Eight Essential Screenwriting Principles
Many things are converging just now: The Quest, Go On Your Own Quest. Plus starting next Monday, I will be teaching Core II: Concept, the second of eight Core classes through Screenwriting Master Class on a bi-weekly basis through November 11.
One of the most important lessons we all took from the run-up to and experience of “Go Into The Story: The Quest” was a reminder how of critical it is to work with a good story concept. Manager-producer Gavin Polone drove home this exact point in a recent column. Here is the money quote:
“People pay money for concepts. Having a star doesn’t matter. There are a couple of stars who work within a concept. Daniel Craig is the best example; he hasn’t worked outside Bond. There is a legitimacy in Liam Neeson. I feel that Brad Pitt legitimized Inglourious Basterds. It made it mainstream. But if you have to take a leap with the concept, like on [Johnny Depp’s] Rum Diary, then it doesn’t matter. I’d rather have a $6 million actor and a good concept than someone else for $15 million and hope that the concept works.”
I’m not sure you can find a more thorough and helpful resource on generating, developing and assessing story concepts than Core II: Concept. For more information and to learn how you can redeem your entry into “The Quest” initiative for a free Core or Craft class, click continue.
The Core curriculum, a combination of 48 lectures, dozens of insider tips, and a series of short, but effective writing exercises to put theory into practice, is based on what I consider to be Eight Essential Screenwriting Principles. They are:
1. Plot = Structure.
2. Concept = Hook.
3. Character = Function.
4. Style = Voice.
5. Dialogue = Purpose.
6. Scene = Point.
7. Theme = Meaning.
8. Time = Present.
Each Core course builds off the foundation of those principles, exploring subject areas in depth, and from a specific point of reference, what I call a character-based approach to screenwriting. Here is the schedule of Core classes:
Core I: Plot [July 23-July 29, 2012 / Completed]
Core II: Concept [August 6-August 12, 2012]
Core III: Character [August 20-August 26, 2012]
Core IV: Style [September 10-September 16, 2012]
Core V: Dialogue [September 24-Septemger 30, 2012]
Core VI: Scene [October 8-October 16, 2012]
Core VII: Theme [October 22-October 30, 2012]
Core VIII: Time [November 5-November 11, 2012]
Each is a 1-week online class that includes 6 lectures written by me, forum Q&A, a 90-minute teleconference with class participants and myself, and the opportunity to workshop one of your stories.
You may take individual classes or a new offer: The Core Package. For almost 50% off, you can enroll in all eight classes. Furthermore you may choose to do each 1-week session from now through November or you can opt to have access to The Core Package site with all 48 lectures, insider tips and writing exercises to go through at your own pace. That option also includes two teleconferences with me.
Finally as you may recall, I promised every person who submitted a logline for “The Quest” a free Core or Craft class. Obviously I wasn’t expecting 1500+ entrants, but I’m a man of my word. So here is an opportunity for another complimentary class:
* The first five people to post a request in comments here can take the upcoming Core II: Concept course for free. I will make the same offer for each of the Core and Craft courses as they come up on the schedule through the end of the year. Remember: You must have submitted a logline to the recent “Quest” initiative to qualify for a free Core or Craft class.
* If you don’t want to wait around for a class or if you would prefer, I can send the six Core II: Concept lectures to any other “Quest” entrants. Just email me with your request and that will act as an equivalent of your complimentary class. This has proved to be a popular option as I’ve probably given away 100 complimentary classes via lectures.
For those who did not enter “The Quest,” consider taking Core II: Concept which starts next Monday. Or if you are interested in learning what I think is a unique take on screenwriting theory and practice, save nearly 50% by signing up for The Core Package, and learn all about Eight Essential Screenwriting Principles and a comprehensive, coherent, character-based approach to the craft.
I look forward to the opportunity to work with you.
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