What is the Director’s role in shaping a screenplay?

A good script is the bottom line of any film project. Without it you don’t get the commission, the best actors, the desired result. Film and television are collaborative mediums, so how should a Director and a Writer collaborate to achieve the best outcome?

Leading TV and film Director Tim Fywell (RIVER, HAPPY VALLEY, MASTERS OF SEX, GRANTCHESTER) takes you on the exciting and fraught journey from Script to Screen.

Featuring practical writing and directing exercises, and examples of filmed projects – as they appear on the page and in their final incarnation on screen - this is a weekend course for Directors and Writers who want to up their game.

Participants must have good written and spoken English and will need to be able to send a 2-3 page sample scene from a script they are working on (as either Director or Writer) ahead of the workshop. This will be explored throughout the course.

Course Outline

1.    The First Read

How to read a script for the first time. How much should you know in advance – about the Writer, the source material, the background to the project? How do all those things affect your crucial first reading? How do you keep your reactions fresh and open?

2.    The First Meeting

Usually the first meeting with the Writer takes place with the Producer and Script Editor present. Is this a good thing? Should you try to meet the Writer on your own first? How do you handle the complex Producer/Writer/Script Editor relationship in a creative and harmonious way?

3.    Developing the Script

All scripts, however good, need some work. TV and Film are collaborative mediums between Writer/Director/Producer/Actor/Director of Photography/Designer etc., and the Director needs to find an overall vision for the piece to realise it most thoroughly. How do you best achieve this in conjunction with the Writer?

• Bringing the characters to 3-dimensional life.
• Dialogue – When is it necessary? Too much or too little dialogue can hugely affect the final product.
• Finding the dramatic arc of a scene.
• Shaping the whole story - How to use story beats and outlines to help the Writer, and the Director to realise a common goal.

From first reading to read-through, and then to first screening, this workshop will take you on this journey.

"This workshop was a great experience, mainly due to Tim - a great teacher who was very open to meeting us all and sharing useful information throughout the two days. He prepared wonderful exercises which were extremely helpful for me as a Writer. He made us feel very comfortable and encouraged us to reach beyond what we believed we could do." Diana, participant January 2013