Film Screenwriting: Creating a Hero's Journey CAMP
Learners will examine the stages of the Hero's Journey from their favourite films and then apply them by creating their own original screenplays.
Sean Foster Collins, BA, BEd.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(342)
What's included
5 live meetings
4 hrs 35 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Additional writing outside of class time is encouraged, but not mandatory. We will be developing a story and screenplay as a group based on discussion and input from everyone in the class. Students can input a lot or a little - it's up to them!Class Experience
US Grade 6 - 9
What do films like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Big Hero 6, The Karate Kid, Shazam, Wonder Woman, How to Train Your Dragon (and about a thousand more) have in common? They all follow the stages of the "Hero's Journey" to create original but still familiar stories that audiences love. In this multi-week summer camp, students will learn the ingredients necessary to create a story, a hero, and the journey they will take, and then how to put it all together in a proper screenplay. Throughout all of the classes, learners will be encouraged to write and post their work in the classroom so we can all read the work and share our feedback. Constructive criticism and positive support is encouraged. Class 1: We will look at what makes a hero relatable and someone to cheer for on their journey. We'll also come up with some ideas for our own original hero. Class 2: We will look at some famous examples of film heroes and how they were made to be sympathetic and relatable. We'll start to look closely at each stage of the Hero's Journey and how those famous films presented them. Class 3: We will finish the stages of the Hero's journey in famous films, and as a class settle on who our hero will be and the world they will live in. Class 4: Today we will learn the proper structure of a screenplay using a free online tool (Celtx - the free version!), and start to get our Hero's journey down into scenes. Class 5: We will finish by applying the stages of the Hero's journey to a proper screenplay format. Students will leave the class with a clear direction for the kind of story they want to tell and they'll have the tools to tell it.
Learning Goals
Students will learn the formula for creating a hero and their journey in a story that will resonate with audiences. They will also learn the structure and format for proper screenplay writing.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
When coming up with story ideas, we might talk about some dangerous, perilous, spooky, and mildly violent scenes, and then write about them. Make sure your student is okay with that.
Supply List
Worksheets will be provided during the sessions.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined April, 2020
4.9
342reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Non-US Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
2 Degrees
Bachelor's Degree in Education from University of Western Sydney (Australia)
Bachelor's Degree in English from Trent University (Peterborough, Ontario, Canada)
I have been a senior level English and Writer's Craft teacher for more than 20 years, but beyond that I am a writer myself. I've written a Young Adult novel featuring a heroic character on his own journey, I've written numerous screenplays, and I've been a script reader for a production company. Reviews
Live Group Class
$90
for 5 classes5x per week, 1 week
55 min
Completed by 49 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-15
3-8 learners per class
