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Beginning Feature Film Writing: Outline and Act One

DONALD H HEWITT

Beginning Feature Film Writing: Outline and Act One

DONALD H HEWITT

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When you plan a long-distance trip to a place you’ve never been before, do you just hop in the car and start driving and hope for the best? Writing a screenplay is also a long trip into unknown territory. There are hundreds of complex decisions to be made during the trip. That’s why making a few basic decisions before you start can both reduce stress and make sure you’re heading in the right direction.

Whether you are a writer looking to understand the fundamentals of writing for film or a television writer looking to expand your skillset, Beginning Feature Film Writing has invaluable information to offer you. Using detailed analyses of successful scripts, you will discover how film writers maximize the impact of your work using compelling characters and scenes. The writing critiques in this workshop are tailored to develop specific skills needed to succeed as a feature film writer. You will also gain access to a wealth of creative writing prompts.

For students who want a more intensive course that provides a complete understanding of feature film writing all at once, we also offer the course content of Beginning Feature Film Writing: Online and Act One in combination with Beginning Feature Film Writing: Acts II and III in a comprehensive 12-week course, Beginning Feature Film Writing. Take a look!

Join the Waitlist

Subscribe to be notified when this course opens for registration.

When you plan a long-distance trip to a place you’ve never been before, do you just hop in the car and start driving and hope for the best? Writing a screenplay is also a long trip into unknown territory. There are hundreds of complex decisions to be made during the trip. That’s why making a few basic decisions before you start can both reduce stress and make sure you’re heading in the right direction.

Whether you are a writer looking to understand the fundamentals of writing for film or a television writer looking to expand your skillset, Beginning Feature Film Writing has invaluable information to offer you. Using detailed analyses of successful scripts, you will discover how film writers maximize the impact of your work using compelling characters and scenes. The writing critiques in this workshop are tailored to develop specific skills needed to succeed as a feature film writer. You will also gain access to a wealth of creative writing prompts.

For students who want a more intensive course that provides a complete understanding of feature film writing all at once, we also offer the course content of Beginning Feature Film Writing: Online and Act One in combination with Beginning Feature Film Writing: Acts II and III in a comprehensive 12-week course, Beginning Feature Film Writing. Take a look!

Course outline

Course outline

Each session includes a written lecture, a self test to reinforce your learning, creative exercises to take the lesson further, and a writing assignment to turn in for personalized feedback from your instructor.

Meet the instructor

Donald H Hewitt

Donald H Hewitt is a working screenwriter and WGA member with 20 years of industry experience. His feature film credits include the English-language screenplay for the Oscar-winning film Spirited Away, as well as My Neighbor Totoro and Howl's Moving Castle. Mr. Hewitt has written for Pixar, Working Title, Miramax, New Line, ABC Family, Disney and Fox Animation. He is currently writing the upcoming feature Gods of Mars.

Over the last 10 years, Donald has also been a passionate and dedicated screenwriting instructor using his extensive experience to guide students to success. Not only do Donald's students consistently place highly in contests (including winner Johan Ingler, whose script Frankie & Chair is now in production), but many of them have gone on to sell their projects. In fact, just this year 4 students have sold 5 projects. Donald has also had the privilege of working with some of the top producers in the industry, such as: David Heyman, John Lasseter, Peter Chernin, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Charles Roven and Alex Gartner.

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