Introduction to Screenwriting Weekend

Screenwriting weekend is an introductory course for people either planning their first screenplay or hoping to brush up on their writing skills. It arms you with concepts and practices you need to be aware of, before diving in.

As an introduction, the emphasis will be on writing short rather than long form drama though there will be plenty of scope for talking about the bigger picture. There will be a stress on the difference between these forms and the problems posed for writers because so many of the available screenwriting tomes talk about writing as if feature films were the only game in town!

Why do this course?

Help you develop an understanding of the basics of the craft and art of screenwriting.
Gives you everything you need to start writing your first script.
Helps you to understand – “What makes a good script”!
Encourage you to develop a critical self awareness, and an enquiring, analytical and creative approach to your work.
Gives you a framework to develop your screenwriting practice.
Who is this aimed at?

This course is aimed at writers who want to learn the art of screenwriting or filmmakers who want to develop their writing skills. If you haven’t done any creative writing whatsoever (whether amateur or professional), or don’t have any film-making skills, then you are unlikely to be able fully benefit from this course. (See below for what you can do next).

The Tutor – Michelle Duffy

Over the past 15 years, Michelle has held a few different jobs that all had one thing in common: helping other people to realize their creative dreams.

Michelle started out working in a small film distribution company, writing PR copy for releases from Teletubbies to the Texas Chain Saw Massacre (and you don’t ever want to get those two mixed up…)

After relocating to the Midlands, she worked for several years as a script editor and drama development producer for different production companies, sourcing writers, securing development finance and working with the producers and writers to coordinate script development. During this time, she also worked as a Script Editor alongside The Script Factory on the Birmingham-based writer development project ‘Broad Street Stories’, in collaboration with BAFTA-winning director, Michael Baig-Clifford, and was for a time Acting CEO for the Birmingham Screen Festival.

In 2005 Michelle was invited to join the School of Digital Media at Birmingham City University where she went on to teach Screenwriting and Film Industry at Undergraduate level, also developing several postgraduate classes. In 2011, she took redundancy from the university to write full-time.

Currently Michelle is developing the original feature script School Run with Monty Films. She also regularly collaborates as a script editor with writer/director Stephen Reynolds, and has an open door relationship with Cascade Pictures.

£108 (Includes 10 per cent early booking discount if booked early)

£120 Full Price

£90 – Discount for people on following means tested benefits, proof required: ESA (income related); Income Support; Working Tax Credit (not child tax credit); Council Tax Benefit (not student/single person/reduction due to disability); Housing Benefit; Pension Credit (guarantee); Unwaged Dependent of these benefits.

All Film Oxford Courses are subsidised by Oxfordshire Skills and Learning Service