| Story Structure and Character Development

Guided by a professional screenwriter, gain a solid foundation in the essentials of screenwriting: concept, character, story, plot, dialogue, and structure.

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 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 with novelists, playwrights, game designers, and filmmakers working in non-fiction. Producers and directors are also encouraged to attend. This class is also offered online.

Student Testimonials

“My experience far exceeded my expectations. I never thought I would walk away from the workshop with the feeling of confidence and motivation that I now have.” – J.C. Camelio, 2023

“A thoughtful and practical tutorial of everything you would need to know about screenwriting and character development.”
– Bryant Rohloff, 2023

“This was one of the best workshops I ever had the privilege of taking; I learned so much.” – Jennifer Schoerke, 2023

“Excellent workshop, highly recommend this class if you want to learn how to write a screenplay.”- Kathy Clem, 2023