HOW IT WORKS
This workbook is going to take that great idea you have for a movie and help you transform it into a fully-fledged first draft of a screenplay, and we’re going to do it fast! We’ll take you through a step-by-step guide that’s both simple and efficient, and results in you having a comprehensive blueprint from which to work from.
Not only have we broken down the structure of a screenplay into manageable 15-minute sequences, we’ve also stripped down the development process into achievable 15-minute exercises that’ll take you from concept through to first draft with a structured series of assignments, examples, and handy hints.
Screenwriting isn’t an exact science, this is just one of several methods, and although the emphasis here is on structure and plot development, we don’t want to hamper the creative process. Don’t feel you need to follow the workbook precisely page by page. Each section can be filled in whenever you need and you can go back and forth between sections if required. Get used to making notes, brainstorming, moving things around, and having fun!
Your blueprint isn’t set in stone!
If something isn’t working, change it, cut it, or add something new. This is the place where you can play around and explore every possibility of your story. You can iron out all the big problems here, meaning that when you do finally finish that first draft, it’ll need fewer rewrites further down the line.
Each section offers up a fast track 15-minute exercise to help you establish the basics. Set a timer, focus, and begin training your brain to problem solve quickly, acknowledge the predictable, and avoid it.
If you have the desire and the time to go that little bit extra, we’ve also got 15+minute exercises that’ll take your development to a more advanced stage.
If your idea is already fairly established in your mind, skip ahead to the structure and scenes section. If your idea is still in its early stages, work your way through the concept section in order to cement that brilliant idea into a great one-liner.
We also offer the Workbook as a downloadable file so you can work offline, print out, scribble notes, use it to extend exercises, and go through it at your own pace. Or use it electronically to do the same thing, only remember to save your work (and keep a backup!).
