Screenwriting Workshop

Tags: Screenwriting

Turn your idea into a screenplay worthy of being Hollywood's next hit!

Last updated 2022-01-10 | 4.6

- Turn Your Idea Into a Screenplay
- Explore What Makes Movies Award Winners
- Create a Pitch That Sells Your Idea

What you'll learn

Turn Your Idea Into a Screenplay

Explore What Makes Movies Award Winners

Create a Pitch That Sells Your Idea

Develop Compelling Characters

Structure Your Screenplay

Learn Techniques That Make Scenes Leap Off The Page

Polish Your Screenplay

Discover Resources To Help Get Your Screenplay Noticed

* Requirements

* Open to all aspiring writers
* young or old
* experienced or just beginning

Description

Do you have a great idea for a movie and want to turn it into a screenplay? Have you already started a screenplay and gotten stuck? Have you finished a screenplay but feel it needs polish? Screenwriting Workshop shows you how to accomplish all of these things and helps you market your work and get it onto the big screen.

In these fun and lively lessons, Dani Alcorn guides you on the path to success. You'll learn how to create and polish a screenplay step by step. Topics include:

Story Structure
Creating Compelling Characters
Using Archetypes to Flesh Out Character
The Hero's Journey
Creating Treatments that Sell
Developing the Perfect Beginning and Ending
Making Your Theme Resonate
Crafting Dialogue that Rings True
Creating Action that Packs a Punch
Controlling Pacing
Screenplay Formatting
Pitching a Great Idea
Designing the Perfect Logline
Online Resources for Screenwriters
Marketing Your Screenplay

Whether you're just getting started or you're an experienced screenwriter, Screenwriting Workshop helps you turn your dream into a reality.

Who this course is for:

First Time Screenwriters of Any Age
Screenwriters with Unfinished or Unpolished Screenplays

Course content

7 sections • 51 lectures

Exploring Modern Screenwriting 6 lectures

Welcome to Screenwriting Workshop! Preview 08:11

Meet Dani Alcorn and enjoy an overview of the course material to come!

Why Write Screenplays? Preview 05:01

Why should you write screenplays, and what are the benefits?

Top Grossing Genres Preview 03:57

This lesson discusses the top grossing genres and top grossing films of recent history. How useful is this information and what should you do with it?

Award Winning Films Preview 05:19

This lesson offers a look at Academy Award Winning films and screenplays. Are awards really the best way to measure a film's success?

Movies Versus Television Preview 09:44

When comparing movies to television shows there are both practical differences (format, budget, production schedule, etc.) and differences in how the audience relates to the experience. The implications of these differences is discussed in this lecture.

A Quick History of TV and Movies Preview 09:15

This lightning fast survey of both film and television will show you how programming has changed over the years, allowing you to target your scripts at the latest trends.

Planning Your Screenplay 9 lectures

Getting Ideas Preview 09:59

This lesson discusses where ideas come from, how to remember them, and what to do if you're stuck. Try out a fun exercise to get your creative juices flowing (see supplemental material).

Elements of a Good Tale: Plot and Story Preview 04:48

This lesson is a discussion of the difference between plot (external events) and story (internal emotions) and how they are integral to creating a compelling movie.

Theme: What is this Movie Really About? Preview 04:49

This lesson discusses themes, or what movies are really about. It shows you how to dig deeper and find the true emotional core of your script that will relate to all the other story and plot elements of your screenplay.

Creating Compelling Characters Preview 03:44

This lesson answers the questions: "Who's in your screenplay?" and "What will you know about them?"

Protagonists Preview 09:13

This lesson discusses how to create a compelling hero for your screenplay.

Antagonists Preview 08:42

This lesson discusses what good antagonists must do and gives you tips for creating despicable bad guys.

Supporting Characters Preview 11:25

This lesson discuses the supporting characters you'll create in your screenplay and offers suggestions for how to make them memorable.

Archetypes Preview 17:02

This lesson discusses what an archetype is, how to use them, and gives an example of a classic archetype.

The Hero's Journey Preview 22:10

This lesson explores Joseph Campbell's idea of the "monomyth" and details the Hero's Journey.

Structuring Your Screenplay 11 lectures

Loglines and Pitches Preview 08:14

This lesson gives step by step instructions for how to write a great logline and pitch for your screenplay.

Synopses Preview 07:21

This lesson uses Susan Dennard's 11 Key Elements to show you how to write a clear and concise synopsis of your screenplay.

Introduction to Structure Preview 05:43

This lesson provides a quick introduction to the theory of story structure and introduces the topics that follow in the next several lessons.

Four Act Structure Preview 17:50

An overview of Four Act Structure. This lesson includes a Quick Reference Guide and a Test Drive with helpful questions about each element of each act to help you think about structuring your original screenplay idea.

Three Act Structure Preview 05:59

This lesson introduces the nine story structuring checkpoints of three act structure.

Act 1 Preview 09:24

This lesson is an in depth look at the story structure checkpoints of Act 1: the Hook, Backstory, and Trigger.

Act 2 Preview 06:29

This lesson provides and in depth look at the story structure checkpoints of Act 2: the Crisis, Struggle, and Epiphany.

Act 3 Preview 06:36

This lesson takes an in depth look at the story structure checkpoints of Act 3: the Plan, Climax, and Resolution.

Beginnings and Endings Preview 14:33

This lesson explores beginnings and endings including common techniques and examples from great screenplays.

Scenes Preview 17:33

Discover the different types of scenes, and what to do--and not do--to make them great.

Treatments and Outlines Preview 11:01

This lesson discusses two types of roadmaps that will help get you from page 1 to page 120 of your screenplay: the treatment and the outline.

Writing Your Screenplay 10 lectures

A Word on Screenwriting Software Preview 03:42

This lesson provides a quick rundown of FinalDraft and Celtx.

How To Format A Screenplay Preview 11:58

Discover the four elements that make up a screenplay, and how they are used.

Formatting Specifics Preview 07:01

These common formatting issues may seem tricky, but they're simple when you know how.

Using Celtx Preview 10:14

Celtx is powerful and free screenwriting software. Here's how to use it.

Great Screenwriting: What Belongs and What Doesn't Preview 09:33

Here's how to write a great screenplay and make sure the director films it the way you imagined it, all without breaking any rules.

Writing Great Dialogue Preview 07:15

This lesson explores how to make your characters sound like real and interesting people.

Writing Great Action/Description Preview 12:09

Minimize descriptions while maximizing the impact of your action lines, and your script will be much more commercial. Here's how.

Writing Great Character Introductions Preview 04:10

In a movie it's easy to recognize and keep track of a large number of characters. But in a script it's hard to keep track of a large number of character names. This lesson shows you how to make those characters memorable, which will help you sell your script.

Pacing Preview 08:06

A well paced movie is fun to watch. Here are some examples of pacing problems and successes, and some tips for controlling your own screenplay's pacing.