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SCRIPT READING TRAINING FOR DISTRIBUTORS 2009
Smash hit, Mamma Mia
In association with the Film Distributors' Association
For a fifth year, The Script Factory is delighted to be collaborating with the FDA to provide FREE industry-standard training, exclusively for those currently working in distribution, in the art and business of reading scripts.
As a distributor, are you as confident in debating a good or bad script as you are a good or bad film? Could you have identified the potential future fortunes of a 'small' Brit pic film like London To Brighton or In Bruges, or realised the juggernaut status of pictures like American Beauty, Juno, or Mama Mia, by simply reading the screenplay cold? This programme offers a structured approach to reading and assessing feature projects, which aims to channel your instinctive response to a script into a thorough analysis of what works, what doesn’t, and why.
If you've already been through The Script Factory's Script Reading for Distributors programme, you may like to know that in 2009 we have an additional session for those who want more - click for details of our new Genre For Distributors session.
Script Reading for Distributors
Over an informal training day, we break down and explain screenwriting principles, creating a positive method of script analysis that leads to good practice when considering the potential of scripts and screenwriters.
Sessions have been programmed to prepare you for attendance at various international film festivals with four separate one-day courses scheduled. Choose between two pre-Cannes sessions, a pre-EIFF session or a pre-LFF session.
In BrugesCOURSE OUTLINE
Session One: What’s the story and is it worth telling?
An introduction to analysing screenplays and the methods of assessing their potential for the big screen. This session focuses on defining the premise, identifying the main conflict, the controlling theme, and the structure of the story to consider what makes a screenplay work.
Session Two: Genre
Aiming to give participants confidence in assessing why stories work (or more often, why they don’t), this session focuses on how genre conventions affect the way an audience responds to a film, and how this understanding is a useful tool in story development.
Session Three: Character
A consideration of what makes an effective and engaging screen character asking, how do you decide if the characters are working?
Session Four: Dialogue, Visual Grammar & Pace
Assessing the technical skills required to make the most of the language of cinema, and questioning whether film is the right medium for the writer’s story.
Prior to the course participants will be required to read a screenplay which will serve as a working example throughout the course. A full training pack accompanies the programme, and it's bolstered by a very fine lunch...
HOW TO BOOK
Script Reading Training for Distributors is generously supported by the Film Distributors’ Association. As a result of this support attendance on this course is FREE for anyone currently working in film distribution.
To secure a place on your chosen dates please call Jeni Howland on 020 7851 4890 or email jeni@scriptfactory.co.uk.
2009 DATES
Tuesday 10 March
Wednesday 1 April
Thursday 11 June
Tuesday 29 September
All courses take place at The Soho Theatre in Central London, and run from 10am–5pm.
This is a hugely popular course which has previously welcomed participants ranging from senior executives through to marketing, sales and aquisitions staff from Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Momentum, Metrodome, Pathe, Walt Disney, Icon, Feature Film and many others.
What previous participants on Script Factory Script Reading Training for Distributors programmes have said:
"Thanks for a really useful day - found it very helpful - certainly feel much more confident about script reading now"
"A very user-friendly day with lots of practical advice. I will definitely read scripts with a different perspective from here on in."
"The areas covered will benefit my work now and even more so in the future as we enter into more UK-developed projects... I needed guidance in how I structure my feedback and would certainly like to look at other members of my team attending a similar course."
"Thanks! It was excellent - a really worthwhile day."
STOP PRESS - If you're reading this and you're an AGENT, we have new dates for our Skillset-supported training for Agents coming up in 2009 - click here for full details.
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