London Film School, offer full-time MA Degree courses in both Film Making and Screewriting.

“The Writers' Gym delivered on its promise, in spades. By approaching this course in a dedicated and enthusiastic manner, it would be almost impossible not to gain a great deal and see your writing methods mature significantly. I noticed the progress I was making very quickly.” Jonathan Webb, participant Autumn 2009. Click here for more testimonials.

 

Introduction

As a screenwriter, maintaining a playful element to your work and approaching writing as a fun activity can be a challenge. If you are enjoying the process, it will enliven the work you do. But how can this be sustained?

Over eight sessions the Writers' Gym aims to stimulate ideas through play, helping each writer to develop their stories and find their voice. The classes consist of a mixture of games, exercises and explanations of different aspects of screenwriting.

As well as seeding new ideas, the aim is to open participants' minds to new ways of thinking. Too often, screenwriting tuition is based around structure and analysis. In the Writers' Gym we seek to nurture the creative and intuitive side of the brain - the side which generates material with emotion, energy and honesty.

Our goal is to help participants to relax and identify the stories they want to tell. We offer a safe 'incubator' for new ideas. By the time you leave, we want you to be ready for inspiration whenever it hits.

“Ellis really knew how to encourage us and fire up our imaginations. We were never nervous of going off in daft directions in search of a story. The Writers' Gym is the best thing I've done all year, beyond a shadow of a doubt. I really looked forward to Mondays!” Maria Lennon, participant Summer 2010

 

Course Outline

Themes for the classes include:

• Inspiration and Creativity
• The Writer's Voice
• Character and Character Development
• Storytelling, Plotting and Structuring
• Themes, Premises and Beliefs
• Emotions and Empathy
• Feedback: Giving and Receiving

We will pay attention to the writing process and look at different methods for promoting regular writing habits. Participants will be expected to keep a notebook and to complete homework exercises to allow for maximum benefit.

Working alone, in pairs and in groups, participants will also have the opportunity to improve their teamwork skills - essential for working in such a collaborative industry.

By the end of the course each writer will have developed a story idea, on which they will have received feedback. The idea can be for a feature, a short or even for a television series. We are more interested in compelling stories than the formats they take.

Click here to read an interview with Ellis Freeman about the Writers' Gym.

 

Ellis Freeman - Tutor Profile

With a background in print and TV journalism, Ellis has been writing screenplays for over ten years. He has had commissions from BFI, Channel Four, The Film Council, Rai (Italy), Fox Searchlight and the MEDIA programme.

With Brazilian director, Henrique Goldman, he wrote 'Princesa', a feature about a transvestite prostitute living in Milan. The film was screened at the Sundance festival 2001 and has been released in the US, UK, France, Germany and Scandinavia. He also co-wrote 'January 2nd', a comedy feature for Matt Winn which screened widely at festivals. He is currently developing projects for Sixteen Films and Round Table Productions.

Ellis began teaching at the London Film School six years ago with script workshops on the MA Filmmaking course and now teaches on the MA Screenwriting. In February 2006, he led the first Writers' Gym workshop as part of the Scenario festival at the Institut Francais. Using this experience, he developed the Writers' Gym into an evening class to help new writers find their voice, develop ideas, gain writing habits and stretch the mental muscles you need for writing screenplays.

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Capacity: Max. 9 participants
Fee: £480

How to apply

We welcome applications from both aspiring screenwriters and those with prior experience.

Please submit the following items by no later than Fri 10th Feb (email applications preferred):

• Application Form
  (click to download)
• CV

• Personal Statement (i.e. a few brief paragraphs explaining why you’re applying for the course, what you hope to gain from it etc.)
• 3 page writing sample (this can be any kind of fiction writing)

Offers will only be made once the application deadline has passed and all applications have been considered.

Email us:
Carolyn Atherton:
workshops@lfs.org.uk

Telephone us:
+44 (0)20 7836 9642

Postal Address:
Workshops Admissions
The London Film School
24 Shelton Street
London, WC2H 9UB, UK

 

Feedback from previous participants:

“Ellis imbued every one of us with a sense of purpose and a desire to get writing. He made us alert to all the potential stories and ideas that can spring from any and every source.”

"Ellis is an inspirational tutor. His approach to writing is so relaxed . He taught us that little by little (and often) the challenge of writing a screenplay isn’t so scary."

"I needed to write. Just sit down and get on with it. Ellis did everything in his capacity as tutor and mentor to get us to do that."

“Ellis showed us how to build a piece of writing from scratch, and I’ve written more on this course than ever before.”

“Loved it. It was the best investment in my training to date.”

Click here to read more testimonials.