Workshop: “Story First” | Writing Your First Screenplay with Bev Chukwu

Description: So you want to write movies. For whatever reason, writing screenplays can seem both exciting and nerve-wracking for emerging and seasoned writers alike. Those who didn’t grow up reading screenplays – that’s most of us – look at a script and immediately become daunted by format and structure. The thought of abiding by so many rules can feel liberating for some but overwhelming to many, especially to women and non-binary folk, who are often still getting used to having their voices heard. I created this class to eradicate the notion that writing screenplays is “hard” and to instead remind people that story always comes first. Your voice is your voice, no matter the medium. Let it be heard, or, in this case, let it be seen.

In this 4-week class, I first bring students into the core of their script ideas. That means the first week is all about…