Writing the Feature: Telling a Story on Screen is taught by local creative writer R. Lyon Bergh, meeting once a week for 6-8 weeks. Contact us for potential 2023 dates.
This course builds on a prior understanding of basic screenwriting & classical plot structures to delve into how a full-length story is told on screen; A close look at the screenplay specific elements that culminate into a visual story that grips the audience from its opening image to the FADE OUT of the closing scene.
Topics include: principles of drama, scene construction, pacing, and the skillful use of action lines and dialog, as well as, when to use voice-over, flashbacks, and other stylistic techniques.
Students will be asked to complete writing assignments between sessions and should plan to spend up to four hours per week on outside work. Access to a screenwriting program is required— Final Draft is recommended. Prior exposure to 3-act plot structures and basic screenwriting norms is required (ie, Writing for the Screen attendance or comparable experience approved by the instructor).
This class answers the questions:
And it speaks to the following concerns:
This course does NOT cover: (Please see other course offerings for these topics)
—Review or workshopping of works in progress
—Advice on how to pitch or sell a screenplay, or on professional writing jobs.
—Formatting for “shooting scripts”.
—Teleplays
Cost for the course is $375 ($300 for Alumni), and the registration form is found below. A $50 non-refundable deposit will be needed to secure the registration. In-person instruction will be conducted according to our Social-Distancing Policy for Covid-19, including increased distance, masks and/or face shields, and increased sanitizing.
This course builds on a prior understanding of basic screenwriting & classical plot structures to delve into how a full-length story is told on screen; A close look at the screenplay specific elements that culminate into a visual story that grips the audience from its opening image to the FADE OUT of the closing scene.
Topics include: principles of drama, scene construction, pacing, and the skillful use of action lines and dialog, as well as, when to use voice-over, flashbacks, and other stylistic techniques.
Students will be asked to complete writing assignments between sessions and should plan to spend up to four hours per week on outside work. Access to a screenwriting program is required— Final Draft is recommended. Prior exposure to 3-act plot structures and basic screenwriting norms is required (ie, Writing for the Screen attendance or comparable experience approved by the instructor).
This class answers the questions:
- How do I play to the strengths of the medium?
- What makes a screenplay riveting?
- How do I choose “what comes next” when ordering scenes and beats?
- How do I deliver necessary information visually?
- How much dialog is too much dialog?
- What makes a scene a scene?
- How detailed can I be in my action lines?
- How do I format intricate intercutting?
- How can I show the important information instead of telling it?
- How do I add characterization through non-verbal cues?
- How much should I describe?
And it speaks to the following concerns:
- My screenplays start off strong, but then seem to lag.
- I have information I need to deliver but my page count keeps getting away from me.
- All of my characters talk the same way.
- I can see how I want something done in my mind, but don’t know how to write it.
- My story moves along nicely, but doesn’t seem to have much emotion.
- I’m good at writing shorts, but the feature is daunting.
This course does NOT cover: (Please see other course offerings for these topics)
—Review or workshopping of works in progress
—Advice on how to pitch or sell a screenplay, or on professional writing jobs.
—Formatting for “shooting scripts”.
—Teleplays
Cost for the course is $375 ($300 for Alumni), and the registration form is found below. A $50 non-refundable deposit will be needed to secure the registration. In-person instruction will be conducted according to our Social-Distancing Policy for Covid-19, including increased distance, masks and/or face shields, and increased sanitizing.
