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Advanced Screenwriting and Story Solutions with Adam Simpson

8 weekly sessions on campus, on Wednesdays at 6 - 8pm, starting from Wednesday 7 October

Overview

No screenwriter has ever been told their work is perfect without needing changes. Rewriting is essential and can be highly rewarding. In rewriting courses, each student faces unique challenges. Writers often cling to their words, but accepting feedback can elevate their work and growth as screenwriters. The ability to rewrite distinguishes professional screenwriters from amateurs. In the course "Advanced Screenwriting and Story Solutions," award-winning writer Adam Simpson delves into the nuances of rewriting and offers a condensed approach to screenwriting.

Successful stories, irrespective of genre—be it "Inception," "Avatar," or "Rocky"—share common structural elements that resonate with audiences. Adam emphasises a structured approach to storytelling, providing a sequence of events that progresses the narrative without gaps, ensuring an engaging and coherent script. This course isn't about producing formulaic scripts but encourages deep creativity to produce emotionally compelling and complex screenplays.

This course is tailored for those who have completed a screenplay draft, seasoned writers aiming to enhance their craft, and past attendees of the Scriptwriting for TV and Film course.

Syllabus

Objectives:

  • Learn the process of rewriting
  • Receive and organize notes
  • Create a strategic game plan
  • Execute the game plan through a series of focused passes
  • Strengthen the main character’s story and arc
  • Strengthen elements of conflict through relationships
  • Add layers of complication and conflict
  • Receive a last set of notes to revise after the class is completed


Week 1    

  • Discuss overview of the class and approach to rewriting. 
  • Students should organize their notes into categories such as: theme, character development, story points, scene work, relationships. 

Week 2         

  • Critique the students' screenplays. 
  • Alternating assignments for each group will continue until the students begin rewriting. From that point, the students will be working on the same weekly assignments.
  • The Annotated Draft
  • Game Plans
  • The Set-Up
  • Structure, Plot and Interim Draft Feedback

Week 3

  • Review and discuss premise, story, and character fundamentals. 
  • Opposition Characters
  • Relationships
  • Dialogue
  • Assignment: Students begin to re-outline screenplays. 

Week 4    

  •  Review and give notes on outlines.
  • Reveals and Reversals.
  • Character growth arcs. 

Week 5  

  • Complete review of outlines. 
  • Story links in every successful film.
  • Assignment: Rewrite the first act. Establish and set up the main character’s story as well as the main plot problem

Week 6         

  • Read and critique pages. Give notes going forward. Discuss each students’ set-ups in first half of the screenplays. 
    Shaping Act 1.
  • Assignment: Rewrite 30 pages. Reach the mid-point. Discuss the Mid-Point Plot Turn. Explore character development and relationship complications throughout the second act.

Week 7

  • Read and critique pages. Discuss second act obstacles and complications. 
  • Shaping the first half of Act 2.
  • Assignment: Rewrite 25 pages. What are the obstacles the main character must overcome?

Week 8

  • Read and critique pages. Discuss the importance of reaching a high-point/low-point at the end of the second act where the main character must be in the highest point of jeopardy both emotionally and physically. 
  • Shaping the second half of Act 2
  • Assignment: Rewrite 25 pages.

Course lecturer

Represented by Alexandra Cory and Julia Wyatt at Berlin Associates, Adam is a playwright and Royal Television Society Award-winning screenwriter. His TV drama, One More Unfortunate, was short-listed for the Red Planet Prize.  The subsequent stage adaption was performed nationwide. His next play, Saved by the Bell Jar, was shortlisted for the Bruntwood International Prize for Playwriting and is in development with BBC Radio Drama North and the Liverpool Everyman. He has penned episodes for continuing dramas across multiple platforms and has written for Jimmy McGovern’s MOVING ON for BBC1. Adam’s first episode, BEATEN, was Sunday Times Critic’s Choice. He’s written extensively for the Guardian and worked with both the Guardian and Faber on The Secret Teacher Book. Adam is currently writing for Waterloo Road (BBC1) and Hollyoaks (C4, E4) as well as working on original projects and a new, Liverpool-based Netflix drama.

Course fee

  • Standard fee: £135
  • Concession fee: £70