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.