Story for
Script Development

This CPD training is for those working in (or who want to work in) TV or film who are looking to learn the mechanics of story structure and how apply it practically, especially in HETV drama. It’s suitable if you:

• Work as a script editor, script reader, development assistant, trainee script editor, researcher, storyliner, story assistant, or story supervisor
• Work with writers in other roles, such as agenting or as an exec
• Need to be able to pinpoint problems in a script more quickly… and express your thoughts more effectively
• Are looking to understand storylining over a series or ways to work with larger scale stories
• Would like to feel more confident in giving notes to writers, including giving notes you’d rather not give
• Can dedicate 5-7 hours per week for the duration of the course

This professional training allows you to:

• Acquire the key story skills script editors need, including understanding the blueprint underlying every successful story and crafting constructive notes for writers
• Master story structure, and use the principles of narrative to diagnose and fix story problems
• Refresh your skills and understand decisions you’ve always made using instinct
• Gain a more specific narrative vocabulary for communicating with writers
• Distill your thoughts to produce clear headline notes and succinct billings
• Gain greater understanding of industry expectations and processes
• Network with others working in development, and with the tutor team and industry guests

Session 1: Introduction to Storytelling

We start on the grammar of storytelling and look at the script production process and industry roles. You’ll make notes on a TX’d script and precis the protagonist’s journey through the first act.

Session 2: Basic Building Blocks

We focus on the basic building blocks used in dramatic storytelling and what makes a good story. We’ll look at the HETV market and audiences, and the specific opportunities and constraints the form presents. We will ask you to write a billing for an episode.

Session 3: Fixing Stories that Don’t Work

We look at how to ‘break a story’. You’ll learn John’s 10 key questions and by the end should be able to deconstruct any story and understand what needs to be done to fix any problems. You’ll apply those principles by giving headline notes on a live script.

Session 4: Mastering Structure

We break down a story into three and five acts and examine midpoints and turning points. We’ll introduce key ways to read a script and look at storylining across a series. You’ll break a script into five parts and give notes on a deeply problematic script.

Session 5: Giving and Receiving Notes

We look at ways of acting on notes and assess a script at scene level. We’ll examine the script-editing process from the viewpoint of the writer and the wider team. You’ll compare a first-draft script with a TX’d version, looking at ‘artistic’ best vs tone, focus and streamlining.

Session 6: Putting it All Together

In this two-week final session, John offers his top tips to help you recap everything learned through the previous sessions. At the end you’ll submit notes to self and a set of headline notes on an unscreened development pilot script, and receive detailed one-to-one feedback from your tutor.

This course has been made possible by the support of ScreenSkills, and has been approved as part of an informal or formal continuing professional development (CPD) programme. You may be eligible for a training bursary for this course. Apply direct to ScreenSkills here, at least four weeks before the course start date.

As this counts as CPD training, you may also be able to get funding from your employer to do it.

Join our alumni – After your course, you can join our online alumni community where you’ll meet our growing network of past students. You’ll be able to.

• Rejoin your classmates in a private forum
• Continue to access an archived version of your course materials
• Meet alumni from other courses and share work for feedback
• Join discussions about screenwriting, script editing and the industry
• Attend live chats with guest writers and industry folk

Mentoring and one-to-one feedback – Our team offer mentoring, script reads and reports. We are happy to quote by job or script, or to arrange a longer mentoring scheme as you work on a specific story idea. We’ll create a package to suit you, so please email [email protected].