Guided by a professional screenwriter (Warner Bros., Fox, Disney, Sony), gain a solid foundation in the essentials of screenwriting: concept, character, story, plot, dialogue, and structure.

There are no available registration dates at this time.

SOLD OUT!  Email registrar@mainemedia.edu to be placed on a waitlist

NOTE: This Course will be held in a live, Online Format using the Zoom Platform. (Also frequently offered in-person)
Class meets 10:30am-3:30pm ET with a lunch break.

This unit provides a solid foundation in the essentials of screenwriting: concept, character, story, plot, dialogue, and structure. Guided by a professional screenwriter, students will examine format, the importance of visual storytelling, developing an economical writing style, the process of shaping a story, creating compelling character arcs, constructing scenes and sequences, writing effective dialogue, the fundamentals of suspense and tension, and how to outline. The realities of the marketplace will also be discussed. Through writing exercises, students will implement the dynamics discussed in class. Scenes will be workshopped.

While the unit’s primary focus is on developing scripts for film, television, and the web, many of the lessons will also resonate for novelists, playwrights, game designers, and filmmakers working in non-fiction. Producers and directors are also encouraged to attend.

NOTE: Depending on the streaming services currently used by participants (Netflix, Amazon, etc.), students may incur additional costs ($10-20) to stream assigned films at home.

Image Credit:  Jasmine Quiñones,  Header Image:  Aidan Bliss

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Wayne Beach Profile Picture

Instructor: Wayne Beach

Wayne Beach has written screenplays for Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox, Disney, Sony, TNT, Village Roadshow Pictures, Wolf Films, and other studios and networks. His students have gone on to create box office hits and popular TV shows. His filmed screenplay credits include Murder at 1600 (Warner Bros.) starring Wesley Snipes, Diane Lane and Alan Alda; and The Art of War (Warner Bros.) starring Wesley Snipes. He wrote and directed Slow Burn (Lionsgate) starring Ray Liotta, LL Cool J, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mekhi Phifer, Jolene Blalock, and Taye Diggs. His directorial debut, Slow Burn premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released in 1100 theaters by Lionsgate. He has written projects for the makers of Pirates of the Caribbean, Law & Order, House M.D., Ocean's Eleven, The Perfect Storm, Total Recall, The Fugitive Platoon, and many others.

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