
Screenwriting: Core Elements
Self-paced course
"Trey Ellis' lectures are awesome, and the feedback from the homework is really motivating."
—Santosh D., Kathmandu, Nepal
Create a treatment for your feature film screenplay idea in nine weeks with an experienced screenwriter as your guide. In this introductory-level self-paced course, you will take this important first step in crafting your screenplay and learn a set of tools that will get you from concept to treatment.
Along the way you will:
- learn the fundamentals of theme and establish yours for your screenplay.
- develop and reveal your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters.
- gain a command of the three-act structure and an understanding of when to break away from it.
- establish conflict and obstacles.
- construct the world and tone for your screenplay.
- layer emotion and emotional truth into your treatment.
- break through your own obstacles as you revise your work.
- understand how to take notes and approach a rewrite.
This is a self-paced course. Self-paced courses allow you to watch pre-recorded lectures at your own pace, while working on deadlines to get individualized feedback on your work.
This course is ideal for:
- first-time screenwriters with a great idea for a film and who could use help with structure, world-building, character development, and deadlines.
- novice writers who have a first draft but want to further hone their structure or character development.
We welcome participants with short film ideas, but the course is designed to teach the feature-length format.
Do you have an idea for a TV (episodic) series? Check out our course, TV Writing: Core Elements (Self-paced).
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.
This course is a part of the Sundance Collab Screenwriting Track which includes the following courses:
- Screenwriting: Crafting Your Short Film
- Screenwriting: Core ElementsYou are currently viewing this item's details.
- Screenwriting: From Outline to First Draft of Your Screenplay
- Screenwriting: Rewriting Your Feature
Have questions? View our FAQ section or contact us anytime at collab_courses@sundance.org.