Introduction to Screenwriting - Professional Development [Level HE4] part-time

The Introduction to Screenwriting course is for anyone who is interested in writing for film and TV and who has little or no previous experience of screenwriting.

You will be introduced to the mechanics of the medium by studying how films create characters and stories through shots, sounds, scenes and sequences and you will examine the classical 3 act story structure drawing on fairytales and short films as well as TV dramas. You will learn about the idea of a story‚s premise and its key function of establishing the dramatic treasure‚, the protagonist's desire, goal or superobjective.

Through the study of TV drama, you will explore key features of the genre and learn how to analyse and write the set-up to a TV drama: introducing the main characters and their world; disruptions; the initial dramatic dilemma and other obstacles.

You will learn the process for writing good dialogue and also develop your ability to write economically in images and sounds and explore techniques of metaphor, montage and flashbacks. The process of creating and hot seating‚ characters will be studied and you will examine the relationship between character and story.

The process of re-drafting is a key discipline for the writer and you will become more familiar with the process of workshop techniques to review your scripts and using feedback from your tutor and peers as the basis for the revision and development of your work.

You will be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars, screenings, workshops and individual tutorials. As part of your studies, you will be required to write a complete five minute short film and the opening ten to fifteen minutes of a single TV drama, both to second draft stage.