Have you ever wondered what goes into writing a screenplay? How is it different from theatre, radio or prose? Learn the basics of the craft and develop a script of your own in this creative and...
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Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
A practical introduction to writing cinema screenplays.
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?
This course is suitable for beginners to screenwriting or creative writers and for those from other creative disciplines. The 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.
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, if you have a first draft to work on, our intermediate course Developing your screenwriting.
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.
Sharmila Chauhan is a screenwriter, playwright and prose writer, featured on The Brit List 2022. Her plays include: The Husbands, which toured nationally and completed its run at London’s Soho Theatre (Kali and Pentabus Theatre), Born Again/Purnajanam (Kali Theatre, Jan 2012) and 10 Women (Avignon Festival, France, 2014). She has had two short films produced and written two features. Most recently, her short film Oysters was commissioned by Film London (2016) and her feature Mother Land is currently being developed by Cinestan International and has been long-listed for the Sundance Writers’ Lab.
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.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/screenwriting-for-feature-film158626Screenwriting for feature filmhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/s/c/screenwriting_for_feature_film-1080_1_1.jpg159159GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Writing for stage and screen/Writing for stage and screen/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Screen Play and Playwriting/Courses/vm/Film season/Courses/Short Courses/Courses/Short Courses/History, culture & writing/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Writing for stage and screen/Courses/vm/Summer offers/Courses/vm/Summer courses/Courses/vm/Summer courses/Summer courses in writing2285159120331338513411134171358113605136141345713578122851358113605165320181341113457Have you ever wondered what goes into writing a screenplay? How is it different from theatre, radio or prose? Learn the basics of the craft and develop a script of your own in this creative and analytical workshop. <div data-content-type="html" data-appearance="default" data-element="main">A practical introduction to writing cinema screenplays. <br />
<br />
This is a live online course. For more information please see our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/guide-online-learning-city-lit-2"target="_blank">guide to online learning</a>.<br />
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.</div>242793645Screenwriting for feature film159159https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/s/c/screenwriting_for_feature_film-1080_1_1_8.jpgInStockDaytimeTueOnlineAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-07-14T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJul 2026WritingHW210159159Screenwriting for feature film15980159Sharmila Chauhanscreenwriting-for-feature-film/hw210-2526Have you ever wondered what goes into writing a screenplay? How is it different from theatre, radio or prose? Learn the basics of the craft and develop a script of your own in this creative and analytical workshop.0000-Available|2026-07-14 00:00:00A practical introduction to writing cinema screenplays.Have you ever wondered what goes into writing a screenplay? How is it different from theatre, radio or prose? Learn the basics of the craft and develop a script of your own in this creative and analytical workshop.- Deciding what to write - generating ideas<br/>- Formatting, presentation, accepted norms <br/>- Genre & theme<br/>- Approaches to structure for film <br/>- Creating believable characters<br/>- Approaching dialogue <br/>- Plot development, pacing, set ups and payoffs<br/>- Differences in writing between different media<br/>- An introduction into how the industry works.- Respond to and use screenwriting jargon<br/>- Apply the basic principles of screen/scriptwriting<br/>- Appreciate the differences in writing for different media<br/>- Develop story-telling techniques<br/>- Present a script in standard industry format<br/>- Structure a script.<p>This course is suitable for beginners to screenwriting or creative writers and for those from other creative disciplines. The ability to write and speak fluent<br/>English is essential.</p>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. <br />
<br />
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 <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring notebook and pens.<p>You may wish to consider our introductory course Ways into screenwriting or, if you have a first draft to work on, our intermediate course Developing your screenwriting.<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.</p>Writing for stage and screenWriting for stage and screenvirtual15915980HW210NONETue14/07/26 - 04/08/2610:30 - 13:3010:3013:304 sessions (over 4 weeks)41 to 4 weeksWeekdayOnlineOnlineSharmila ChauhanBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-07-14T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeJul 2026Writing159159Screenwriting for feature filmscreenwriting-for-feature-film/hw210-2526Have you ever wondered what goes into writing a screenplay? How is it different from theatre, radio or prose? Learn the basics of the craft and develop a script of your own in this creative and analytical workshop.0000-Available|2026-07-14 00:00:00A practical introduction to writing cinema screenplays.Have you ever wondered what goes into writing a screenplay? How is it different from theatre, radio or prose? Learn the basics of the craft and develop a script of your own in this creative and analytical workshop.- Deciding what to write - generating ideas<br/>- Formatting, presentation, accepted norms <br/>- Genre &amp; theme<br/>- Approaches to structure for film <br/>- Creating believable characters<br/>- Approaching dialogue <br/>- Plot development, pacing, set ups and payoffs<br/>- Differences in writing between different media<br/>- An introduction into how the industry works.- Respond to and use screenwriting jargon<br/>- Apply the basic principles of screen/scriptwriting<br/>- Appreciate the differences in writing for different media<br/>- Develop story-telling techniques<br/>- Present a script in standard industry format<br/>- Structure a script.<p>This course is suitable for beginners to screenwriting or creative writers and for those from other creative disciplines. The ability to write and speak fluent<br/>English is essential.</p>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. <br />
<br />
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 <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Please bring notebook and pens.<p>You may wish to consider our introductory course Ways into screenwriting or, if you have a first draft to work on, our intermediate course Developing your screenwriting.<br/><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.</p>Writing for stage and screenWriting for stage and screenconfigurable
159113605Writing for stage and screenhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing/writing-for-stage-and-screen/writing-for-stage-and-screen-11/2/285/13581/13605/1591/Courses/Writing/Writing for stage and screen/Writing for stage and screen
