TheFilmSchool: Substance & Sale Workshop

Taught by Warren Etheredge and John Jacobsen, TheFilmSchool‘s Substance & Sale workshop focuses on two essential questions: how can I improve my script to get it to a level judged professional by professionals, and how can I develop the business skills to market myself and my material?

Substance & Sale Overview

This course takes you through an in-depth development process, asking the same questions that a good producer would: does the screenplay have the underpinnings of a compelling premise? Does your original vision shine through a masterful working of the three-act structure? Does your lead character’s personal journey drive the story forward? Are there key turning points, a powerful scheme for the antagonist, and a number of other specific narrative elements which will catch the reader’s eye? Over three intensive days, we’ll work and rework through these craft issues at a professional level. We’ll also listen to log lines from Participants to make sure there is a story there worth developing. The end result is to learn how to make your script’s key dramatic intentions come across as strongly as possible in the finished work, and at best, this process helps move your material to the next level at the right production company.

Marketing your work

In the evenings, we learn to take off our artistic writing hats and put on the hat of the business person that hides within. All of us possess the skills to market ourselves, we just need to be shown how.

Participate or observe

There are two levels you can choose from to attend this seminar: Participant or Observer. The number of participants is limited to the first 20 that apply, and they should mail a one page synopsis in with their application. They need to agree to be open to criticism as the seminar’s panel determines which aspects of the material should remain intact, be embellished, or significantly changed. Observers attend all seminars and actively participate in discussions, but their work is not examined.

Dates: February 26–28, 2010

Feb. 26 (6:30 PM -10 PM); Feb. 27 (10 AM – 6 PM); Feb. 28 (10 AM – 6 PM)

Location: Seattle Center, The Alki Room (future home of TheFilmSchool)

QUOTES from last year’s attendee evaluations:

“Warren and John are awesome teaching partners!”

“This is the perfect next step after TheFilmSchool (3-Week-Intensive).”

“Detailed examination of work, helpful next steps to sell my script.”

“Seattle needs more of this.”

One of the most dangerous pitfalls for writers is the belief that their scripts have been fully realized, when in reality they remain obscure or not dramatized to their fullest potential. Failure in this area is perhaps the main reason so many screenplays get passed on by industry story analysts or “readers.”

This course is designed to help you bridge that pitfall.

For more information on how to apply to this course, please see here.