This course is self-paced and on demand. You can go through the materials and complete assignments at your own pace. There is no instructor or peer interaction in this course.

A world-building script is defined as a screenplay where the writer introduces a new world that has different customs and rules that must be explained. World-building scripts are most often associated with science fiction and fantasy genres because the settings, environments and elements of how the world works and functions, are so completely different from what we experience in our everyday lives. Arguably, every script is a world-building script because the reader is entering the screenwriter’s imagination and must learn the rules of your characters’ realm. Writing a successful screenplay requires a complete understanding of the reality of the fictional world you are creating. Readers need to suspend disbelief and jump into your screenplay with full understanding and awesome wonder.

This course will offer specific tips for creating and implementing advice on building the world of your screenplay. Research advice and tips, strengthening visual storytelling in action paragraphs, developing and implementing settings, examining character and plot conflict as it relates to your settings, and genre consistency, will also be covered in this class. Original and unique worlds will set your script apart from the other screenplays, vying for attention from film executives; this course will also discuss understanding film industry folks’ expectations without compromising your vision and creativity.