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Screenwriting 101

4 Units - 11 video lessons

Intro to Screenwriting
Welcome to this screenwriting course. In this course, I am going to take you from the basics of screenwriting, taking an idea, developing and getting the structure correct, and then learning how to write. You are going to learn the tools you need to write, and ultimately what to do after you finish writing, editing, and rewriting. Then also the business of screenwriting.
01:19
Screenplay Formatting
In this video, we will talk about the basics of screenwriting, including what a screenplay is and screenplay formatting. I am going to take you from not knowing anything to have you working on your script. The goal of the class is to have a completed beat sheet so you can start to begin your first screenplay. In this video, you will learn about screenwriters, screenplay, how long it takes for me to write a script, elements of a scene, formatting, and much more. You will also see what a script should look like.
10:43
What is a good idea?
Hopefully, by now, you have read and familiarized yourself with the formatting and are getting ready to come up with a good idea, which we will cover in this course. In this video, you will learn what constitutes a good idea, how to get ideas, how to test ideas, iceberg storytelling, what makes a good story, and much more.
10:56
Develop Your Idea
You will learn to flesh out your idea into a full length screenplay.
32:19
Screenplay Structure
Students will learn what the major moments are in a screenplay and how to properly structure a movie. In this video, you will learn about the three act structure, major moments hierarchy, inciting incident, plot point, midpoint, climax, and much more. At the end of this lecture, you will come up with the major moments for your screenplay!
32:19
Character Development
Students will learn how to develop strong and interesting characters. In this video, you will learn how to find out if your character is going to be simple or complex, how to give your character a name, how to make strong choices about your character, the three kings of arcs, and much more. After this class, you will fill out the character breakdown exercise to help you develop your characters.
30:24
Drafting your Screenplay
In this video, you will learn about the beat sheet, which is the most challenging part of the entire process, what a beat sheet looks like, how to define a character, and much more. At the end of this lecture, you would have learned how to outline your own screenplay.
27:39
Schedule and Writing Action
The first and most important thing I do in order to understand what I’m working on is the writing schedule. In this lecture, you will learn tools to create your own writing schedule, learn how to write visually, and how to write effectively.
36:10
Dialogue
Good action or dialogue should move the story forward and /or give information about the character. In this lecture, you will learn tools to help them begin writing dialogue. You will learn how to show not tell, how to use proper punctuation, how to write between the lines and not on the nose, and much more.
24:51
Formatting and Openings
In this video, you will learn more about formatting and begin writing your opening beat, what not to do in a screenplay, writing the opening image, the most common types of openings, things to do, things to avoid, and much more.
17:34
Business of Screenwriting
In this class, we will be covering protecting your work and some things you need to create in order to help sell it. You will learn how to protect your idea to avoid it from getting stolen, how to register with the Writers Guild of America (WGA), how to register with the copyright office, how to write a logline, why loglines are important, how and when to write a film treatment, and much more.
29:12

About Instructor

instructor

Koji Steven Sakai

Screen Writer

I have written six feature films that have been produced, including most recently, The Commando, featuring Michael Jai White and Mickey Rourke. I also produced four feature films; a one-hour comedy special on Starz, Comedy InvAsian, a television series featuring the nation’s top Asian American comedians; and Brash Girls Club, a limited comedy series, which premiered on Tubi TV. The only thing I love more than writing is teaching it. I am currently a screenwriting instructor at UCLA Extensions, the New York Film Academy in Burbank, and most recently Chapman University.

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4 Units - 11 video lessons

Intro to Screenwriting
Welcome to this screenwriting course. In this course, I am going to take you from the basics of screenwriting, taking an idea, developing and getting the structure correct, and then learning how to write. You are going to learn the tools you need to write, and ultimately what to do after you finish writing, editing, and rewriting. Then also the business of screenwriting.
01:19
Screenplay Formatting
In this video, we will talk about the basics of screenwriting, including what a screenplay is and screenplay formatting. I am going to take you from not knowing anything to have you working on your script. The goal of the class is to have a completed beat sheet so you can start to begin your first screenplay. In this video, you will learn about screenwriters, screenplay, how long it takes for me to write a script, elements of a scene, formatting, and much more. You will also see what a script should look like.
10:43
What is a good idea?
Hopefully, by now, you have read and familiarized yourself with the formatting and are getting ready to come up with a good idea, which we will cover in this course. In this video, you will learn what constitutes a good idea, how to get ideas, how to test ideas, iceberg storytelling, what makes a good story, and much more.
10:56
Develop Your Idea
You will learn to flesh out your idea into a full length screenplay.
32:19
Screenplay Structure
Students will learn what the major moments are in a screenplay and how to properly structure a movie. In this video, you will learn about the three act structure, major moments hierarchy, inciting incident, plot point, midpoint, climax, and much more. At the end of this lecture, you will come up with the major moments for your screenplay!
32:19
Character Development
Students will learn how to develop strong and interesting characters. In this video, you will learn how to find out if your character is going to be simple or complex, how to give your character a name, how to make strong choices about your character, the three kings of arcs, and much more. After this class, you will fill out the character breakdown exercise to help you develop your characters.
30:24
Drafting your Screenplay
In this video, you will learn about the beat sheet, which is the most challenging part of the entire process, what a beat sheet looks like, how to define a character, and much more. At the end of this lecture, you would have learned how to outline your own screenplay.
27:39
Schedule and Writing Action
The first and most important thing I do in order to understand what I’m working on is the writing schedule. In this lecture, you will learn tools to create your own writing schedule, learn how to write visually, and how to write effectively.
36:10
Dialogue
Good action or dialogue should move the story forward and /or give information about the character. In this lecture, you will learn tools to help them begin writing dialogue. You will learn how to show not tell, how to use proper punctuation, how to write between the lines and not on the nose, and much more.
24:51
Formatting and Openings
In this video, you will learn more about formatting and begin writing your opening beat, what not to do in a screenplay, writing the opening image, the most common types of openings, things to do, things to avoid, and much more.
17:34
Business of Screenwriting
In this class, we will be covering protecting your work and some things you need to create in order to help sell it. You will learn how to protect your idea to avoid it from getting stolen, how to register with the Writers Guild of America (WGA), how to register with the copyright office, how to write a logline, why loglines are important, how and when to write a film treatment, and much more.
29:12