On Campus News

Central Film School Accepting Applications for Applied Screenwriting Diploma

By StudentFilmmakers.com
posted Mar 13, 2012, 10:13

Next course starts 30 April 2012.

"This is the only screenwriting course I know of where students actually see their scripts go into production, are taught to write to industry standards by working screenwriters and pitch directly to working agents and producers. I look forward to meeting your next graduates..." -Bob Portal (Merchant of Venice, Lord of War, Red, White & Blue)

"The course provided an amazing level of personal support from working professionals who are brilliant at developing new writers. Thank you so much for everything!" -John Stuart, Graduate 2011

The Applied Screenwriting Diploma is a unique writing programme that provides the opportunity to learn the art and craft of screenwriting at an accelerated pace. During this One Year programme students receive expert teaching from working industry screenwriters and also work they have written being rehearsed and going into production. After developing their screenwriting skills by working on exercises, scenes and short films, students then go on to focus on writing feature films for which they receive professional script development support before pitching at exclusive meetings with UK literary agents.

Tutors and guest tutors include:

  • Rob Ritchie - Senior Development Executive and former Head of Screenwriting at the NFTS.
  • Michael Robert Johnson - Sherlock Holmes (Guy Richie 2009).
  • Clare Downs - Senior Development Executive whose credits include Blade Runner.
  • Marilyn Milgrom - Senior Development Consultant including New Zealand Film Commission.
  • Dave Mitchell - Dead Fish, Open Water 2.
  • Camilla Bubna-Kasteliz - Script Development consultant for the UK Film Council.
  • Tom Hunsinger - Lawless Hearts, Waking Ned.
  • Central FIlm School London were also delighted to welcome Academy Award Winning screenwriter, the brilliant Sir Ronald Harwood, for a special masterclass this year. Sir Ronald has received three Oscar nominations and won the Oscar for writing The Pianist, directed by Roman Polanski.

Course Highlights

  • Learn to write to professional standards from working screenwriters.
  • Write a complete feature film and 2 further treatments whilst on the course.
  • See your scenes come to life in the hands of award winning film directors.
  • Pitch for your short films go into production whilst on the course.
  • Learn to work with industry film producers.
  • Residential writing trip included.
  • Meet high-profile working industry professionals who tutor on the course.
  • 1-2-1 meetings with London-based talent agents.
  • One Year Unlimited Cinema Pass included courtesy of Cineworld.

The four main aims of the course are:

  • To provide aspiring screenwriters with the opportunity to work with filmmakers in a vibrant creative environment where they can create a reel of produced work
  • To teach new writers how to write feature films.
  • To provide practical training in writing script coverage and working with production companies.
  • To provide all screenwriters on the course the opportunity to pitch their ideas to working literary agents in London.

By the end of the course all students will have:

  • Developed an understanding of writing commercial feature films.
  • Completed an original feature film script.
  • Gained experience of writing professional script coverage notes for a production company.
  • Had scenes or short films staged and shot.
  • Developed a minimum of TWO further feature ideas up to treatment/outline stage.

Teaching Styles

  • The course is delivered over three terms. In the first term students gain a solid foundation in the key disciplines of screenwriting by studying under professional screenwriters. These classes are supplemented by workshops with film directors and professional actors in which students have scenes they have written dramatized. The first term begins with a focus on writing short films which students then pitch to go into production.
  • During the second part of this term students focus more on the craft of writing feature films, which is continued in the second term until students are ready to begin writing their original feature films.
  • In the final term of the course students develop their skills as Script Readers, writing coverage on feature films, under the guidance of one of London's highly respected development consultants.

Student Benefits

  • Final Draft: All students will be given their own copy of Final Draft on day one of the course that they are then able to keep on successful completion of the course
  • One Year Cineworld Unlimited Movie Pass that can be used at any of their 73 cinemas across the UK and Ireland: because we believe it is vital that you writers watch as many films as possible in movie theatres, where they can tune into the audience as well as the film itself, we have gained sponsorship from the Cineworld chain of state-of-the-art cinemas who have generously provided all of our Applied Screenwriting students with this amazing pass.

On Completion

  • Students will be given an exclusive opportunity to pitch their best ideas to major literary agents at a specially arranged pitching panel. This is another way in which Central Film School London provides its students with the very best opportunity to kick-start their careers and get ahead of the competition.
  • All students successfully completing the course will receive the Applied Screenwriting Award at the annual Graduation Screening and Awards Ceremony at BAFTA.
  • Also at the ceremony one graduating student per class will be presented with the “Screenwriter of the Year” Award.

Resources:

centralfilmschool.com

 

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