Script University

 With details of upcoming courses and more:

 

Last Chance to Register!   The most intelligent and intriguing premise in the world is only that—just a premise—until it’s been given a shape that draws an audience in and keeps its attention and investment. Until it’s given a protagonist through which the audience understands the premise in concrete terms, and feels the clearly-defined stakes, someone with whom they can identify and for whom they can cheer. In other words, until the premise has become a story.  This course will examine plotting a screenplay from premise to story. You'll learn how to take your screenplay from the early stages of building an idea to a full story, ways to structure the story to keep tension and investment high, and strategies to build not only structure but texture in the world of your film. You'll work to discover how to create an experience of the world, including what the events and the world of the story mean for characters and audience alike, rather than just building up a point-by-point plot. In online lectures, supplemental readings, and written assignments and exercises, we’ll consider many elements of story development: plot and character arcs and what makes them work the scene as the essential, powerful unit of story how a writer might use multiple genres in crafting story, and the degree to which one ought to push back against, rather than merely accepting, genre expectations the difference between story and discourse and the function of each best practices in plotting out a story We’ll also reference—and occasionally take cues from—such seemingly disparate films as Jaws, Silence of the Lambs, 8 ½, Annie Hall, Inglorious Basterds, and Boogie Nights, among others.   How a protagonist is driven by both external and internal motivations How to use—and go beyond—3-Act structure How the scene is the essential unit of film storytelling, and how each scene contains its own arc How a writer builds not just structure but the texture of story and world How to ratchet up tension and re-raise stakes throughout a screenplay The importance of making unexpected moves to keep the writer surprised and invested as much as the audience and much more!     Course Starts Thursday! February 11 - March 11 LEARN MORE!     Instructor: Lynn Grant Beck   Lynn is a Professor of Screenwriting in the MFA graduate program at Pepperdine University and has also taught Writing the Television Pilot at Santa Monica College. She also has significant industry experience as Vice President of Production at Kopelson Productions, and Creative Executive at Interscope Communications. At Interscope she traveled to Australia where she was an assistant producer on Pitch Black with Vin Diesel. She just completed a new feature thriller, Quiet Nightand and her latest sci-fi TV series, Fuzion, is currently being pitched to broadcast and streaming networks.     Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 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. Story Development and Outlining Instructor: Lynn Grant Beck Do you have a great core idea for your story, but find yourself struggling to add depth, structure, and arc to your concept? Developing your premise is no easy task, but once you have the essential elements pieced together, your story can truly come together. In this course, you'll learn how to take your screenplay from the early stages of building an idea to a fully developed story.   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.   Write Your Drama Pilot in Six Weeks Instructor: William Rabkin In this workshop, you will learn the tools professional screenwriters use to finish high-quality scripts under deadlines. By the end, you will have completed and received professional feedback on a script for your drama pilot.   Upcoming Webinar:  Crafting Strong Scenes and Set Pieces with Danny Manus This live webinar reveals the elements necessary to crafting strong, dynamic, cinematic scenes and set pieces that will grab audiences, exploit your hook, and progress your story. Experienced development executive and screenwriter Danny Manus will break down the structural parts of a scene, show you how to craft stronger transitions, and much more!   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     Craft Strong, Dynamic, and Cinematic Scenes!   This live webinar reveals the elements necessary to crafting strong, dynamic, cinematic scenes and set pieces that will grab audiences, exploit your hook and progress your story. We’ll break down the structural parts of a scene, the questions you need to ask while writing your scenes, the different types of scene conflict, how to know when a scene can be cut, how to know when to start and end your scenes, crafting stronger transitions, and how to create set pieces that will sell your concept.   February 25, 2021   SIGN UP NOW!   Instructor: Danny Manus   Danny Manus is a former development executive, a screenwriter, and is the CEO of No BullScript Consulting. He was ranked a “Cream of the Crop” script consultant by CS Magazine. His clients include finalists and winners of prestigious contests including the ABC/Disney Fellowship, Austin Film Festival, PAGE Awards, Scriptapalooza, etc. Danny has appeared on numerous popular podcasts, BBC radio, was a columnist for ScriptMag, and has been a speaker at dozens of events and venues.     Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 United States