Hi There,
I’m very pleased to announce that I will be running two courses in central London in the next few months.
A brand new one-day Introduction to – and Celebration of – the wonderful craft of SCREENWRITING on May 18 and my 2 day SCREENWRITING course – about Craft and Career – over the weekend of June 8 & 9.
ONE DAY INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING Saturday May 18
This one-day course is designed for entry-level screenwriters. You don’t need to have any screenwriting experience to take this course BUT it is ALSO suitable for more experienced screenwriters – it will be an inspiring and re-energizing refresher – reminding you of everything that is exciting about screenwriting.
This will not be as interactive and participatory as my two-day course – but there will be an opportunity to ask questions of the speaker at the end of every session.
The 10 -5 day will be followed up by a relaxed, non-pressured networking event in a nearby pub – where you can meet and share experiences with each other and meet the guest speakers (and other specially invited industry professionals) in a more relaxed setting and ask any further questions that you have. Full details of this post-course event TBC. This one-day course costs £95.
SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY –
10.00 INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE – and a celebration of the best screenwriting.
10.30 WHAT IS SCREENWRITING? A nuts-and-bolts examination of how to write a screenplay – from outlines, treatments & pitches, script development – to formatting and laying out your script.
11.30 BREAK
11.45 – 1.00 SCREENWRITING PRINCIPLES & TIPS – how story-telling works on screen – with a series of clips to illustrate the principles discussed. Covering all the elements of a screenplay – story, character, dialogue, structure, genre / tone, stylistic devices, format, etc.
1 – 2 LUNCH
2 – 3.30 ANALYSIS OF A SCREENPLAY + TV EPISODE.
Screenwriter / playwright VINAY PATEL (DOCTOR WHO, MURDERED BY MY FATHER, THE GOOD KARMA HOSPITAL, TRUE BRITS) will undertake a SCRIPT-TO-SCREEN analysis and appreciation of an episode of TV show, BETTER CALL SAUL.
Vinay will also answer questions about his own work as a screenwriter.
3.30 BREAK
3.45 – 4.30 LIFE AS A WORKING SCREENWRITER –
Peer support – Knowing the industry – Educational & Inspirational Opportunities — Showcasing your work – Networking.
4.30 – 5.00 Conclusion / Q & A session – your chance to ask any screenwriting question – either following up on issues raised during the day or any questions on issues not covered.
BUMPER COURSE HANDOUTS available on the day for each delegate.
TWO DAY SCREENWRITING COURSE
This is a course I have run three times in the past (see the testimonials on the web page) but not for a year or so. I’m very pleased to be able to run this course again.
The course will be a mini-writers festival as we will have THREE different GUEST SPEAKER sessions over the two days –
On Day One, NATHANIEL PRICE – alumnus of the Channel 4 Screenwriting course 2017, with credits on TIN STAR, BBC3’s FIVE BY FIVE and THE BREAK – as well as a raft of other projects in active development. In a previous life Nathaniel was a professional footballer on Crystal Palace’s books, whose career was cut short by injury.
Nathaniel will be talking about CRAFT – his observations about story, crafting a screenplay and the process of screenwriting in general.
On Day Two –
Literary agent, JONATHAN KINNERSLEY, The Agency, will talk about how you get an agent, what an agent can do for you as a writer, what agents look for in screenwriters, and more generally about the TV and film industries, and where the work is for both new and more experienced writers.
And finally CAT JONES (Channel 4 screenwriting course 2012, credits on HARLOTS, WATERLOO ROAD, YOUNGERS, DOCTORS, EASTENDERS etc) will talk more broadly about both craft and career – about how she creates story and screenplays, about the writing jobs she has done, and lessons to be learnt from her experience.
And there will be time for a Q&A with all the guest speakers at the end of the 3 sessions so you can get answers to the particular questions you want to ask.
OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE
DAY 1 –
Introduction to the Course & what it can do for you.
Creative Exercises – a series of creative exercises that will help you in creating and generating new story and character ideas.
NATHANIEL PRICE – Crafting A Screenplay.
Supplementing NATHANIEL’s CRAFT session, I will also do my own sessions on –
STORY – the elements that go into creating effective, exciting, dynamic story-telling on screen.
CHARACTER- the key to writing memorable, resonant characters. Including an interactive exercise in creating CHARACTERS, and genuinely character-driven stories.
DIALOGUE – what are the elements that make for effective screen dialogue? And…
TV SERIES. The keys to developing what every single drama-producing indie is looking for – an original, compelling, returnable one hour series.
DAY TWO
Will cover…
PITCHING – with an interactive pitching exercise.
TREATMENTS, OUTLINES, WRITTEN PITCHES – looking at all these important pre-script documents – when you need them and how to write them.
JONATHAN KINNERSLEY, literary agent, THE AGENCY – talking about how you get an agent, what you should expect of an agent, and how to forge a career as a screenwriter.
DRIVING YOUR OWN SCREENWRITING CAREER + NETWORKING.
Lessons to be learnt from successful screenwriters’ career paths.
CHANNEL 4 SCREENWRITING COURSE
What I’ve learnt from my experience of running the C4 course for the last 7 years – and what this means for you as professional writers.
CAT JONES – Cat will discuss her career – the writing work she has done across TV, theatre, radio, etc. She will discuss both the craft of dramatic writing, and give you tips on how to run your career.
CONCLUSION – Final session about what to take away from the course, and discuss where you go from here.
Places Are Strictly Limited at 20!
I have a strict limit on the number of delegates, because I want to make sure these are personal, in-depth seminars where you can get your questions answered and find out what you need to know without the sense of getting lost in the crowd.
Ten days before the course, I’ll send you full details of the course and membership of a special private Screenwriters Studio Facebook group that will continue indefinitely.
There is a FREE, recommended screenwriting book for everyone who signs up AND a bumper pack of invaluable HANDOUTS for all delegates on the course.
THE COST
For the two days of the course, the cost is a very reasonable £195. Based on some of the successes and feedback of previous attendees of my courses, I’m happy to say I think this is excellent value for money, and I know this course can act as a powerful weapon in your aims to fulfil your potential as a professional screenwriter.
You can book on my website, and get more in-depth information (especially about the three guest speakers) – http://script-consultant.co.uk/2-days-screenwriting-course/
WHEN AND WHERE?
Saturday + Sunday June 8th & 9th 2019, 10.00- 5.00, Central London – And I’ll be available on both days in a nearby pub afterwards to carry on the conversation. (One of the most important parts of the course IMO!).
NB I already have a long waiting list of people who have expressed an interest in this course and the last few courses I’ve run have sold out well in advance. If you’re interested in doing this course, early booking is recommended!
PS As of 8am today there are now only 14 places still available on this 2 day course.
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Finally this week please can I point you in the direction of a short but excellent screenwriting book that is published this week. I read an advance copy and I thoroughly recommend it –
The book is called THE WALL WILL TELL YOU by celebrated US screenwriter Hampton Fincher. It’s slim and pithy, full of wise, thought-provoking epithets.
The publisher’s blurb – ‘As a producer and screenwriter, Hampton is perhaps most famous for writing Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049. In this, his first non-fiction book, he shares his thoughts and experiences on script-writing in his own unique style. The Wall Will Tell You is written in short, considered paragraphs, his words of wisdom offering guidelines to aspiring script-writers while also giving a glimpse into his creative mind…’ – is accurate.
All the best
Phil
PHILIP SHELLEY
@PhilipShelley1
March 22 2019
