Screenwriting 101: Writing a Short Film

“Have you dreamt of writing an acclaimed short film? One that dazzles at festivals or serves as your feature film calling card?” asks instructor Kuang Lee. “This class will guide you through the essentials of writing a short film, offering an exciting introduction to the world of screenwriting.” 

In this three-week class, you’ll dive into story structure, including the three-act model, develop intriguing protagonist and antagonist characters, and explore film genres such as drama, comedy, thriller and romance. Through fun writing exercises, including writing a logline (1-sentence story idea) and completing a story treatment (1-2 page story summary), you’ll bring your own original story ideas to the page and get an insider’s view of the conventions and flexibilities of screenwriting. As a group, we’ll also watch example short films and discuss what makes them successful.

“Short films are an excellent avenue for creative exploration, succinct storytelling, and getting your work out there,” says Kuang. “They’re also the perfect medium to begin exploring screenwriting. By the time you leave class, you’ll understand what makes the short film its own distinctive art form and you’ll have the tools and drive to continue to develop your own short film screenplay.”

About The Writing Salon's In-Person Classes

Before your class meets, you'll receive an email from The Writing Salon with more information about the class. If you have any questions about in-person learning, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@writingsalons.com.