Writing for the Screen: Introduction to screenwriting for Novelists, Short Story Writers, Poets, and Playwrights.

Writing for the Screen: 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 to the screen sector 

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 screenwriter and producer and runs the film and TV production company Prelude Content. He produced feature film Verdigris in 2023 which has won awards at festivals around the world and was nominated for 5 IFTAs. He is now in pre-production on his next feature and is developing a slate of film and TV projects. He was previously Head of Development at Danú Media.

Paul wrote and co-produced the feature film The Gift (OC Productions, 15A), which was released in April 2017 and is now on Amazon Prime. He also worked as a storywriter on the Irish TV Drama Fair City.

As a screenwriting tutor, Paul has developed training materials encompassing all aspects of film and TV development, screenwriting and the screen industries. He has delivered classroom and Zoom courses at the National Talent Academies, Screenskills Ireland, the Big Smoke Writing Factory and Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute, he has run free introductory classes and has taught writers on a one-to-one basis. Many of Paul’s clients and students have gone on to enjoy successful writing and film industry careers.

Dates/Duration:  

Hosted in Athlone on Friday 8th & Saturday 9th November 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 one previous piece of work that has been produced or published.

The NTA Film & TV will meet the access requirements of the selected applicants, while adjusting the programme accordingly, and cover the associated costs.

How To Apply: 

Applicants must apply by completing the application form link HERE

This application form will ask you to supply a download link (This will be a link to a folder shared on a service such as Google Drive, WeTransfer, Dropbox etc.) to the following materials.:

• Media CV or professional biography or detailed summary of work to date. (1- 2 pages or filmed statement of up to 3 minute)
• A Personal Statement detailing how this initiative will progress your career (up to 2 pages or filmed statement of up to 3 minutes

Please make sure your CV or statement clearly lists/mentions the two produced or published works

Please address any questions to filmandtv@nationaltalentacademies.ie

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.  

Deadline to apply: 12 noon on Thursday 24th October (note: not oct 31th as previously mentioned)

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 filmandtv@nationaltalentacademies.ie 

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