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A great workout in one six-hour session.
Ideal for a new screenwriter, or for examining that 'work in progress',
or kick-starting that next project.
From First Page to Final Draft... and Beyond
Our workshops are small by design. Throughout each session, you will be encouraged and helped to create, develop and refine the building blocks and structure of your screenplay.
Brian and Keith will help you examine the genre you’ve chosen and develop the ‘Seven Sentences’ that define your Central Character’s story. When you can write those seven sentences, you’ll know your narrative approach will be effective and your Central Character will have a compelling journey both for you as you write, and for your future audience.
Here's your day.​
Part One
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The six critical questions to ask yourself before you begin writing. What they are, and how do they relate to each of projects?
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Meeting the Central Character. Who is your Central Character, and why do we want to spend time with this person?
Part Two
The structure. From the opening scene to the birth of the conflict, and the start of the Central Character’s journey.
Brian and Keith analyze Set-Up and Inciting Incident from successful movies. Then, each of you suggests potential Set-Up scenes for your story, and share the vital moment that sends your protagonist on an exciting quest, whether it's for a ‘Holy Grail’ or ‘The Mending of a Broken Family’, or…
After this, Brian and Keith analyze the tricky road through Act Two. This begins with a fork in the road: an event or realization that sends your character in a New Direction.
Then, all explore what their story’s New Direction might be...
Whew… TIME FOR A LUNCH BREAK
Part 3
From Midpoint (Point of No Return) to Reversal to Climax… and beyond.
In every well-written screenplay, your Central Character will come to the Midpoint: a moment where going forward seems full of physical or emotional peril, but going back is impossible, The Reversal, where the Central Character is as far away from their goal as possible, the Climax where they fight for their desired outcome… and the result, the Denouement.
First, Brian and Keith detail the compelling need for these sequences and illustrate with some effective sequences from successful movies.
Then, all explore what their Reversal, Climax and Denouement might look like.
Part 4
​When you have ‘THE draft’ the one you'll be excited for other people to read, what actions do you take to ensure you and your screenplay are ‘market-ready’?
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How do you test your belief in your screenplay?
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How do you create pitches that will attract a producer’s attention?
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What can you do to establish an ongoing relationship with producers?
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Writing the Action Line
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When you submit your screenplay, somebody reads it… or at least the first five pages.
Even with your script goes on to have a fine story and great characters, if your action lines read ‘flat’, that’s probably all they’ll read. They won't get to the story.
Let Keith show you techniques that will enable you to write action lines that engage the reader right to the final page.
Max FIVE Participants. 1 Hour 30mins
$60
Next Session TBA
FIRST DRAFT BLUES?
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Finished your first draft, but finding there’s still something not quite right? And no matter how many times you re-read it, a solution just doesn’t seem clear?? Don’t delete files or rip up pages - Help is at hand! Email Brian your screenplay in .pdf format, then reap the benefits of discussing your work with a professional screenwriter who’s read hundreds of scripts and worked with dozens of aspiring screenwriters Brian will cast a fresh eye on your work with no preconceived ideas and discuss potential ways to achieve the story you want to tell... (live via FB Messenger or Google Chat – approximately 30 minutes)
$100