Central Film School

Apply now. Course starts 27 September 2010

 

"This is the only screenwriting course I know of where students actually see their scripts go into production, are taught to write to industry standards by working screenwriters and pitch directly to working agents and producers.  I look forward to meeting your next graduates..."

 

Bob Portal (Merchant of Venice, Lord of War, Red, White & Blue)

 

Financial Assistance

Introduction

 

The Applied Screenwriting Diploma is a unique accelerated learning writing programme. During the first six months students receive expert tuition in the art and craft of writing for the screen from working industry screenwriters and also have the opportunity to see scenes and short films they have written being rehearsed and go into production. During the second six months of the course students receive professional script development support whilst writing their feature scripts and developing treatments for further projects in preparation for meeting with UK literary agents.

 

Tutors include:

Michael Robert Johnson - Sherlock Holmes (Guy Richie 2009)

Clare Downs - Senior Development Executive whose credits include Blade Runner

Rob Ritchie - Senior Development Executive and former Head of Screenwriting at the NFTS

Dave Mitchell - Open Water 2, Dead Fish

Camilla Bubna-Kasteliz - Script Editor & Reader for the UK Film Council

Tom Hunsinger - Lawless Hearts, Waking Ned

 

 

Course Highlights

 

 

• Learn to write to professional standards from working screenwriters

• Write a complete feature films and 2  further treatments whilst on the course

• See your scenes come to life in the hands of professional directors

• Pitch for your short films go into production whilst on the course

• Learn to work with industry film producers

• Residential writing weekend in the English countryside included

• Meet high-profile working industry professionals who tutor on the course

• 1-2-1 meetings with London-based talent agents

• One Year Unlimited Cinema Pass included courtesy of Cineworld

• One Year Free DVD rental included courtesy of LoveFilm.com

 

 

 

The four main aims of the course are:

 

 

• To provide aspiring screenwriters with the opportunity to work with filmmakers in a vibrant creative environment and thereby create a reel of produced work

• To teach new writers how to write feature films

 

• To provide practical training in writing script coverage and working with production companies

 

• To provide all screenwriters on the course the opportunity to pitch their ideas to working literary agents in London

 

 

 

by the end of the course all students will have:

 

 

• Developed an understanding of writing commercial feature films

• Completed an original feature film script

 

• Gained experience of writing professional script coverage notes for working production companies

 

• Had scenes or short films staged and shot

 

• Developed a minimum of TWO further feature ideas up to treatment stage

 

 

 

Teaching Styles

 

 

The course is delivered over three terms. In the first term students gain a solid foundation in the key disciplines of screenwriting by study under professional screenwriters.  These classes are supplemented by regular workshops with film directors and professional actors in which students have scenes they have written dramatized. The first term begins with a focus on writing short films which students then pitch to go into production.

 

During the second part of this term students focus more on the craft of writing feature films, which is continued in the second term until students are ready to begin writing their original feature films.

 

In the final part of the course students also receive real commissions to work as Script Readers for production companies during this semester.

 

 

 

Student Benefits

 

 

Final Draft: All students will be given their own copy of Final Draft on day one of the course that they are then able to keep on successful completion of the course

 

One Year Cineworld Unlimited Movie Pass that can be used at any of their 73 cinemas across the UK and Ireland: because we believe it is vital that you writers watch as many films as possible in movie theatres, where they can tune into the audience as well as the film itself, we have gained sponsorship from the Cineworld chain of state-of-the-art cinemas who have generously provided all of our Applied Screenwriting students with this amazing pass.

 

Love Film DVD Subscription: All Applied Screenwriting Diploma students receive membership to  Love Film which provides a library of over 10,000 DVDs to rent, meaning that if a film is on DVD, you will be able to watch it.

 

 

 

On Completion

 

 

Students will be given an exclusive opportunity to pitch their best ideas to major literary agents at a specially arranged pitching panel. This is another way in which Central Film School London provides its students with the very best opportunity to kick-start their careers and get ahead of the competition.

 

All students successfully completing the course will receive the Applied Screenwriting Award at the annual Graduation Screening and Awards Ceremony.

 

Also at the ceremony one graduating student per class will be presented with the  “Screenwriter of the Year” Award.

 

 

Entry Requirements

 

 

As with all full-time courses at Central Film School London, places on the Applied Screenwriting Award are offered selectively to applicants based on their submission materials and performance at interview.  Applicants must be 18 or over.

 

Please note that whilst many students will have already completed Graduate and Post-Graduate degrees, what we are essentially looking for is raw talent and new voices with something to say.

 

Applicants must submit a writing sample demonstrating their creative potential (8 Page Minimum, 20 Page Maximum).

 

Please note that we are happy to conduct telephone interviews for international students.

 

We are currently receiving applications for September 2010.

 

6-9 students per course

 

All candidates are interviewed with selection being based on their application materials, to include: 8-20 Page Writing Sample, CV and 2 references

 

COURSE FEE: £8,950