What does a script editor actually do? Is it really just ‘cutting out the bad bits’? Actually it’s a job that combines diplomacy with practical analysis, so the workshop will fall roughly into two halves: how to read a script, and how to help a writer develop their work.
Participants will be asked to read a short script in advance. We’ll discuss their general responses to the script, and then home in on specifics to reveal the different analytical questions. We’ll discuss how to write notes that are actually helpful for the writer, how to manage notes from other members of a department, and we’ll even stage a role-play in which participants can volunteer to run a fictional script meeting.
We’ll also discuss clips from several films, paying attention to different approaches to visual storytelling, and to different kinds of dialogue. The emphasis will be on film rather than television series, though we will discuss the (sometimes complex) role of the script editor in that context too.
Please note that this is not a step-by-step guide to getting work in the industry; it’s a practical conversation about writing and writers, and how to get the best out of both.
The course supports:
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- Ways of thinking about a script; how to put these thoughts into clear notes.
- How to articulate these thoughts to a writer.
- An understanding of the different roles a script editor might expect to play in the development and production of a film.
Testimonials
“I thought the workshop included all aspects of script editing. Roger has an ease in teaching and explaining specific concepts which was very effective.
He also makes one think outside the box rather than a more academic approach which I thought was more useful.” – Participant, 2024
"It was really helpful and inspiring - wish it could have been more than a day - incredibly useful." - Participant, 2024