Developing the Narrative Foundation of Your Screenplay
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About this Self-Paced Course
Interested in this course? Although we do not have a self-paced session available at this time, please check out Developing the Narrative Foundation of Your Screenplay (On Demand) to take the course in an On Demand format!
The challenge of writing a feature-length screenplay isn’t starting - it’s choosing the right idea and then sustaining dramatic tension for two hours. The story demands a central dramatic problem powerful enough to drive the entire script, and finding the perfect conflict is often the hardest part of the journey.
In this self-paced course, veteran screenwriter David Schwab provides the essential process for testing your ideas and building narratives that truly last.
You will master the crucial skill of defining your script’s narrative core:
- Identify the dramatic problem that can serve as the high-stakes engine of a feature-length film, preventing your story from running out of steam.
- Unearth and vet compelling story concepts through focused research, ensuring both authenticity and narrative depth.
- Discover strategies to isolate your script’s core themes and build conflict and tension that directly engage a sophisticated audience.
By the end of this course, you won’t just have an idea; you’ll have the complete narrative framework and the confidence to begin writing your screenplay.
This course builds upon a previous Sundance Collab Master Class. The course will feature insights from Schwab and special guests:
- Oscar nominee Tamara Jenkins (The Savages)
- Two-time BAFTA nominee Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding)
- Sundance Film Festival winner Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)
In this course, you will learn:
- Where to find inspiration in your everyday life
- How notable filmmakers developed their work
- How to use your personal history to craft cinematic stories
- How to conduct research
- How to identify dramatic problems
- What is necessary to create meaningful stories you can stick with
- How to visualize your story with lookbooks
- When to commit to your next story
- How to develop your protagonist and their story arc
Who this course is for: This course is ideal for aspiring and established screenwriters looking for inspiration on their next project.
Additional Benefits: Your enrollment includes a workbook and access to several additional videos from Sundance Collab's Video Library.
Live Interaction and Support:
- Weekly Group Office Hours: Join our live online sessions with a Sundance Collab Advisor. This is your opportunity to ask questions, discuss challenges, and get real-time feedback in a supportive group environment.
- 1-on-1 Sessions (Additional $150): For more personalized support, you can book a 60-minute, 1-on-1 meeting with another Sundance Collab Advisor to receive guidance on your story idea.
Sundance Collab provides accommodations and support services to participants with disabilities. Accommodations and services are designed to meet the needs of each participant. Please email us at accessibility@sundance.org to arrange for services.
Self-Paced CourseOutline
Topics covered include:
- Course Overview
- Finding Inspiration
- Trey Ellis on Building Your Storytelling Toolbox
Topics covered include:
- Learn from the Masters: Write from Your Own Experience
- Conducting Research
Topics covered include:
- Importance of Dramatic Problems
- How to Introduce Your Protagonist and World of Your Film
Topics covered include:
- Bringing Your Story to Life: Insights with Tamara Jenkins and Mira Nair
- Committing to Your Vision: Insights from Destin Daniel Cretton
- Sterlin Harjo on Representation in Storytelling
FAQ
Sundance Collab’s Self-paced courses provide flexibility to complete the work on your own time, but also within a structured timeline that helps you to advance your project. You will travel through the course with a cohort of creators like yourself, and - if applicable - are given assignments with due dates during key weeks of the course:
- Each week you will view pre-recorded lectures by the instructor structured around key topics.
- Post-Video Activities after each session are designed to apply concepts to your own work, and move your project to the next stage.
- If assigned, a course advisor will give you feedback on elements of your work.
- You will have the opportunity to join live class exercises or group office hours, hosted by Sundance Collab Advisors, at critical points in the course to ask questions and discuss concepts.
- In some courses, you will have the opportunity to purchase a 1-on-1 Zoom session with your assigned course advisor.
All members of the Sundance Collab community are welcome to take Sundance Collab Self-paced courses. Please review the course description to ensure the course is a good fit. If you have any questions about a course, please email collab_courses@sundance.org.
Note that each Self-paced course has a registration deadline, so please check the date and time to ensure you don’t miss the cut-off. If the registration window is open, you will see a "Register” button on the course page.
We do not allow creative partners to do our Self-paced courses as a team. However, both creators can individually register for the course.
We often offer a limited number of need-based, full or partial scholarships. Check the course description to see if that course currently has scholarships available. Scholarships are prioritized for one per person per year (from the date of issue). Scholarship applications are available up to one week before the registration deadline. To apply for a scholarship, complete the registration form by clicking the REGISTER button above and selecting the scholarship option, if available.
Applicants will be notified about their scholarship decision prior to the first day of the course. Due to the volume of applicants, we are not always able to provide a scholarship, but we may still offer a spot in the course.In this case, depending on the course, payment plans may be available and can be selected at checkout.
Yes, we offer two or three-part payment plans for Self-paced courses, depending on the length of the course. In all cases, the first payment is due at the point of registration. The remaining payment(s) are spread out throughout the course term. For specific payment plan dates for a course, please reach out to our team at: collab_courses@sundance.org.
In courses with live class exercises or group office hours, the sessions are recorded and usually made available within two business days. The videos will also contain the chat and transcript from the session, viewable in the video playbar.
Participants will have access to the lecture recordings and course materials for one year following the last class session.
All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion. The certificate will include the name associated with your Collab account.
You can find any courses that you are enrolled in or have already completed in the profile section of your Collab account under “Courses.”
You can access the course videos via a computer or mobile device. All of our live class exercises and group office hour sessions are conducted via Zoom.
Download and set up the Zoom software (https://zoom.us/download) and make sure you have the latest update. Here are some great resources from Zoom’s Knowledge Base to take a deeper dive into using Zoom:
- Watch Zoom's Video Tutorials or review training materials on the Getting Started page
- Join a Live Training from Zoom
If you have any further questions, please email collab_courses@sundance.org.
Sundance Collab provides accommodations and support services to participants with disabilities. Please contact us at (435) 776-7790 or email us at accessibility@sundance.org to ask any questions or to discuss your specific needs after you have been accepted into the course.
No currently scheduled sessions
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