UK FILM COURSES

In this free one hour session we will re-think the principles of the three act structure specifically for the short film, and address some of the common pitfall

In this free one hour session we will re-think the principles of the three act structure specifically for the short film, and address some of the common pitfalls writers encounter when drafting their bite-size movies.

We’ll consider:

How to create immediate engagement with your central character.

How to establish the details of your story world without awkward exposition.

How to use a contained time frame to raise the stakes.

How to manage point of view within each scene to keep us emotionally connected with the protagonist.

How to generate an engaging turning point in the story.

How to ensure your film delivers compelling STORY beats and doesn’t just PORTRAY A SITUATION.

The secret to delivering endings that pack an emotional punch.

Monday 29th April 6.30pm - 7.30pm via Zoom

Impactful screenplays have a clear and personal authorial voice, yet most screenwriting advice tends to bend your ideas to fit someone else's shape. This 8

Impactful screenplays have a clear and personal authorial voice, yet most screenwriting advice tends to bend your ideas to fit someone else's shape. This 8 week course will seek to demystify the screenwriting process both creatively and commercially and will show you how genre rules, structural constraint and even a producer’s mad and inconsistent notes can all be used not just to improve your writing but to better capture what makes your writing unique.

Any level of experience is welcomed, whether you are a newcomer with a passion or a pro stuck in a rut, this course will provide you with a set of tools that will help you more quickly understand what your story is and how best to frame it for the producers, directors, actors and audiences you want to fall in love with it.

Takes place in London but also available to participants via Zoom.

"After this course, I am far closer to the heart of what I want to write than I ever have been (and I’ve done A LOT of courses).”

“Ben’s course was the best investment I’ve made in the writing of my screenplay”

“Ben is astounding and a master of his craft. Working with him is both a joy and a transformative learning experience”

“Insightful, actionable feedback, to get you over your most sticky of writer’s block. I can’t recommend the course enough.”

"Your writing. Serving your vision. Remember that? Ben Blaine and this course can help you achieve that. So get on and Do it”

“Fantastic, I learned so much about story structure and characters, but most importantly I learned how to find my voice as a writer”

Wanting to write is not the same as knowing what to write about. This three hour session will guide you through practical methods for having ideas.

Filmmake

Wanting to write is not the same as knowing what to write about. This three hour session will guide you through practical methods for having ideas.

Filmmaker Ben Blaine will help you catch your thoughts and show you how to turn inspiration into story. Intended as a taster for Ben’s 8 week course demystifying storytelling, this session will draw on all the fundamentals of screenwriting including character, genre and structure to teach you how to generate ideas, see what they need to become stories and will also help you tell if they’re actually any good or not.

“A true masterclass in screenwriting”

"I would highly recommend this for anyone who is just starting their writing journey or those who are looking to hone the work they have already begun.”

"Taking the course with Ben and the incredible group of people who also joined is one of the best things I've ever done and gave me a huge appetite for understanding stories and writing my own.”

THURS. MAY 30th
(6.00pm—8.00pm BST)

Ever dreamed of writing for Walt Disney or Pixar?

This live webinar gives you an introduction into the world of ani

THURS. MAY 30th
(6.00pm—8.00pm BST)

Ever dreamed of writing for Walt Disney or Pixar?

This live webinar gives you an introduction into the world of animation. From 2D to 3D, and stop-motion, discover how to tell animated stories!

​Aimed at screenwriters, animators, and filmmakers interested in writing for animation.

YOU WILL LEARN
- The basics of the animation production process for different types of animation (ex: 2D, 3D, stop-motion).
- Visual Storytelling: What kind of stories can you tell in animation?
- Essential elements to consider when writing for animation (ex: characters, visual designs, story structure).
- What do animation producers look for?
- How to pitch an animated project.

FORMAT
​A 1h30 live webinar with a 1h talk followed by a 30min Q&A session. As part of the talk, participants will be invited to complete a series of short exercises—the aim is for each participant to start developing an animated film or series idea by the end of the webinar.

TUTOR
Alizée Musson is a script & development consultant, writer, and translator. Working internationally in French and English, she develops films and TV projects with emerging and established talents in live-action and animation.

​Alizée previously worked with independent production companies and studios such as Ardimages, Entertainment One, Amazon Studio, Ubisoft, and Walt Disney as a freelancer. She also worked as a web series screenwriter with Wildbrain Spark, where she wrote 100+ short animated episodes for YouTube.

WED. MAY 29th
(6.00pm—8.00pm BST)

Interested in writing films or series for children?

This live webinar gives you all the basics.
​Discover how to

WED. MAY 29th
(6.00pm—8.00pm BST)

Interested in writing films or series for children?

This live webinar gives you all the basics.
​Discover how to tell stories for a younger audience!

​Aimed at screenwriters, and filmmakers interested in writing for young audiences.
​
YOU WILL LEARN
- How to write for different age groups (from pre-school to teenagers).
- How to write children's content for different formats and media (TV, film, web series).
- The latest trends in children's content.
- Dos and don'ts of writing for children.
- How to write diverse and inclusive characters for children's content.

FORMAT
​A 1h30 live webinar with a 1h talk followed by a 30min Q&A session. As part of the talk, participants will be invited to complete a series of short exercises—the aim is for each participant to develop an idea for a children's film or series by the end of the webinar.

TUTOR
Alizée Musson is a script & development consultant, writer, and translator. Working internationally in French and English, she develops films and TV projects with emerging and established talents in live-action and animation.

​Alizée previously worked with independent production companies and studios such as Ardimages, Entertainment One, Amazon Studio, Ubisoft, and Walt Disney as a freelancer. She also worked as a web series screenwriter with Wildbrain Spark, where she wrote 100+ short animated YouTube episodes for children. In 2019, she was a jury member for the BAFTA Children's Awards.

An essential guide to the practical process of script development: hone your analysis skills and refine your creative working process. This one day course is es

An essential guide to the practical process of script development: hone your analysis skills and refine your creative working process. This one day course is especially designed for script readers, developers and producers who want to explore the best practice of giving feedback and running development meetings with writers.
We all know that it’s true: writing is rewriting. But maintaining the inspiration and enthusiasm for repeated redrafts is an acquired skill and where a good script developer really proves their worth. Drawing on over twenty years experience of working with writers, we will outline effective strategies to establish positive creative relationships, deliver clear-headed story analysis, and confidently keep the project on track.

Participants on this course will work on a live screenwriting project and create a strategy for working towards the next draft with the writer. Together we will analyse the current script, assess its potential as a film, and consider how to translate that analysis into gold standard feedback.

1. Development Relationships

This session considers how to establish the most positive dynamic between developer and writer with the aim of empowering the writer to produce the best work they possibly can. This session looks at how to approach the first development meeting; gaining the writer's trust; understanding the story the writer wants to tell and why; protecting the writer’s unique voice and establishing creative boundaries.

2. Analysing the Material

The initial stages of development are all about finding the best potential film in the material. We'll lay out an approach for determining whether the key elements of the story are in place and whether the current draft is exploiting the strongest aspects of the idea. Any role in script development requires a solid understanding of screenwriting theory, but the job goes far beyond simply critiquing what’s currently on the page. We will consider how to discern the writer’s intentions within a script, and how to support the writer’s aims whilst also ensuring they deliver a story an audience will engage with.

3. Constructive Feedback

Too much feedback (however intelligent and informed) can be counter-productive, this session considers how to write development notes that don't overwhelm the writer but that provide a useful resource for addressing the next stage of development. We consider how to adapt your style to suit the way each writer works and explore how to offer ongoing support between drafts. In this practical session we'll consider how to respond to subsequent drafts (especially those that seem to get worse) and work with practical planning documents such as Beat Sheets.

The fee for this course is £115 and is limited to 14 participants.

Are you looking to build or expand your career in the film industry? Then the London Film Career Summit is the event for you!

Get ready for a jam-packed day

Are you looking to build or expand your career in the film industry? Then the London Film Career Summit is the event for you!

Get ready for a jam-packed day filled with hyper-focused talks, insightful discussions, and unbeatable networking, all designed to supercharge your career and leave you with the knowledge to make the next big step.

Our lineup of expert speakers will dive into the ins and outs of both scripted and unscripted film & TV projects, as well as commercial endeavors. This event is tailored for those new to the industry, but whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, you'll discover practical tips and tricks to boost your career.

A full list of speakers will be announced soon!

Finally the event will be a great networking opportunity. Connect with a diverse mix of industry professionals, hundreds of like-minded filmmakers, actors, film financiers and indie-film marketing specialists. Whether you’re on the hunt for cast and crew, new projects, or are looking to explore your financing and marketing options, this is the perfect time and place to discuss all your current and future projects, with a drink in your hand and some great company!

At the end of this content-packed day you can expect to walk out with a good understanding of all the different strategies you can use to find freelance or full time work in the film industry.

Learn the essentials of screenwriting and get to work on your own TV drama pilot. Join this six-week online course for just £220.

Do you have ambitions to wri

Learn the essentials of screenwriting and get to work on your own TV drama pilot. Join this six-week online course for just £220.

Do you have ambitions to write TV drama? Whether you’re gearing up to start work, or if you’re already writing, this course will teach you the fundamentals for writing a pilot. Learn the language of TV drama – how it’s constructed and how to talk about it to the industry, with expert advice from screenwriter and showrunner, Colin Teevan (Das Boot, Rebellion).

Drawing on his substantial experience as a TV dramatist and showrunner, Colin teaches a professional approach to screenwriting that will mark you out as someone who understands what producers and commissioners want. Discover how to use an established genre to turn the story that you want to write. Establish the world of your drama on the page so that a production team will get everything they need to know – but crucially no more than that. Put your protagonist in a hostile situation and figure out what they must do to overcome it. And learn how everything on the screen talks – not just dialogue.

By the end of this course, you should have written at least the first 10-12 pages of your script and have the confidence to be able to deliver your pilot to an industry standard.

What does this course give you?

Video modules: Work through six modules comprising pre-recorded teaching videos and substantial notes by Colin Teevan. You’ll learn the fundamentals of screenwriting, including an understanding of what should definitely go in your script and what should be left out, how to write compelling action and zingy dialogue, and how to pitch your work to the industry.

Writing tasks: Weekly screenwriting tasks to help you explore and understand the teaching topics and progress your TV drama.

Scene studies: Read five short scenes from Colin’s own screenplays and hear him discuss his own script decisions in-depth in five videos demonstrating how his teaching works in practice.

Resources & notes: You’ll get additional resources and teaching notes and a list of recommended watching.

Professional feedback: An expert CBC editor will give brief written feedback on several of the students' practical assignments every week, with all students receiving feedback on one of their screenwriting tasks. Students are also given the option to purchase additional end-of-course feedback from our expert editors.

Student forum: Find your writing community on our private student forums. Upload your completed screenwriting tasks, give and receive peer-to-peer feedback, and discuss the week’s topics with your fellow students.