Description
Write a Full Length Feature Film Script
In this course, you will write a complete, feature-length screenplay for film or television, be it a serious drama or romantic comedy or anything in between. You’ll learn to break down the creative process into components, and you’ll discover a structured process that allows you to produce a polished and pitch-ready script by the end of the course. Completing this project will increase your confidence in your ideas and abilities, and you’ll feel prepared to pitch your first script and get started on your next. This is a course designed to tap into your creativity and is based in “Active Learning”. Most of the actual learning takes place within your own activities – that is, writing! You will learn by doing.
Here is a link to a TRAILER for the course. To view the trailer, please copy and paste the link into your browser.
Learner review: “Love the approach Professor Wheeler takes towards this course. It’s to the point, easy to follow, and very informative! Would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in taking a Screenplay Writing course!
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: “I would like to thank this course instructor. It’s an amazing course”
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: “Now I am a writer!”
If you have any concerns regarding the protection of your original work, Coursera’s privacy policy protects the learner’s IP and you are indeed the sole owners of your work.
What you will learn
Week One – 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 Two: 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 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 Four: 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
