Writers Foundation Certificate
£193.88
To enable new and aspiring writers to explore their ideas and to provide a framework for self-exploration and discovery.
| Tutor: | Elliot Grove | Venue: | Craven Street Rehearsal Rooms, 10 Craven St, London WC2N 5PE |
| Date: | 9, 16, 23, 30 June, 7 July | Duration: | 5 evenings |
| Time: | 6:30pm - 9:30pm | Price: | £193.88 inc VAT |
Raindance founder Elliot Grove has developed a simple, practical introduction to the art, craft and mechanics of screenwriting. The Writers' Foundation Certificate is for anyone who is interested in writing for the screen. It is not necessary to have a project for this class - but is necessary to want to learn how to write.
This course is part lecture and part group discussion.
Week 1: Tools of the Beginning
Getting started. What is an idea?
Where do they come from?
How to create compelling ideas
Copyright and how to protect your ideas
Proper script format and style guide
Week 2 - Casting your movie/story
How to create compelling characters that zoom out of the screen and stay with you
Magnification, traits and other tools
Case study: a character from a current movie will be analysed
Week 3 - Building Your Story
Scene writing and story structure
Creating a page turner
Suspense and other dramatic tools
Week 4 - Writing Compelling Dialogue
The 14 tricks and traps of writing dialogue
The 3 tracks for recording dialogue
Honing and mixing effective dialogue
Week 5 - Pitching Skills Workshop
Pitching is one of the most essential skills needed for a successful career in the film industry. It is also one of the least considered by new entrants to the industry.
Running a pitch meeting
The goals of a pitch meeting
Using visual aids
Finding your hook
Pitching tools explained and demonstrated
Anyone with an interest in writing a screenplay.
Elliot Grove has worked intensively with writers at Raindance since 1992. He explains the tricks of the trade from practical experience and reveals some of the latest paradigms through lecture, exercises and video clips.
Elliot Grove founded Raindance Film Festival in 1993, the British Independent Film Awards in 1998, and Raindance.TV in 2007. He has produced over 150 short films, and 5 feature films. He has written eight scripts, one of which is currently in pre-production. His first feature film, TABLE 5 was shot on 35mm and completed for a total of £278.38. He teaches writers and producers in the UK, Europe. Japan and America. He has written two books which have become industry standards: RAINDANCE WRITERS LAB (Focal Press 2002) and RAINDANCE PRODUCERS LAB (2004). His first novel THE BANDIT QUEEN is scheduled for publication in 2008.
"Writing is not something I've done a lot of, unless you count changing my dialogue on stage, but your guidance (and patience) has been very encouraging, the week/1 homework is already progressing and I very much look forward to next weeks class." - Steven Hyndman
"I realised last night how over the weeks you successfully blended a mix of informality and structure to enable us, rather than dictate to us, thereby creating strong individual stories through a group collaborative." - Nicholas von Broembsen
"Writing a 120 page screenplay is a scary prospect, but the intimate group structure of the writers lab encourages everyone to shine, and it's all the more sweeter with Elliot's guiding hand." - Michelle Stewart
"The Writers Lab was a great experience. It teaches you a method which really helps transforming your idea into a script. It also gives you a lot of great hints on which doors to knock at (and how you should do it!) once your script is ready. I totally enjoyed it" - Andrea Deluce, screenwriter
"I just wanted to say how incredibly useful the course has been and hugely instrumental in me getting my first half hour of television written." - Barry Kimber
“I'd recommend it to anyone who is serious about screenwriting and expect to make back the fee many times over.” – Joia Shillingford, writer and producer
"I was suffering from writer's block when I started this class, but thanks to you, Elliot, I have regained my confidence and am writing daily." - Roy Thompson, writer and director
"I thought it was great; anything to get a writer out of the house... but truly, it was an energising, good mix of slob out, cool, creatives with their secrete mad ambitions." - Anna Campion
Price: £193.88
Terms & Conditions
Before you engage with Raindance, please take a few minutes to read the fine print:
Receipts
A receipt will be sent to you via email. If you have paid by credit or debit card a hard copy along with the PDQ slip will be sent to your billing address.
Our Refund Policy
Refunds must be made in writing and sent to ’81 Berwick Street, London W1F 8TW’. These must include the:
- reason for the request
- time and date any fault on our part has been incured
- name of the staff member concerned
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Please note that unless the course is cancelled by Raindance, a 20% processing fee will be incurred.
Within 7 days of the course start date, or non-attendance, refunds will not be given. Rescheduling
Unless the course is rescheduled by Raindance, a 10% processing fee will be incurred.
Courses may not be rescheduled by the attendee within 5 days of the course start date. This is at the discretion of Raindance.
