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Class > Screenwriting 101

SCREENWRITING 101 Testimonials

Chris's student D. Martin Watson has his first movie in the CAN! Take this TOP internet class now!!

student tchristianpep wrote of Screenwriting 101, "[Chris] Your class is so informative no one needed to ask questions."

student gwriter9896 wrote of Screenwriting 101, "I feel now I have a somewhat better understanding of script writing. I really am enjoying this course."

student bertha16 wrote of Screenwriting 101, "...the materials up to five have been great"

"Rated BEST online Screenwriting Class" by Screenwriter's Monthly Magazine!

Screenwriting 101 is an online class for writers wanting to brush up on the fundamentals. For four weeks you will interact and study under the guidance of your instructor to jumpstart your writing and hit the ground running. (Register below).

The class presents the fundamentals of screenwriting: character development, plot development, structure, conflict, and dialogue. A great class for those wanting to get a fresh take on the craft of screenwriting as well as beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals. Students gain enough knowledge to continue writing their screenplay, start their first screenplay, and finish.

Course Certification?: Yes!, you receive a certification of successful completion!
Course Format: Online
Course Length: 4 week(s)
Cost Was: $100 Your Cost: $75
Start Date: First of every month
Text: Provided with tuition. Screenwriting 101 by Chris Wehner (e-text, online), and Who Wrote That Movie?: Screenwriting in Review 2000-2002 (2003), by Chris Wehner. ($25 worth of text books included in cost of class!)

(Students get both software and book)

Why take a class? Every year about 50,000 or more screenplays will be registered with the Writers Guild of America and other services. Less than 1,000 will be purchased by Hollywood studios and producers. The competition is fierce. You're competing with professionals as well as everyone else. Start your screenwriting career (or first screenplay) by taking a professional level class taught by a professional.

Start Registration:


Class space is limited so reserve your space now for the next class.

Class Goals:

  • Reading (e-text), movie analysis, and some writing exercises
  • Lectures on fundamental concepts
  • Present work for critique

Course Outline
Class Breakdown by Week:

WEEK ONE: What Makes A Great Story!?
WEEK TWO: The Structure of Drama & Writing the Scene
WEEK THREE: Your First Ten Pages
WEEK FOUR: Avoiding Second Act Pitfalls

Topics Covered:

  • Finding the Heart of your story
  • Plot or Character driven, which is best?
  • Cause and Effect  (Characters and Plot)
  • Thinking about Characters
  • Fully fleshed Characters
  • The Paradigms of a Story

Screenplay Structure (This is not a discussion on simply the 3-Acts, every story has a beginning, middle, and an end or it would not be a story, and we're only interested in writing screenplays with a story.)

  • What is Structure and why is it important?
  • What Structure best suits your Story?
  • Structure and Genre
  • Classic Structure: Linear, Journey, Chase, Search
  • Types of Alternative Narrative Structure
  • Writing your first ten pages
  • The Setup: the or else scene
  • Establishing genre and drama
  • Connecting the Audience
  • Case Studies
  • Looking Ahead towards your Second and Third Acts (setups and payoffs)
  • Writing the Scene
  • Types of Scenes
  • Scene Dialectics
  • Ins and Outs
  • Functions
  • Structures
  • Sequences

Who designed this course?

The instructor is Chris Wehner, a published author, journalist, critic and professional screenwriter. He has worked in the field for over 10 years. He was recently Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Screenwriter's Monthly and VP of Development for MoviePartners. Currently his screenplay, EL CAMINO, is in development with Golden Light Films in Los Angeles and is scheduled to go into production early next year. He recently (09/2005) optioned his latest script, THREESOME, to producer Ted Melfi and is scheduled to go into pre-production this year. His book, Screenwriting on the Internet: Researching, Writing & Selling Your Script on the Web was a Top Seller at The Writer's Store and his latest book "Who Wrote That Movie?" has received praise as well.


Do I need any special equipment to take an eClass?

The digital classroom Web site works with every common modern operating system. The best web browsers to use are:

  • Internet Explorer (IE) version 5+ for Windows 98+

  • Netscape version 7+ or Mozilla for MacOS X, Mac 9, and Linux

If you do not have the latest version of one of these browsers, you can just download it for free from these websites:


Do classes meet?

Classes don't meet in the traditional sense. You will participate online

It's already into the month I wish to take the class, can I still take it?

Yes. You can start up to the first live Office Hour, or Chat Room class. The dates are noted at the top of the page. Up to that first class all activities are web-based and allow you to catch up quickly.

Do I have to register to get into class?

Yes. You can start your registration process below
Testimony (one of dozens!)
Chris,
Would like to take the time to thank you for the notes. Well written and useful. I have enjoyed the experience: as it has helped me identify what I am doing both right and wrong.
- Sean S.

Did You Know?

The average payment to a feature writer or team in 2003 was $654,000. - Source Hollywood Reporter

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