Screenwriting: Character & Scene

collapse

Course Details

This course can only be taken as part of the Certificate in Writing.

Get Program Details

About this Course


What is a character? Someone in a scene. What’s a scene? An event in which a character desperately struggles to get what they want. Memorable characters will inscribe themselves into your mind and remain there. How do we create memorable characters? Put them in memorable scenes. 

Most enduring films have a great scene at the beginning, middle and end. Few films ever made contain more than five. To write a great film script, you need to write great scenes.

In this course, we’ll take an in-depth look at memorable characters and scenes in a variety of films. We’ll identify narrative patterns and techniques, which will help you find opportunities to elevate the characters and scenes in your work. And we'll shoot two of our scenes during the course in a fast, no-frills, no-budget manner.

Designed For 

Experienced and aspiring screenwriters who want to dig deeper into their writing. If you've already taken Screenwriting: Storytelling, you'll continue working on your screenplay and will finish this course with a completed draft.

What You’ll Learn 

  • Ways to reinforce the three-act screenplay structure and screenplay format
  • Techniques to dive deeper into characters and drive organic conflict within scenes
  • How to workshop script pages like a professional
  • Methods for taking a scene from a page to the screen
  • Strategies for finishing a script on deadline

Get Hands-On Experience

You’ll develop an original screenplay, from idea and outline to the first 10 pages or first act, depending on your experience with dramatic writing.

Program Overview

To earn the Certificate in Writing, complete any three courses in two years or less.

 

You should register for all courses individually; there is no application process for the certificate program.

  Get our email newsletter with career tips, event invites and upcoming program info.       Sign Up Now