Learn How To Write a Screenplay at NYFA
The 15-Week Online Screenplay Workshop offers students the opportunity to develop and complete their feature film screenplay, working in a live, interactive creative environment. Through hands-on learning, discussion with their peers, and mentorship from our experienced faculty, students work on their scripts and learn how to give and receive feedback, an important skill set for screenplay development and for screenplay writing.
To attend this workshop, students must have completed our 15-Week Online Screenplay Story & Structure Workshop prerequisite or submit a full-length treatment and beat sheet with their application.
Workshop DescriptionWorkshop Name: 15-Week Online Screenplay Workshop
Prerequisite: 15-Week Online Screenplay Story and Structure Workshop (or submission of full-length treatment and beat sheet)
In our 15-Week Online Screenplay Workshop, students will use a full treatment and beat sheet to develop their first script. Many students use the idea they started writing in our 15-Week Online Screenplay Story and Structure Workshop. During the first few weeks of this screenplay workshop, students either break this idea into beats or revise their beats based on the class’ feedback, an essential step to developing their script. At the end of the online workshop, many students leave with the first draft of a feature film screenplay.
After successfully completing this workshop, students may apply for our 15-Week Online Screenplay Rewrite Workshop, where they will refine and polish their screenplay under the guidance and mentorship of our experienced faculty of Screenwriters.
To learn more about NYFA’s screenwriting workshops, see NYFA’s Course Catalog or request more information.
In the 15-Week Online Screenplay Workshop, students complete the first sequence of a feature screenplay. To learn more about the projects that students complete at NYFA’s Screenwriting School, visit our projects page.
This workshop has several class time options. Students must commit to one of the following three schedules (this will be the schedule time for the length of the program):
-Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Pacific Time/1 p.m. Eastern Time
-Tuesdays at 5 p.m. Pacific Time/8 p.m. Eastern Time
-Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Pacific Time/1 p.m. Eastern Time
Students will meet once per week for 3 hours (two 1.5-hour sessions with a 30-minute break).
Students meet once a week over Zoom. If time restrictions prevent attendance, students can catch up via recordings of the class and communicate with each other and the instructor digitally. In between sessions, students interact with the class virtually, with feedback provided by the instructor. Video lessons will be made available for viewing through our course portals. Written lessons and assignments are posted for critique and the class interacts on an electronic course portal. Instructors are available electronically for support.
Additional video lessons are posted online and may be viewed according to a student’s personal schedule. Outside coursework varies in time based on the student’s writing speed but usually takes 1-4 hours per week. As students join virtually, we recommend that class participants have a quiet place to work, as well as a reliable internet connection. During the online workshops, students may use their preferred screenwriting software, however, they are able to obtain a discounted download code of Final Draft software from the Bursar.
Please note: Equipment, curriculum, and projects are subject to change and may vary depending on location. Students should consult the most recently published campus catalog for the most up-to-date curriculum.