Course Dates
Course details
Tutors
Course details
Tutors
Key Features
Aims of the course
- to give participants an introduction to, and overview of the screenwriting process
- to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to develop and write a short screenplay following a step-by-step approach
- to encourage and enable participants to develop their writing skills (in order to write a short screenplay)
Target audience
- participants new to writing for the screen
- creative writers from other disciplines looking to learn about screenwriting
- screenwriters looking to improve their knowledge/understanding of the nuts and bolts of screenwriting
Welcome week (Week 0)
Purpose:
- personal introductions
- introducing the course
- useful reading
- personal objectives
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week, the students should have:
- become familiar with navigating around the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and from VLE to links and back
- test your ability to access files and the web conferencing software and sort out any problems with the help of the Technology Enhanced Learning team
- learn how to look for, assess and reference internet resources
- contribute to a discussion forum to introduce yourself to other students and discuss why you are interested in the course and what you hope to get out of your studies
Teaching Week 1: Ideation
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week, participants should have:
- a solid overview of the screenwriting process
- a knowledge and understanding of how to generate a screen narrative idea
- an understanding of the function of a premise
- a knowledge and understanding of how to write a premise
- an opportunity to write a premise
- an opportunity to pitch a premise
- an understanding of how screen narratives differ from other forms of (creative) writing
Teaching week 2: From premise to outline
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week, participants should have:
- an overview of the meta-elements of a screen narrative: character, theme, and story
- a knowledge and understanding of how to develop a character by identifying a 'want', 'flaw', and 'need'
- an understanding of how to write an effective character profile
- a knowledge and understanding of how to identify and develop a unifying and universal theme within their writing
- a knowledge and understanding of the ten story types and how to apply them
- an understanding of the function of the one-page outline
- an opportunity to apply the above to the writing of a one-page outline
Teaching week 3: From outline to step-outline
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week, participants should have:
- an understanding of how to structure a screen narrative
- a knowledge of the structural frameworks as applied to short film narratives
- an understanding of how to use Active Questions to structure a screen narrative for audience engagement
- an overview of visual storytelling
- an understanding of image systems and visual metaphors
- an understanding of the function of a step-outline
Teaching week 4: From step-outline to draft zero
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week, participants should have:
- a knowledge and understanding of the functions of dialogue in a screen narrative
- an understanding of the functions of subtext in a screen narrative
- an understanding of the do's and don'ts of writing dialogue
- an understanding of how a scene works
- an understanding of how to write an intriguing/engaging opening
- an understanding of how to utilise setting to enhance tension and atmosphere
- an understanding of the function of a draft zero short screenplay
- an opportunity to write and develop a draft zero short screenplay
Teaching week 5: The rewriting process
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week participants should have:
- an overview of the rewriting process
- an understanding of structured rewrites and their function
- an understanding of the function and process of giving and receiving feedback
- a knowledge and understanding of how to enhance mood/atmosphere through sound (effects)
- a knowledge and understanding of how to write effective transitions
- an understanding of how to stress test a screenplay
- an understanding of tone
Week 6: what next?
- assessment of student learning
- assessment of student satisfaction
- encouragement of further study
This course is open to everyone, and you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject to attend.
Our short courses are designed especially for adult learners who want to advance their personal or professional development. They are taught by tutors who are expert in both their subjects and in teaching students of all ages and experiences.
Please note that all teaching is in English. You should have near-native command of the English language to get the maximum benefit from the course.
Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours of self-study time, for example, reading materials, although this will vary from person to person.
While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material).
Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the VLE so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (using discussion boards etc).
Fees
The course fee includes access to the course on our VLE, personal feedback on your work from an expert tutor, a certificate of participation (if you complete work and take part in discussions), and access to the class resources for two years after your course finishes.
Concessions
For more information, please see our concessions information page.
Alison Fordham Bursary
University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education is proud to offer the Alison Fordham bursary, which is awarded to students who wish to study on one of our short online courses via our VLE, reducing the fee paid by 50%. The bursary is limited to a single award for each set of online courses.
Application criteria:
- applicants should set out their personal learning motivations since priority will be given to those who are returning to learning after an extended break, or have not previously engaged with fully online learning, or are seeking to use the online short course as a bridge towards undergraduate award-bearing study
- applicants who can demonstrate financial need
For more information, please see our bursaries information page.
A certificate of participation and a digital credential will be awarded to those who contribute constructively to weekly discussions, exercises and assignments for the duration of the course.
