Beginning, Middle, End: The Secret Life of Script

The New Zealand Writers Guild presents… 

 Beginning, Middle and End: The Secret Life of Your Script 

An intensive two-day workshop that demystifies the basics of screenwriting, audience expectation, rewriting and script development. These workshops are designed for beginners and intermediate screenwriters looking for a refresher and a way to deepen their working understanding of the screenwriting process.

 Wellington March 5th and 6th 

Auckland March 19th and 20th 

Christchurch May 21st and 22nd

9am to 5pm – Venues to be confirmed

$180 NZWG Members - $220 Non Members

Booking essential, limited spaces. Please email steven@nzwritersguild.org.nz

DAY ONE

9am:  Beginners’ Guide to Screenwriting.

Tutor: Kathryn Burnett

 Always wanted to write for the big screen? Been working away at your script but need a refresher? Beginner’s Guide is an intensive course that demystifies the basics of writing for the big screen. Experienced tutor and screenwriter Kathryn Burnett will take participants through the how and why of writing for film including premise, plot, story structure, formatting, dialogue, character and the visual grammar of screenplays.

 1.30pm:  Why Audience Counts

Steve Barr

 Question: "If a film screens in a cinema and no one's there to see it, does it make a sound?" Answer: No. A filmmaker's career depends on connecting with audiences. Is your film an indie art house statement or a fun romp for all the multiplex family? This session teaches you how to define your audience, understand their expectations, and tell your stories in a way that will resonate with them.

 DAY TWO

 9am: Beginners Guide continued

Kathryn Burnett

11am: What Next?  Beginner’s Guide to Development

Steve Barr

 The development process can be a filmmaker's greatest ally or worst enemy. This section will give you the tools you need to avoid Development Hell, then put you through an accelerated development simulation that will challenge your storytelling and team-building skills.

 2pm: Rewriting: How To Improve Your Work

Kathryn Burnett

 Rewriting is all about cutting and reshaping which writers are often resistant to because they have an emotional connection to the work.  Enter Tutor Kathryn Burnett who will examine the art of rewriting, clarify what re-writing is and how it is a writer’s best friend.  This lecture also includes how to check that your script best serves your core idea and answers the central dramatic question and of course how to identify the dialogue, scenes and characters that simply have to go.

 Tutors:

 Kathryn Burnett is a screenwriter, playwright, lecturer and development consultant who has worked primarily in film and television for over 17 years. 

She has significant television writing credits and has developed numerous television series for New Zealand’s major production companies.  In addition she has worked as a Script Consultant/ Story Editor on  – Love Birds, Dean Spanley, Devil’s Rock, The Ferryman and Poppy among others.  In addition to writing a telefeature, she is currently running her regular BrainStorm workshops and producing her play “Mike & Virginia” (co-writer Nick Ward) in the 2011 NZ Comedy Festival.  

 Steve Barr recently moved to New Zealand after working for 16 years in the Hollywood system. He has been a post-production scheduler and studio "suit" for Universal Studios, a development executive for indie financier SMASHfilms, and a feature screenwriter for Walt Disney Pictures. He has written professional analysis on over 1000 screenplays, and has the scars to prove it.

Steven Gannaway

Executive Director

New Zealand Writers Guild

Phone +64 9 360 1378

Mobile +64 21 222 9682

Email:steven@nzwritersguild.org.nz