Screenwriting Fundamentals: Write a 30 Min Movie! [FLEX]

The goal of this class is to teach students how to create, develop, and write a story for the screen. We will write “short movies” that will be around 20-30 minutes of screen time. Each class will contain a lesson that will have students creating a part of their screenplay each week. The final class will allow for students to post a video of then reading their script or post their script for everyone in the class to leave feedback on. [They will receive information on how to give feedback on a script prior to the class]. 

Class One: Getting Started! Writers will learn about movie genres, taglines, log lines, and the needed elements for a screenplay layout. We will review a sample script [created by me and viewed on screen share as PDF, as well as a file to view] and begin brainstorming our movie ideas. 
    Assignment: Brainstorm genres, choose your genre, practice writing a tag, and logline your movie. 

Class Two: Developing Characters we care about.  Writers will learn about characters, what makes a strong character, and how to develop characters for the screen. Writers will also learn the types of conflict in a film and choose the styles of conflict in their movies. 
Assignment: Write full character profiles for each of your main characters. Choose your styles of conflict. 

Class Three: World Building! This week we will learn about building the world in which our characters live. We will develop the world around them from top to bottom. Writers will also learn all about how to create the beat sheet for their movie! 
    Assignment: Beat Sheet 
Class Four: The Outline. Writers will learn story structure, inciting incidents, act breaks, and how to end a movie. We will take a look at dialogue in a film and how to write authentic dialogue. We will look at opening scenes, learn how they should look on the page, and begin to write opening scenes. 
    Assignment: A complete outline of your movie and your opening scene. 
Class Five: Developing the story - how to move from a beat sheet to a full screenplay. Adding details, finer points, structuring your scenes, and final acts. 
    Assignment: Finish your screenplay! 
Class Six: Table Read! All students should have submitted their screenplay to the teacher prior to the class to ensure the material is appropriate for class. Any student who chooses can leave a video recording of reading their story outloud or simply leave the script for the others to read. 



This class is lecture-based. Being a flex class means students will have the week to watch the material and submit their work. Due Dates are assigned and feed back is not garunteed if the due date is not met. I will provide a question section in the classroom for writers to ask questions, discuss ideas, and share their movies for the last class. 

If students are struggling to find writing time I encourage you to sign up for my “Write-in” class which allows a collaborative writing experience for everyone.