Write A Feature Length Screenplay For Film Or Television (Coursera)

Learner Review from Script Writing: Write a Pilot Script for a TV or Web Series: "Thank you so much for your direct way of teaching this course. It was encouraging for us all to creatively flow and find our own voice in writing and developing our scripts. This aspect was very important to me." Ingrid

The course curriculum is simple: We will adopt a professional writers room process in which you’ll write, post your work for peer review, share feedback with your peers and revise your work with the feedback you receive from your peers. That's how we do it in the real world. You will feel as if you were in a professional writers room yet no prior experience as a writer is required. I'm a proponent of Experiential Learning (Active Learning). My lectures are short (sometimes just two minutes long) and to the point, designed in a step-by-step process essential to your success as a script writer. I will guide you but I won’t "show" you how to write. I firmly believe that the only way to become a writer is to write, write, write.

Learner Review from Script Writing: Write a Pilot Script for a TV or Web Series: “David's lecture style for this course is inspired. The videos are succinct and engaging. When I watch the lectures I feel David’s sincere desire for me to create something truly amazing. He is teaching us how to write a script, and he is providing wisdom and tools that will help us do so in a compelling way - by writing; not by watching him talk at us.” - A R Adamson

What you’ll need to get started: As mentioned above, no prior script writing experience is required. To begin with, any basic word processor will do. During week two, you can choose to download some free scriptwriting software such as Celtx or Trelby or you may choose to purchase Final Draft, the industry standard, or you can continue to use your word processor and do your own script formatting.

Learner Review from Script Writing: Write a Pilot Script for a TV or Web Series: "I am in love with this course. Having never written a script before, I had a small idea in my head that has now exploded into something I really believe in. David's guidance is spot on, he's his own compelling story teller, he gives you enough, and then you have to figure it out, make it happen, WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! "

What You Will Learn

You will learn how to write and complete a full-length, feature film screenplay. You will have a finished script in hand at the end of the course.

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Creating The Idea

In Week One you will create a concept for your feature film, write up a pitch document, post that document, review the pitch documents of five of your peers and revise your concept with the feedback you get from your peers

WEEK 2

Logline and Dramatic Question

In Week Two you will create a Logline and a Dramatic Question for your feature film, post those documents, review the Logline and DramaticQuestion pitches of five of your peers and revise your work with the feedback you get from your peers

WEEK 3

Week Three Create your character profile(s)

In Week Three you will create detailed descriptions of the main characters in your screenplay, post your character profiles, review the character profiles of five of your peers and revise your work with the feedback you get from your peers

WEEK 4

The Three Act Story Arc

In Week Four you will learn about the Three Act Structure for your feature film, you will write an outline for Act One and an outline for the First Ten Pages of your script, review the outlines of five of your peers and revise your work with the feedback you get from your peers

WEEK 5

Screenplay Formatting and Software

In Week Five, you will learn about the unique formatting in screenplay writing and you will learn to use screenplay software. You will become familiar with the software and practice with it, getting ready to begin your screenplay next week.

WEEK 6

Begin your screenplay

Week Six represents the actual beginning of your screenplay. You've created your idea, your logline, the dramatic question, your character profiles. You've outlined Act One and written your outline for your first ten pages. Now you're ready to transform that outline into script form. In this week you will complete the first ten pages of your unique screenplay.

WEEK 7

The middle section of Act One

In Week Seven, you will write an outline for the middle section of Act One. After posting your outline and giving feedback to five of your peers, you will then write pages 11 to 20, post that piece of your screenplay and give feedback to your peers' work.

WEEK 8

Write the final section of Act One

In Week Eight, you will write pages 21-30 which will close out Act One of your screen play. You will post your work and review the work of five of your peers.

WEEK 9

Table read Act One

In Week Nine, you have the week off from writing. This week, you will get together with a few friends and read Act One of your screenplay, focusing on the dialogue.

WEEK 10

Begin Act Two

In Week Ten, you will write part one of Act Two (pages 31-40)

WEEK 11

Write pages 41-50

In Week Eleven, you will write pages 41-50 of your screenplay

WEEK 12

Write pages 51-60

In Week Twelve you will write pages 51-60 and will pass the halfway point of your screenplay.

WEEK 13

Write pages 61-70

In Week Thirteen you will write pages 61-70, pushing your screenplay towards the end of Act Two.

WEEK 14

Write pages 71-80

In Week Fourteen, you will finish up Act Two, writing pages 71-80

WEEK 15

Table read Acts One and Two

In Week Fifteen, you have the week off from writing. Instead, you will get together with a few friends and read Acts One and Two of your screenplay, focusing on the dialogue.

WEEK 16

Write pages 81-90

In Week Sixteen, you will begin the final act of your screenplay.

WEEK 17

Write pages 91-100

In Week Seventeen, you will write pages 91-100, completing the middle section of Act Three

WEEK 18

Finish Act Three

In Week Eighteen, you will write pages 100-110, finishing the final Act of your screenplay.

WEEK 19

Table read your entire script

WEEK 20

Finishing things up.

In Week Twenty, you will post your completed, polished script and review the finished work of three of your peers. Then you will write a cold open for your screenplay and a synopsis to submit to agents and producers.