Hollywood 102: Writing Your First Draft in Eight Weeks

first presented at Film Athens EDUFILMATHENS_EDU-logo

Taking your project from concept to first draft

TIME: Eight 2 hour sessions

Are you someone who has had an idea that could make a great movie, but didn’t know where to start? Have you tried to write a screenplay, but got hung up in Act II? Or are you a seasoned writer looking to sharpen your writing tool kit? If you have been waiting for a chance to dive into the film business and become a screenwriter, your time has come!

This eight-week course is designed to move writers from concept through first draft in eight weeks. Through a process of learning theory, seeing it at work in existing movies, then applying it your own work, writers will be challenged and encouraged in their own projects. Each week will focus on a different step in the process, beginning with story concept, moving to character creation and structures, pre-writing strategies, and then the practice of writing as students draft their feature screenplays. Along the way, students will have opportunities to share their experiences and build workshop relationships as they all drive toward the first draft goal.

Objectives:

  • Acquire Tools and Develop Skills to Save Time, Headaches, and Drafts
  • Create Character-Driven Scripts that Connect with Readers and Audiences
  • Write a Complete First Draft of a Feature Film Screenplay
  • Build Relationships with other Screenwriters

Concepts Covered:

  • Setting Up Stories Through Structural Thinking
  • Common Story Structures and how to Use Them To Tell their Stories
  • Character Construction Techniques to Build Three-Dimensional Characters
  • Developing Character-Driven Stories
  • Outlining Strategies that Will Guide the Writing Process
  • How To Craft a Vital First 10 Pages and an Act I full to Possibility
  • Persevering Through Act II
  • Brining it all Home in Act III
  • Daily Writing Strategies
  • Preparing for Workshops and Rewrites