Screenwriting for feature film

What is the course about?

A practical introduction to writing cinema screenplays.

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?

- Deciding what to write - generating ideas
- Formatting, presentation, accepted norms
- Genre & theme
- Approaches to structure for film
- Creating believable characters
- Approaching dialogue
- Plot development, pacing, set ups and payoffs
- Differences in writing between different media
- An introduction into how the industry works.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Respond to and use screenwriting jargon
- Apply the basic principles of screen/scriptwriting
- Appreciate the differences in writing for different media
- Develop story-telling techniques
- Present a script in standard industry format
- Structure a script.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

Beginners to screenwriting/creative writers/those from other creative disciplines. Ability to write and speak fluent
English is essential.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Through discussion, presentations, viewing of film and TV extracts and use of the internet. Also exercises both during and outside the class evaluated by tutor and peers.

All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.

For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.

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?

Please bring notebook and pens.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

You may wish to consider our introductory course Ways into screenwriting or our intermediate course Developing your screenwriting if you have a first draft to work on.

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.