Script University

 With details of upcoming courses:

Hurry, Course Starts Thursday!   The temptation when writing a film is to think of the big-picture elements first—a mind-blowing premise or fast-moving plot, the scope and spectacle—and then to consider characters who’ll allow the spectacle to take place. But this, of course, is working backward: character isn’t a way to reveal the world of a film—character is the heart of any film, no matter the genre or style, and the world, plot, and stakes of the film exist to reveal and to deepen our understanding of that character, not the other way around. Elements of story and the story’s world are only meaningful when filtered through a protagonist’s particular perspective and motivation, when the audience can see something of him- or herself in the protagonist’s quest and relationships with the other characters…allowing us not just to empathize with the quest but to see our own hopes and desires, our own shortcomings, reflected in the story, and feeling the stakes as personally as if we were the ones at risk, the ones victorious when the goal is achieved, or the ones facing ruin if the goal were lost. In online lectures, supplemental readings, video clips, and written assignments and exercises, we’ll consider how character affects all other aspects of story, including plot, theme, and structure; how to build a protagonist with whom the audience identifies; the necessity of empathy and sympathy in crafting character, and how a character’s own shortcomings allow for these; how to both use and play against character types and tropes; the relationship between character arc and plot arc; and more. We’ll also reference—and occasionally take cues from—such seemingly disparate films as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Casablanca, Vertigo, Silence of the Lambs, The Matrix, Fargo, The Breakfast Club, Casablanca, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and others.   How an effective and sympathetic protagonist is driven by both external and internal motivations The essentials of character arc and its role not just in structure but in how an audience connects with the protagonist and feels the stakes How complex characterizations arise from clear motivations meeting with conflict The difference between character growth and breaking character and much more!     Course Starts Thursday! November 19 - December 17 LEARN MORE!     Instructor: Jenna Avery   Jenna Avery is a screenwriter, columnist for Final Draft and Script Mag, instructor for Script University and The Writer’s Store, and story consultant. As a storyteller, she specializes in sci-fi action and space fantasy. Jenna is also a writing coach and the founder of Called to Write, an online community and coaching program designed to help writers make the work of writing actually happen, where she has helped hundreds of writers overcome procrastination, perfectionism, and resistance so they can get their writing onto the page and into the world where it belongs.     Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 United States     Whether you're completely new to writing screenplays or you're an experienced screenwriter looking to add a new skill, Script University has a course for you, all from the comfort of your home! Click here to view the full course schedule >>   Courses Starting This Week:  Ten Weeks to Your Feature Film Instructor: Paul Peditto The world of the feature film is booming and you are gushing with ideas. This workshop will give you the tools to get the ideas out of your head and into a completed screenplay by introducing you to the methods that professional screenwriters use to write under deadlines.   Beginning Television Writing Instructor: William Rabkin In this four-week course, an established executive producer/showrunner will give you an inside look at the world of dramatic, episodic television. You will explore—and practice—the actual process involved in successfully writing a spec episodic script that will open doors across Hollywood.   The Fundamentals of Screenwriting: Give your Script a Solid Foundation Instructor: Donald H Hewitt Have an amazing idea for a movie, but don’t know how to begin writing it? In this course, you will gain the tools to structure your scenes, your acts, and your plots. This four-week workshop is the perfect introduction to the fantastic world of writing a script, from the fundamentals of the story down to the revision process.   Mastering the Conventions of Horror Writing Instructor: Neal Stevens Horror has been one of the staples of film ever since the medium was invented. This genre is truly a writer’s medium: If you can present a new version of an old concept and scare us on the page, your script can sell. Plus, there is always room for innovation and creativity within the field. That’s why horror is a natural choice for many a screenwriter.   Construct Compelling Characters Instructor: Jenna Avery Character is the heart of any film, no matter the genre or style. In this course, we’ll consider how character affects plot, theme, and structure. You’ll learn how to build a protagonist an audience can identify with, how to use and play against character tropes, and the relationship between character arc and plot arc.   Hate being tied to a schedule? Check out our affordable Self-Paced Courses >> EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS INVALUABLE FEEDBACK   Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 United States