A week of free online masterclasses, workshops and panels organised by Channel 4 and the National Film and TV School (NFTS) has attracted more than 4,000 registrations.
The Script and Story week, funded and led by 4Skills, kicks off today (Monday, 26 June) with a sold out masterclass from multi-award winning script-writer John Yorke.
Widely acknowledged as Britain’s leading expert on narration and storytelling, John will give a masterclass about the origins of narrative structure, and to apply it to tell increasingly powerful narratives.
Channel 4’s Head of Drama Caroline Hollick said: “Britain has an outstanding legacy of producing some the very best story tellers as witnessed by the brilliant dramas we see on our screens week in week out. By joining forces with the world-renowned NFTS to offer a week of specialist scripted workshops, courses and master classes, Channel 4 can support talented writers of the future across the UK and help them hone their creative skills to enthral audiences with powerful story-telling.”
The week’s sessions also include a writer’s room lead by Matthew Barry who will unpack some of the concerns and potential pitfalls, as well as give advice on how to get the most out of the room.
Channel 4 drama compliance editors Danielle Jenkins and Ritu Emmerson will discuss navigating the tricky world of complying script content and outline how Channel 4 can give support.
Screenwriter Jessica Sinyard will join in conversation with Neil McPhillips (head of games, operations) and Alan McDonald (Development Executive and screenwriter) to discuss the challenges of adapting gaming narrative to the screen.
Screenwriter Andrea Gibb and Claire Armspach, head of drama evelopment at STV will deliver a discussion about the opportunities and pitfalls of adapting from a book or real-life source material.
David P Davis (founder and creative director of 5 Acts Productions) and Gwawr Lloyd (drama commissioning editor, Channel 4) discuss the realities of the script development process, with views from both sides of the table in a session hosted by 4Skills’ Charlotte Michael.
Hannah Robinson, screenwriter and director, will discuss the theory of the comedy mask and the techniques with which to make comedy scripts work harder.
Ben Wadey, commissioning executive at Channel 4, will give an insight into the pathways available through development and the transition from soaps to continuing drama to getting your own TV show commissioned; Jordi Wijnalda’s one-off interactive workshop will examine some of the intricacies of script analysis on the journey from script to screen; Sasha Damjanovski will lead an interactive session about delivering an effective pitch in various situations, and screenwriter Steven Lally will take the audience through the creative processes involved in the making of Fireworks – one of the very first films in the UK to be made using real-time Virtual Production technology.
The week closes with New Writing North hosting a session for screenwriters with advice and expertise on building a profile, sustaining a career, finding an agent and looking for opportunities.
