Mastering the Fundamentals of Scene Writing
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About this Live Online Course
How can you create a scene that fills you with dread like the hypnosis in Get Out? How do you craft a scene that warms your heart like the “you complete me” scene in Jerry Maguire?
In three, two-hour online sessions, you will learn about the art and craft of writing a compelling scene. Using award-winning screenplays as examples, you will deconstruct key sequences, learn how to identify beats, actions, and subtext, and discuss how dialogue can help (or hinder) a scene. Whether you are writing features or for a series, award-winning filmmaker and author Lovinder Gill (Scriptcake Secrets: The Top 10 Mistakes Novice Screenwriters Make and How to Fix Them) will guide you through what makes a great scene and provide tools you can use as you craft your screenplay.
For an additional fee of $100, you can meet with your Instructor for a 30-minute 1-1 session after the intensive to receive feedback on a written scene (up to 5 pages).
What you bring to the intensive:
- An interest in understanding the scene writing process. Creators at any level of experience are welcome to apply.
In just one day, you will:
- learn how to analyze scenes in screenplays
- develop a deeper understanding of how scenes work together to tell the bigger story
- explore tools to create character-driven storytelling and conflict
- master how to identify a scene’s purpose
- understand common mistakes made in scene writing
Intensive Schedule
Friday, March 21:
- Kick-Off Session:
- 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. PT
Saturday, March 22:
- Session 1:
- 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PT
- Session 2:
- 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. PT
- Session 3:
- 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. PT
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.
Live Online CourseOutline
- Kick-Off Session
- 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (PT)
- Session 1
- 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (PT)
- Session 2
- 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (PT)
- Session 3
- 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (PT)
Team
Lovinder Gill
Instructor
Lovinder is an Award-Winning screenwriter/filmmaker and an Amazon International Best-Selling Author for his book, Scriptcake Secrets: The Top 10 Mistakes Novice Screenwriters Make and How to Fix Them. His screenwriting podcast, Scriptcake, has been chosen as one of the Best Screenwriting Podcasts numerous outlets including Script Reader Pro.
He’s taught screenwriting for over twenty years at schools like the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Drexel University, Glendale Community College (AZ), Winston-Salem State University and East Carolina University.
He’s written, produced, and directed three feature films. His most recent film, Seclusion will be released in 2025. He has five produced feature film screenplays including Lost Stallions: The Journey Home starring Hollywood Legend Mickey Rooney and Ball & Chain starring Kal Penn.
FAQ
In Sundance Collab’s Intensives, participants attend live, virtual class sessions in a condensed time period. These sessions are led by an instructor and supported by the Sundance Collab courses team.
All members of the Sundance Collab community are welcome to register for Sundance Collab Intensives. Some Intensives require an application. Please review the description and any eligibility requirements to ensure the Intensive is a good fit. If you have any questions, please email collab_courses@sundance.org.
For application-based Intensives, note that space is limited. Applications are considered as they are received and applicants are accepted on a rolling basis until the Intensive is full or the deadline has passed, whichever comes first. If the application window is open, you will see an “Apply” button on the course page.
We send our application acceptance notifications on a rolling basis, starting after the application deadline. You will be notified of your acceptance status no later than three days before the first session. At any point, you can check the status of a course that you have applied to by logging into Sundance Collab and visiting the course page. You’ll see a purple bar there indicating your status.
When reviewing applications for an Intensive, the Sundance Collab team evaluates the needs and expectations of each applicant. We are also looking to convene a diverse group of participants who will work well together and support each other throughout the Intensive. Finally, we will confirm that the applicant can meet the time commitment necessary and has a strong interest and readiness to complete the Intensive and meaningfully contribute to the group process.
We do not offer any combined applications or discounts for Sundance Collab Intensives.
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 and selecting the option to apply for a scholarship, 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.
No, because of the length of the course, we do not offer payment plans for Intensives. However, we do offer a limited number of need-based scholarships which can be applied for within the course registration process.
Yes, you are welcome to take a live, online Intensive even if you can’t make the live sessions. Recordings of each session are available online within two business days.
All 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 recordings for one year following the last session.
All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion. The certificate will include the name associated with your Sundance Collab account.
You can join a course via a computer or mobile device. All of our Intensives are conducted via Zoom.
Download and set up the Zoom software 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.
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