A 12-week class that provides the tricks and tools for prewriting, writing, and rewriting your complete feature-film screenplay.

Class contents may vary slightly from the following:

Week 1 – Analyze a couple produced films (getting into the groove) by breaking down:

• Genre classifications
• Character types based on what they do
• Three-act structure
• Boiling each film down to its premise 

 

Week 2 – building an original story backbone:

• Premise
• Genre (why so important and common genre mistakes)
• Brainstorm imagery
• Protagonist (inner and outer journeys)
• Antagonist 

 

Week 3 – Story development:

• Supporting characters
• Story/Logline
• Develop overall three-act structure and why this works

 

Week 4 – Outlining:

• Write the detailed treatment 
• Scene mapping 
• Scene transitions 

 

Week 5 – Write Act 1 – Online Workshop:

• Establishing 1
• Escalation 1
• Evolution 1
• Escalation 2

 

Week 6 – Write Act 2a - Online Workshop:

• Evolution 2
• Pinch 1
• Escalation 3

 

Week 7 – Write Act 2b - Online Workshop:

• Evolution 3
• Pinch 2
• Escalation 4

 

Week 8 – Write Act 3 - Online Workshop:

• Evolution 4
• Escalation 5
• Establishing 2

 

Week 9 – Script feedback:

• Giving notes 
• Taking notes 
• Big Picture Edits (slug lines, character clarity, etc.)

 

Week 10 – Edit line-by-line:

• Pacing
• Dialogue editing
• Action lines editing

 

Week 11 – Professional coverage (understanding the story analyst perspective):

• How scripts are broken down and analyzed by professionals
• Writing professional coverage of each others’ scripts
• Logline Perfecting

 

Week 12 – Business of writing (incl. pitching):

• Getting reps
• Query letters
• Meet and greets
• Pitch meetings
• Pitch decks

 

Course Outcome:

In 12 weeks, each student who does the assignments will finish the class with a complete and edited screenplay.