Workshops

Writers' Gym I: Practical Tools for Creative Screenwriting
with Ellis Freeman

8-week evening course

Monday evenings 6.30 - 8.45pm

Next course: 11th October - 29th November 2010

Application deadline: Friday 10th September

 

“Ellis is an inspirational tutor. His approach to writing is so relaxed, it removed all pressure from our shoulders and allowed the creativity to flow out of our brains and onto the page. Ellis taught us that little by little (and often) the challenge of writing a screenplay isn’t so scary.” Caroline Clark, TV Producer & Writers' Gym I participant, Autumn 2009.
Click here for more testimonials.

 

Introduction

As a screenwriter, maintaining a playful element to your work and approaching writing as a fun activity can sometimes be a challenge. If you are enjoying the process, it will enliven the work you do. But how can this be sustained?

Over eight weeks the Writers' Gym aims to stimulate ideas through play, helping each writer develop their stories and find their voice. The classes consist of a mixture of games, exercises and explanations of different aspects of screenwriting.

As well as seeding new ideas, the aim is to open participants' minds to new ways of thinking. Too often, screenwriting tuition is based around structure and analysis. In the Writers' Gym we seek to nurture the creative and intuitive side of our brains - the side which generates material with emotion, energy and honesty.

Our goal is to help participants relax and identify the stories they want to tell, and to offer a safe 'incubator' for new ideas. By the time you leave, we want you to be ready for inspiration whenever it hits.

“Ellis really knew how to encourage us and fire up our imaginations. We were never nervous of going off in daft directions in search of a story. The Writers' Gym is the best thing I've done all year, beyond a shadow of a doubt. I really looked forward to Mondays!” Maria Lennon, participant Summer 2010

 

Course Outline

Themes for the classes include:

  • Inspiration and Creativity
  • The Writer's Voice
  • Character and Character Development
  • Storytelling, Plotting and Structuring
  • Themes, Premises and Beliefs
  • Emotions and Empathy
  • Feedback: Giving and Receiving

We will pay attention to the writing process and look at different ways of promoting regular writing habits. Participants will be expected to keep a notebook and to complete homework exercises to allow for maximum benefit.

Working alone, in pairs and in groups, participants will also have the opportunity to improve their teamwork skills - essential for working in such a collaborative industry.

By the end of the course each writer will have developed a story idea, on which they will have received feedback. The idea can be for a feature, a short or even for a television series. We are more interested in compelling stories than the formats they take.

“The Writers' Gym delivered on its promise, in spades. By approaching this course in a dedicated and enthusiastic manner, it would be almost impossible not to gain a great deal and see your writing methods mature significantly. I noticed the progress I was making very quickly.” Jonathan Webb, participant Autumn 2009

 

Maximum Participants: 9

Fee: £420.00

 

Ellis Freeman - Tutor Profile

With a background in print and TV journalism, Ellis has been writing screenplays for over ten years. He has had commissions from BFI, Channel Four, The Film Council, Rai (Italy), Fox Searchlight and the MEDIA programme.

With Brazilian director, Henrique Goldman, he wrote 'Princesa', a feature about a transvestite prostitute living in Milan. The film was screened at the Sundance festival 2001 and has been released in the US, UK, France, Germany and Scandinavia. He also co-wrote 'January 2nd', a comedy feature for Matt Winn which screened widely at festivals. He is currently developing projects for Sixteen Films and Round Table Productions.

Ellis began teaching at the London Film School six years ago with script workshops on the MA Filmmaking course and now teaches on the MA Screenwriting. In February 2006, he led the first Writers' Gym workshop as part of the Scenario festival at the Institut Francais. Using this experience, he developed the Writers' Gym into an evening class to help new writers find their voice, develop ideas, gain writing habits and stretch the mental muscles you need for writing screenplays.

 

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How to apply

We welcome applications from both aspiring screenwriters and those with a little experience.

Please submit the following items (email applications preferred):

  • Personal Statement (i.e. a few brief paragraphs explaining why you’re applying for the course, what you hope to gain from it etc.)
  • 3 page writing sample (this can be any kind of fiction writing)

The application deadline for our Autumn 2010 course is Friday 10th September.

Offers will be made by Friday 17th September, once all applications have been considered.

Email us:
Carolyn Atherton:
workshops@lfs.org.uk

Postal Address:
Workshops Admissions,
The London Film School,
24 Shelton Street,
London, WC2H 9UB, UK

Telephone us:
+44 (0)20 7836 9642

Fax us:
+44 (0)20 7497 3718

 

 

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