Finding Your Voice as a Screenwriter

In a world where countless scripts compete for attention, developing your unique voice as a screenwriter has never been more vital. This course is designed to help you uncover and amplify what makes your storytelling captivating and distinct. You’ll learn how to identify the stories that best reflect who you are and shape ideas that highlight your individuality. Together, we’ll explore how to craft work that not only stands out but also forges meaningful connections with audiences on a deeper level.

How the course is structured:

For six weeks, you will meet as a large group for lecture and generative exercises. Each session will consist of both Instructor lectures and hands-on exercises for participants to complete and share with the group.

What you bring to the course:

• An interest in screenwriting. Creators at any level of experience are welcome to apply. (You do not need to have a screenplay or active project to participate.)

What you’ll get from the course:

• An exploration of “free-writing” as a way to access deeper ideas
• A greater sense of the tones/genres that most speak to you
• How to mine personal experience for creative inspiration
• How to develop engaging, complex characters and relationships
• An understanding of what stylistic tools are available in screenwriting
• How to craft an inciting incident and understand the intentions of your story
• How to create a meaningful emotional center for your storytelling
• How to create a three-act structure for your story
• How to draft the framework and a draft of an outline for your screenplay

This course will:

• Provide tools and techniques to apply to any project.
• Connect you with other creators via a discussion board where you can discuss core concepts and share your work.
• Highlight successful screenplays in a variety of genres, illustrating how they showcase the author’s voice, with opportunities to pose questions to the instructor in an open forum.
• Recommend reading and viewing, but not require work outside class.

For an additional fee of $150, you may elect to meet with your Instructor for a 45-minute 1-1 session during the course term. You would submit work in advance and then in this 1-1 session, your Instructor would provide feedback on one of the following documents (no more than eight pages):

• a synopsis
• a one-pager
• a treatment
• a detailed outline

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available and are considered on a rolling basis as they are received. Those who apply earlier will have a greater chance of getting support. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the registration form and follow the instructions on the left side to fill out a scholarship application.

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.