About This Workshop
About This Workshop
Are you a writer looking for a new challenge? Have you been tinkering with a great idea for a short film? Do you have an hour or so to spare a week? If so, then this is the workshop for you:
During the month of November we'll be looking at the basics of screenwriting and the artistic possibilities of the short film format. By the end of the four weeks you'll leave with the first draft of your short film.
If you're interested, then please join us. You'll want to enroll in the class itself. I also recommend that you try to read and review at least one project in the class project gallery during the month to help inspire you. Finally, I've created this calendar+tasksheet that you can download and tape above your desk:
If you're like me and need help creating a realistic schedule to get through the class, here's my suggestion:
Nov 28th - Dec 4th: Watch the Introduction and Lesson 1 videos as well as read through the scene excerpts of the Lesson 1 handout.
Dec 5th - Dec 11th: Watch Lesson 2, make a decision on what program you want to use to type up your screenplay, then watch Lesson 3. Get through as much of the Lesson 3 viewing list as you can, if time is limited then focus on the type of films (plot-driven, conceptually-driven, or poetic) that resonate with you.
Dec 12th - Dec 18th: Watch Lesson 4 and read the accompanying handout to get into the zen mindset of writing the first draft without editing yourself. I would try to carve out some quiet time to write out that first draft by hand as quickly as you can, with the understanding that you'll go back, flesh out some gaps, clean it up. Once you've written that first quick draft, let it sit, relax and take a step
Dec 19th - Dec 25th: Reread what you wrote, scribble in the changes you want to make, fill in the gaps in dialogue, etc, type up the draft, reread, and so forth. Don't try to make it too polished, but the point is to submit a first draft that contains the essence of your story for us and that feels like a solid foundation for future drafts. By the end of the month share with us what you've been working on.
During the course of the four weeks: Try to read and review at least one project in the project gallery, This isn't mandatory, but I think it'll be a useful vitamin to help you with your own writing and getting over your fears about submitting the first draft.
What if you need an easier project or a way to warm up first?: No problem, check out my 'Finding Your Character' class.
What if you join us late?: No problem, you can still join us and submit your work - the important thing is to finish and get the story and characters that have been haunting you out of your head and onto the paper!
Classes
Projects
Students
Classes
Projects
Students
Are you a writer looking for a new challenge? Have you been tinkering with a great idea for a short film? Do you have an hour or so to spare a week? If so, then this is the workshop for you:
During the month of November we'll be looking at the basics of screenwriting and the artistic possibilities of the short film format. By the end of the four weeks you'll leave with the first draft of your short film.
If you're interested, then please join us. You'll want to enroll in the class itself. I also recommend that you try to read and review at least one project in the class project gallery during the month to help inspire you. Finally, I've created this calendar+tasksheet that you can download and tape above your desk:
If you're like me and need help creating a realistic schedule to get through the class, here's my suggestion:
Nov 28th - Dec 4th: Watch the Introduction and Lesson 1 videos as well as read through the scene excerpts of the Lesson 1 handout.
Dec 5th - Dec 11th: Watch Lesson 2, make a decision on what program you want to use to type up your screenplay, then watch Lesson 3. Get through as much of the Lesson 3 viewing list as you can, if time is limited then focus on the type of films (plot-driven, conceptually-driven, or poetic) that resonate with you.
Dec 12th - Dec 18th: Watch Lesson 4 and read the accompanying handout to get into the zen mindset of writing the first draft without editing yourself. I would try to carve out some quiet time to write out that first draft by hand as quickly as you can, with the understanding that you'll go back, flesh out some gaps, clean it up. Once you've written that first quick draft, let it sit, relax and take a step
Dec 19th - Dec 25th: Reread what you wrote, scribble in the changes you want to make, fill in the gaps in dialogue, etc, type up the draft, reread, and so forth. Don't try to make it too polished, but the point is to submit a first draft that contains the essence of your story for us and that feels like a solid foundation for future drafts. By the end of the month share with us what you've been working on.
During the course of the four weeks: Try to read and review at least one project in the project gallery, This isn't mandatory, but I think it'll be a useful vitamin to help you with your own writing and getting over your fears about submitting the first draft.
What if you need an easier project or a way to warm up first?: No problem, check out my 'Finding Your Character' class.
What if you join us late?: No problem, you can still join us and submit your work - the important thing is to finish and get the story and characters that have been haunting you out of your head and onto the paper!
