ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

8 years, 9 months ago - Corinne Foster

If you're looking to attend a course (rather than do an online one) the National Film and Teelvision School is excellent. I did a one-week scriptwriting course there a few years ago and it was brilliant. Here is their home page: https://nfts.co.uk/

8 years, 9 months ago - Charles Harris

Hi Tomo

I'd like to recommend the courses run by my fellow writers and directors at Euroscript. We're all professionals in the industry and run our courses because we believe in raising the standards of screenwriting.

Writers and film-makers come to our courses in London from all over the world, from France to New Zealand, as well as inviting us to teach from time to time in other cities and countries, and nothing pleases us more than seeing their work reach the screen.

And for the same reason, we work hard to keep our prices as reasonable as physically possible. Especially if you're able to catch our early booking rates. Check out our testimonials pages at http://www.euroscript.co.uk/testimonials.html

8 years, 9 months ago - Brendan O'Neill

There is a free one from UEA on FutureLearn. Google it. Other filmmaking related courses too

8 years, 9 months ago - Claudette FLINT

I would recommend Euroscript. The course is enjoyable, clear and compact. Myself, I think you don't need another course after that. I tried, the others are a repetition and some of them are like "Don't do this, don't do that". I found Euroscript more open to imagination. Usually the blockbusters obey the courses to the letter and the quality films disobey the rules.
Now there must be some other very good courses but that was my experience.

8 years, 9 months ago - Alice Charles

Here it is: I've been a journalist for more than 20 years and a screenwriting for 15 years. I've studied on both sides of the Atlantic - don't bother spending money on any UK courses. Seriously. You are wasting your money and your time. (All the British tutors do is precis US scripwriting books). Learn from the best, those actually working in the industry - and they are more likely to be in America. Check out Aaron Sorkin's masterclass: https://www.masterclass.com/classes/aaron-sorkin-teaches-screenwriting. I can also recommend the Writers Store in LA - I got a sale at the end of their TV pilot development course. https://www.writersstore.com/
There's also the Writers Bootcamp - also good.

8 years, 9 months ago - Nick Goundry

I'll respectfully disagree with Alice and recommend the screenwriting course at the MET Film School in London. I did a six-month course last year and it really helped to drill home the rules of structure. But ultimately, the best US and UK courses will focus on the core principles anyway - who's your protagonist, what's their goal and what's the obstacle in the way of reaching that goal.

8 years, 9 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

I have to agree with Alice. US courses are typically better than any UK ones I've taken. You want one that covers the business of being a writer not just the art. Most people can write once shown how but most can't master the skills needed to succeed due tomorrow lack of business skills or knowledge of business requirements.

Check out ScreenwritingU.

8 years, 9 months ago - Claudette FLINT

It also depends if you want to be Spielberg or Ken Loach. In Europe we are lucky enough to have both. In the US, the 'Ken Loach' are nearly non existent. Maybe that's why America produces people like Trump. OK, I'd better stop here, this is not the place for politics. Still, films and politics do exist...

8 years, 9 months ago - Alice Charles

Nick, how much did you pay to attend the Met (one of the most expensive places to study film besides the NFTS)? If you do a cost-benefit analysis, it's just not worth it. I took the Professional Screenwriting programme at the University of California in Los Angeles and I learned - and wrote - more in a few weeks than I did on the MA programme at the University of the Arts in London. If I had my time over again, I know what I'd do...

8 years, 9 months ago - Nick Goundry

So I guess this is all extremely subjective! Alice, it would seem that for you the UCLA course was better than the London MA course you took. Fair enough. The Met course I did wasn't cheap but in my mind it was "well priced" as it was terrific for me and I learned a huge amount over six months. I'm not sure how to best measure cost versus benefit for this kind of thing. I feel it was money well spent and it's since been immeasurably helpful in writing three feature film drafts. So in that sense it's worked out well.

8 years, 9 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc

Just remember this. When you are writing you are not just writing. 1. Study drama - especially improvisation. 2. Learn editing and film grammar. THEN start to write because 1. In order to get realistic action and dialogue you have to BECOME the characters and 2. In order to get in and out of a scene and look for a dramatic transition to get into the next scene you need to think like an editor. This also means you can IMPLY a CU without breaking the rules, e.g. Mary was very surprised means get in for a CU. I've done both drama and editing in the past and my latest script has just been selected by major international financiers who just love it :-)

8 years, 9 months ago - Sam Seal

Just read the books and take the on-line courses. Why pay to have someone stand up in front of a class and tell you what you can watch on a video? Unless it's really collaborators you're looking for amongst your class-mates, or for an event worthy of attending. I've done McKee's 3 day course twice. It's great - and he makes sure it's only available as a performance that's never put on video.

8 years, 8 months ago - Alice Charles

I forgot to mention you can do UCLA's Professional Program in Screenwriting course online - it's a 10-week, intensive course and well worth it. I found it much better than anything I've done in the UK. Details here:
http://www.tft.ucla.edu/programs/professional-programs/

8 years, 8 months ago - Paul Campion

I'd recommend reading Blake Snyder's Save the Cat book if you're looking at writing high concept scripts and want to get a thorough understanding of structure.

I'm also an avid reader of Carson Reeves at http://scriptshadow.net/ who reviews and critiques professional spec scripts that are doing the rounds in Hollywood, with intention of picking up on what is or isn't working to help new writers with their scripts.

8 years, 8 months ago - Michael Tabb

Weekend courses like Robert McKee (author of the book STORY) is considered one of the best. There's New York Film Academy, Gothem Writers, UCLA Extension Writer's Program, and the Writers Bootcamp.

Known universities like Emerson offer online screenwriting classes as well which might be good if they count for college credit should you decide to go back to college for a new degree at some point.

I enjoyed McKee when I took it, and UCLA's extention was a good start before I went into their Professional Screenwriting Program as a warm up. The others I mention only by reputation.

I hope this helps.

Michael Tabb
A WGA Writer