exercises to help you to discover ideas and characters for a film or TV script
Where to find further resources.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Discuss a scene from a film or TV episode with confidence
- Produce an original piece of creative writing
- Find resources to help you develop your writing further.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory course suitable for anyone who wants to try screenwriting. You should have a good grasp of spoken and written English, and you should feel comfortable learning online.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
- Interactive tutor presentation
- Guided writing exercises
- Group discussion
This course will be delivered online. There will be no work outside class.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No additional costs.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You can enrol on one of our longer screenwriting course Ways into Screenwriting. Or why not try one of our other introductory creative writing courses, such as Ways into Creative Writing: a Gentle Pace, Ways into Creative Writing, Ways into Playwriting, or Ways into Poetry?
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.
Alan Nixon is one of Britain’s top independent media professionals. His recent productions include directing the award-winning R4 sitcom Reluctant Persuaders. He has been Creative Consultant to broadcasters and renowned independents, including Aardman Animations (Wallace & Gromit), Grant Naylor (Red Dwarf), and Absolutely Productions (Armstrong & Miller / Trigger Happy TV). He was one of the founding controllers of Channel Five, has worked with Alexei Sayle, Victoria Wood, Caroline Aherne and Simon Day, and teaches courses at the BFI, the National Television and Film School, and the London School of Film, Media and Performance.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
