The
Journey To Becoming a professional writer isn’t always
easy and it is often neccessary to retain a source of income whilst moving
into this new career.
Short
Courses are therefore an excellent solution for aspiring writers who have
other committments.
Generally held at evenings
and weekends, they provide excellent focus and encouragement in the
first steps towards becoming a professional writer. Below are some of
the highest rated courses presently on offer.
ONLINE
Screenwriting: The First Six Steps
An Online Introduction to the Art and Craft of Screenwriting Based on Wendy Henson's book.
www.angelfire-arts.com/online_class.htm
UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles are the main players in screenwriting courses
www.ucla.edu
Web Film School
Part of Dov S-S Simens renowned for his teaching methods, which provide a crash course for writing. Filmmakers like Guy Ritchie, Robert Rodriguez, and Quentin Tarantino are among his alumni who achieved their first successes following his instruction.
www.webfilmschool.com
Worldwide Learn
World directory of writing courses
www.worldwidelearn.com/writing-courses.htm
Writers Boot Camp
Empowers writers and creative professionals to achieve personal and career breakthroughs
www.writersbootcamp.com
WritingClasses.com
The online version of the New York's Gotham Writers' Workshop
www.writingclasses.com
PART TIME
Academi
The society exists to promote literature in Wales and to assist in maintaining its standards by providing a forum for writers.
www.academi.org
Arista Development
Two main development programmes as well as occasional short courses and master classes. Provide specialist training in script development for executives, screenwriters, producers, and other film and TV professionals.
www.aristadevelopment.com/
Arvon Foundation
Courses are one week long and residential in different areas of the UK, offering the opportunity to spend a week with two top class tutors in ideal surroundings.
www.arvonfoundation.org
BBC
The BBC offers short courses in variety of areas; there is, of course, a bias towards training in skills for working in television.
BBC Scotland
Run a course called Migrations to assist screenwriters from ethnic minorities living in Scotland.
BFI
A comprehensive, searchable database run by the British Film Institute and Skillset. It gives details of short (i.e. less than six months) courses in film, television, video, and radio across the UK. It contains over 2,500 entries of courses offered in further and higher education, industry and independent training providers.
Birkbeck
As well as full-time MA courses, run short courses in cinema and screenwriting.
Black Coral
Offers a range of short courses in all areas of film and television. Courses can be tailored to an individual company's requirements.
Carlton TV
Carlton run scriptwriting courses aimed at writing for TV but currently no website exists with details. Contact Kim Oke for details +44 (0)20 7486 6688,
Central Saint Martins
Run a Scriptwriting Summer School, Moving from the initial idea, outline, and treatment, through to a draft screenplay, this course is designed to take film students through the basics of scriptwriting.
www.csm.linst.ac.uk
City College Manchester
15 weeks course held in Wythenshawe. You will study a range of skills in TV Film and video scripts including comedy, documentary horror, and thrillers.
www.ccm.ac.uk
City Eye:
Based in Southampton, Offers: one-to-one tuition, courses on demand. workshops in screenwriting and schemes such as: Poetry For the Eyes (short free film courses for writers/poets)
www.city-eye.co.uk
Connections
Connections Communications Centre offers a variety of courses for unemployed adults and professionals.
www.cccmedia.co.uk/
Documentary Filmmakers Group
The DFG offers training, forums, screenings, and free advice to people wishing to work in documentary films.
www.dfglondon.com
Dingle Writing Courses
Weekend courses offers you a rare experience - the chance to devote time to your writing with the help and guidance of a top published author in a purpose-built residential centre at Inch on the Dingle peninsula
www.dinglewritingcourses.ie
ELF
East London Filmmakers Workshops Open to writers, directors, actors, and indeed anyone in the industry who think they might benefit. They read, rehearse, test-shoot, and view your scripts and scenes on the day.
http://geocities.com/elf0_uk.
First Film Foundation
Run First Feedback a scheme offering development support for writers through workshops and script feedback service’s. First Feedback Yorkshire is a scheme offering development support for black and Asian writers from Yorkshire.
Floodlight
For Greater London only, this is a searchable listing of courses and evening classes.
Geoffrey Parfitt Comedy Scriptwriting
Courses held at Stratford-upon-Avon College Will are particularly helpful for writers working on situation comedy projects, but will also help beginners get started in any form of comedy writing.
www.geoffparfitt.supanet.com
Liverpool University Continuing Education
Writing courses including film, television, theatre, comedy, and sitcoms
www.liv.ac.uk/conted
London Film Academy
London Film Academy offers an Introduction to Filmmaking Certificate (four weeks full-time and nine weeks part-time) and master classes.
London Academy of Film, Radio, and TV
Evening, part-time and weekend courses accompanied by an industry recognised diploma.
Marc Blake's Comedy Scriptwriting
A complete course in concept, sitcom structure and format, character and plotting. Often has special guests in like Simon Nye or Michael Aitkens. Courses are held at the City University London.
www.marcblake.greatnow.com/
MediaXchange
An international media consultancy assisting entertainment industry professionals in expanding their business. Robert McKee Seminars, etc
www.mediaxchange.com
Moonstone
Moonstone works in consultation with the Sundance Institute to develop scripts on residential labs giving participants the opportunity to develop their screenplays with the assistance of some of the world’s foremost screenwriters, offering one-to-one guidance on individual projects.
www.moonstone.org.uk
Metropolitan Film School
Offer a number of educational and recreational courses for amateurs, enthusiasts and professionals interested and engaged in the film industry, run by industry professionals from the National Film and Television School (NFTS), BBC, ITV and leading production companies. Courses are available in London, York, and Southampton.
National Short Course Training Unit
Offer an extensive range of short courses in all areas, aimed at professionals already working in the industry. Courses can be arranged outside the UK or tailored to individual company's requirements.
NOH Budget films.
FREE 12-week Sound and vision Digital Film Course. This course aims to train young people, who would otherwise not have the opportunity, in all the technical skills and disciplines of T.V/FILM Production. Participants will learn all aspects of pre production, production and postproduction 3 days a week and also receive their own copy of a showreel, work with Industry Professionals attend film related events. Interested participants must be aged 16-30 and unemployed.
nohbudgetfilms.freeserve.co.uk
NY Film Academy
Eight week and evening courses in screenwriting. International locations including London
Pilots
Training initiative of the MEDIA Plus Programme of the European Community for the development of scripts for TV fiction. Course’s run in Spain with top industry professionals flown in Seven day Residential and non-residential workshops addressed to professional scriptwriters, script editors, producers.
www.pilotsworkshops.com
Signals Media Arts Colchester
This 22 week part time intensive UK-FILMCOUINCIL script writing course is intended for those who have some experience of writing short stories and scripts. This course demands a high level of commitment and involves a large amount of home work.
http://www.signals.org.uk
Script Factory
Run a range of training programmes across the UK for writers, and people who work with writers.
www.scriptfactory.co.uk
Sources2
Based in Germany, offer courses in script development aimed at professional scriptwriters.
Scottish Screen
Run a course aimed at screenwriters.
Screenwriters' Workshop
A membership organisation, which run the Screenlab programme and a number of other short courses and workshops.
www.screenwritersworkshop.co.uk
Raindance
Run Britain’s annual independent film festival and a number of evening short courses in writing. Also, host weekend workshops by famous screenwriters including Christopher Vogler.
www.raindance.co.uk
UK MEDIA Desk
Run a number of screenwriting programmes, training initiatives with bursaries available.
www.mediadesk.co.uk/england