Transferring Creative Writing Skills into Film & TV Drama.

Transferring Creative Writing Skills into Film & TV Drama.

Transferring Creative Writing Skills into Film & TV Drama.  
Introduction to screenwriting for Novelists, Short Story Writers, Poets, and Playwrights. 

This is a two-day workshop aimed at new screenwriters who are transitioning from other creative writing medias

The workshop will be comprehensive and medium-specific, covering all aspects of structure, concept, and story development for film and TV, in order to help writers better understand the elementary tenets of screenwriting. 

COURSE OUTLINE 
MODULE 1 | FILM AND TV CONCEPT & PLOT 
  • Identifying the core differences between Short Story, Theatre, Novel, and Screen stories 

  • Establishing the Concept & Expanding it into a Plot 

  • Elements and Purpose of The Screen Story 

  • Theme & Tone 

  • Identifying the Key Characters and Their Goals – Hero and Villain – and how they are represented on screen 

  • Introduction to Film and Episodic Pacing & Structure 

  • Introduction to Character Development through Action and Dialogue 

MODULE 2 | CREATING THE SYNOPSIS, TREATMENT, BIBLE, AND OTHER MATERIALS 
  • What is a screenplay? 

  • Why is a screenplay so important? 

  • What goes into a screenplay? 

  • What is a synopsis and why is a synopsis so important? 

  • What is a treatment and what is it used for? 

  • What goes into a treatment? 

  • How is a treatment structured? 

  • What is the difference between a treatment and a series bible? 

  • What is a Pitch-Deck and what is it used for? 

  • Other Documents and Their Uses. 

MODULE 3 | WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY 
  • Identifying the core differences between Screen Industries and the Publishing and Theatre Industries 

  • Availing of Funding within the Industry 

  • Working and Collaborating with Creative Communities 

  • Approaching Production Companies 

  • Working with Producers 

  • Collaborating with Directors 

  • Basics of selling TV Dramas to Broadcasters and Streamers 

  • Basics of selling to the Film Industry 

By the end of the course, a writer entering the screen sector from another industry will have the competence and confidence to create a film or TV story, write the screenplay and other necessary materials, as well as to approach producers, script-editors and funding bodies. 

 

COURSE PROVIDER | PAUL FITZSIMONS 

Paul FitzSimons is a writer and producer and runs the film and TV production company Prelude Content. He is developing a slate of film and TV projects and recently completed production of the feature film Verdigris. He was previously Head of Development at Danú Media, designing their slate and bringing projects through development to production. 

Paul is also a writer, script consultant and tutor. The feature film The Gift (OC Productions, 15A), written and co-produced by Paul, was released in April 2017 and is now on Amazon Prime. 

Paul also worked as a storywriter on the Irish TV Drama Fair City. 

After running a script-consultant practice, Paul developed training materials, enveloping all aspects of screenwriting and the screen industries. He delivered classroom and Zoom courses at Screenskills Ireland, the Big Smoke Writing Factory and Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute and to writers on a one-to-one basis. Many of Paul’s clients have gone on to enjoy successful writing careers. 

Paul subsequently expanded the material and modelled it into an additional modular training course, allowing writers to use the material on a time and cost basis that suits them. 

 

Dates/Duration:  

Hosted in Galway City on Tue June 20th & Wed June 21st  from (approx.) 10.30am - 5.00pm 

Who Can Apply:  

This course is designed for writers who are established in other mediums outside of Screenwriting but who are now interested in moving from other creative writing media into film & television writing. Example: novelists, short story writers, graphic novel writers, poets, and playwrights. 

Writers must have at least two previous pieces of work that have been produced or published. 

This is open to applicants who are habitually resident in the regions (outside Dublin/Wicklow) and/or who identify as diverse, who live regionally or inside Dublin & Wicklow.

Please see our Diversity & Inclusion Policy

How To Apply:  

Applicants must apply by completing the application form link HERE

Deadline to apply: 5PM, Fri June 2nd 

Applicants will be asked to provide a CV and a cover letter. Please make sure your CV or cover letter clearly listed/mentions the two produced or published works.

Selection Process:  

Applications will be assessed by a selection panel.  Selected applicants will be notified approximately one week after the application deadline.  

Further Information:  

For questions, please email eibh.collins@nationaltalentacademies.ie 

 

The National Talent Academy is an initiative of Screen Ireland. The NTA for Film & TV is managed by Ardán.