What makes a compelling scene? Is there a way to approach writing, and the all-important rewriting? With the Galway Film Centre/RTÉ Short Script Award deadline fast approaching (approx late Feb/early March 2012) where 2 awards of €9,500 are given to 2 filmmakers to make their films, this practical workshop will help you to improve and refine your scene writing skills. These can be applied to shorts or features. Working over 2 days, you will write different sorts of scenes looking at:
- the dramatic structure
- the scene objectives
- the beats
- the function of the scene
- if there is a theme underlying the action (what you’re giving the actors to ‘play’)
- are you using props and physicalising the conflict through action
- whether there is actually anything ‘in play’, or the scene simply seems to lead to a predictable outcome with no sense of anything really being at stake.
Participant Profile:
Writers should come with a definite story idea in mind – or better still, a 3 – 8 page Treatment. You can then pick out scenes from your film story to write during the workshop.
About the Tutor: Mark McIlrath is a script editor based in Venice, who works on feature film projects in Ireland, Italy, France and the UK. He has been through the Arista and North by Northwest programmes. He is a regular contributor to Scriptwriter magazine and other publications, on script editing theory and practice.
More Info: Contact Mary Deely at 091-770748 or email education@galwayfilmcentre.ie
What past participants say about Mark’s other courses:
His years of experience shine through and I still use his teachings in my own writing today. Highly recommend for any writer who wants to bring their project to the next level, and then some.
Matthew Roche (Writer of Till Death Do Us Part, Winner of RTÉ/Filmbase Short Script Award, 2009)
Mark’s course is hugely educational and beneficial, whether you are interested in pursuing story editing or simply gaining more insight into your own writing. And Mark stays in touch after the course is over, providing highly useful tips and guidance. He is a friend and mentor as much as he is a teacher.
Shane Perez (Writer of Blood and Sand, Winner of London Independent Film Festival Best Screenplay, 2009)
