Visual Narrative and Screen Writing Workshop
Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th October '07
5:30pm - 7:30pm, Fired-Art, Fort William

These workshops are geared towards beginners interested in screenwriting, media industry professionals hoping to apply an understanding of narrative to their work, and screenwriters who want a re-cap on the basics. A strong understanding of visual narrative can be applied to all forms of visual media and will engage audiences.

The tutor Sam Firth has worked in the film industry for over ten years. She is a professional script editor and screenwriter and has read over three hundred screenplays. She has tutored at Thames Valley University and in Lithuania. She has an MA in screenwriting from the Northern Film School.

The Workshop will be run over 2 evenings, both sessions will explore different aspects of narrative and screenwriting through a combination of discussion and practical exercises.

Session one
Covers the basics of understanding narrative and the difference between stories for the screen and other forms of narrative.

• What is narrative and why is it so important?
• Basic narrative structure: What makes a story?
• The difference between screen narrative and other forms of narrative (story through image and action).

Session two
Explores advanced narrative structure, theme and plot and the use of dialogue in screen narrative. There will be practical exercise to be completed between sessions (homework) which will be analysed as part of the second workshop.

• The function of dialogue in screen narrative.
• The three act structure.
• Theme and plot.

Places are limited, so please book in advance, by contacting Robert Linton at Fired-Art (01397 705928) or Angus McNicholl at Aimhi (01855 811292). There is a £10 booking charge that is refunded upon attendance. Fired Art will be offering a buffet at the cost of £5.