Understanding how to format a screenplay involves more than just arranging words on a page. Although there is software that helps with this, there's more to it. It involves the essential elements of storytelling, such as introducing characters and organizing the structure of your script. ‘Screenplay formatting’ refers to how we arrange the words and details on a page. In this course, you'll learn everything from the title page to the end of your first screenplay on how to tell a story effectively. This course is designed to guide you through the entire process, starting from the title page and ending with the words "FADE OUT," teaching you how to create your very first screenplay.
Overview
Syllabus
- Introducing Characters and Writing Dialogue
- How much (or little) description of a character is a writer allowed (or expected) to give? Here you will learn how to introduce your characters effectively.
- Elements of Screenplay
- Here are the building blocks of formatting (and so of screenwriting).
- Intro to Screenplay Formatting
- In this session we will will learn why using Hollywood screenplay formatting style matters.
- Your First Screenwriting Assignment
- This is an adaptation assignment from fiction to script. You should end up with about four pages of script, but learn many of the tools you will need to write your own screenplays.
- Screenplay Software
- Screenwriting software is incredibly useful for writers like us. Pros and cons. Cost. Recommendations.
- Write Short Film Script
- Best to watch this session piece-by-piece over the course of about a week, as there are mini-assignments between each short lesson, leading to the final assignment, in which you will write and submit a short script, then read three of your classmates' short scripts.
Taught by
Kat Montagu
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Screenwriting Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Screenwriting
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Write A Feature Length Screenplay For Film Or Television
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Feature Film Screenwriting: The First Ten Pages
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Micro-Budget Filmmaking: Screenwriting
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Learn Screenwriting By Writing One Scene in a Screenplay Format
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Screenwriting: The Art of the First Draft
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Reviews
5.0 rating, based on 5 Class Central reviews
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To have a highly experienced instructor guiding you through such a practical course was a pleasant surprise. I have taken numerous online courses, and this one stands out as the best. It covers everything you need to know, starting from the fundamen…
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10 out of 10.
I love the short 1-2 minutes lessons, the summary box and quizzes at the end.
Kat is naturally very engaging and relatable in her delivery.
Diane -
To have a highly experienced instructor guiding you through such a practical course was a pleasant surprise. I have taken numerous online courses, and this one stands out as the best. It covers everything you need to know, starting from the fundame…
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I think the course is really good, short but with lots of material to think about screenwriting. One of the advantages of the course is that I can take it at any time of the day and per session I can dedicate 1 hour, maybe the ones that it can take me more are the ones where I have to do the adaptation of the Maltese Falcon and the short story submission but still they are simple task.
Overall I think it's a good option for people who want to start writing and have no idea where to start or even if people already have an intermediate level, it's a good tool to remember things and I enjoy Kat's enthusiasm for everything it makes you want to do things.
Eugenia F. -
The course is set at a pace where you don't feel overwhelmed and the instructions are led by one of the most knowledgeable instructors courtesy of VFS. It's an excellent introduction to screenwriting and a great refresher to help to continue to hone your writing skills.
