Upcoming events

Every so often we do go on the road, and there we meet you halfway. Here’s a quick run-down of what we’re going to be up to.

Write your script from concept to contract (currently closed)
Media and Identity in Asia Conference 2006 (Call for papers now closed)

Script Development Program

Write your story from concept to contract, and learn to manage a story development project.

This course is designed for aspiring writers, media professionals and practising writers. Candidates for this program are people who are keen to learn the craft of screenwriting, who seek to extend expertise in the area of content creation and development, and who may have a script in some stage of development needing mentoring and structure to finish the writing.

Run like a research degree course, candidates progress at their own pace to finish their own story projects. The time taken can vary from one term to four terms, with candidates working closely with the course instructor and receiving personalised supervision towards completing the project.

Candidates who successfully complete their projects will go on to the Pitch Session with a producer or production company, and/or publish their screenplays in a class collection that will be catalogued in the National Library.

“I have learnt a lot about finding the motivation of characters, both obvious and hidden, and even my own motivation for writing a story.” – Loh Eng Leong

“[The program is] the key to endless opportunities to having your stories heard and the lock to safeguard all your creations.” – Jaslyn Chui, Researcher

“I learnt a lot from the program—about script writing and, more importantly, about the human condition.” – Liza Tan

“Every film is a journey, and every journey has a beginning. As a screenwriter, you are the beginning.” – Yu Hui, Web Designer

“The discussion and analysis were wonderful to equip potential screenwriters with the craft of writing a good story.” – Eng Leong

“It’s an intensive film writing course which focuses on the structure of writing, enabling the students to prepare and write effectively.” – Jessica Tilton

“I thought that I simply could not tell a decent story… this program has changed all that.” – Jared Tham, Freelance Writer

“Stimulating and critical as it subjected my script to the test of fire. I highly recommend it.” – Vincent Especkerman

When

New term commences 25 May 2005
Wednesday, 7.45pm (2 hours per session)
Fortnightly until 17 Aug 2005 (13 weeks)

Venue

The Substation Classroom 1 (level 2)

Program Fee

S$475 nett per term.
S$400 for current Screenwriters Association (Singapore) members.
Please make cheques payable to The Substation Ltd

Enrolment

Enrolment forms are available from ScreenAsia.

Closing date for enrolment

Re-enrolments (for continuing candidates) close 11 May 2005.
New enrolments close 18 May 2005.

Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact Daniel Chan

Description of the Program

Write your story from concept to contract. Learn to manage a story development project while you're at it.

An aspiring writer keen to learn the craft of screenwriting
A media professional intent on extending expertise in the area of content creation and development
A writer with a screenplay in some stage of development and need the mentoring and structure to finish the writing

Run like a research degree program, this course gives students personalised support and guidance to develop full-length screenplays from story concept to first draft. The program is semi-structured on a 13-week term cycle, where students progress at their own pace. Students develop their own story projects in close consultation with the course instructor and receive tailored supervision in setting up personal targets towards completing the course.

Completing the Course

Students are given 1-4 terms to complete their projects to qualify for the Certificate of Achievement. These students will go on to a Pitch Session with a production company and/or publish their screenplays in a class collection for cataloguing in the National Library.

Students who take five terms to complete their projects will qualify for the Certificate of Attendance only.

Students taking two and more terms are required to re-enrol for each new term. No student may enrol for a sixth term.

Course Instructors

The program is presented by ScreenAsia, The Substation and the Screenwriters Association (Singapore). Instructors are from the SWA and function as supervisors, mentors and guides. These instructors are experienced mentors as well as practising story project developers and managers.

Full Program Details

The film begins and ends with the script. In the national bid to create more made-in-Singapore film products, success hinges on the quality of the storytelling, and thus weighs heavily on the shoulders of the screenwriter. To build capacity towards the creative industries, this course aims to increase the pool of quality screenwriters by imbuing interested candidates with the necessary skills to see a story development project from concept to contract.

Objectives

Upon completing the program, the candidate will be able to:

Identify and create story concepts that resonate with their target audience;
Develop full-length screenplays from story concept to first draft;
Appreciate the complete process of story development, including pitching story ideas succinctly to potential producers or production companies;
Work independently towards the above tasks for future personal projects;
Understand the local industry in terms of support and opportunities, and recognise industry trends and codes of practice.

Target Audience

This program is designed to support capacity building for the creative industries, and is suitable for aspirants who seek to enter the media industry, professionals who wish to extend their expertise in the area of content creation and development, or writers already with scripts in some stage of development and need the mentoring and structure to help them complete the writing.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must be self-motivated and determined to tell stories. They must be comfortable with expressing themselves in written English. Provisions are made for non-English dialogue in the projects, but must be accompanied by English translation. A background in literature, theatre or drama is a bonus, but not essential.

Course Structure

The program will run like a research degree course, where the instructor acts as supervisor, mentor and guide. Candidates will decide on their own story concepts and are expected to work independently, remaining in close contact with their instructor through email, plenary contact times, or one-to-one consultation sessions.

Candidates have a minimum period of one term to finish their projects, with a maximum of four terms. One term is 13 weeks long, and plenary contact sessions are held fortnightly, for seven evening sessions lasting two hours each. Candidates are entitled to a 30-minute one-to-one consultation session with the instructor in each term, and by appointment only.

Training methodology is semi-structured, where theory is delivered only where the practical issues call for it and theory would lend insights to the craft itself. As the coursework is individual-based, this program would cater well to varying candidate levels in the same plenary session.

Coursework Requirements

During the period of candidature, candidates are expected to submit the following components towards the finished product:

Project milestones
A logline or premise (1 sentence only)
Character bible
Synopsis (1 page)
Treatment (5-10 pages)
Step Outline
First draft screenplay

The project must have a narrative unity and coherence with the story context and/or target audience, and be marketable for production in the region.

Candidates will adhere closely to their own project milestones, and manage their time accordingly. The instructor will serve reminders in line with the candidates' own proposed milestones.

Completion

Candidates are expected to write a full-length screenplay to first draft quality in the period of 1-4 terms to qualify for completion of the program and receive the Certificate of Achievement.

Candidates who exceed the four terms to complete their project will not qualify for the Pitch Session or publication, but may continue into the fifth term to finish the screenplay for their own purposes, and receive the Certificate of Attendance. No provisions will be given for a sixth term.

Upon successful completion in four terms or less, candidates will be given the opportunity to pitch their projects to a local producer (Pitch Session to be arranged by the Screenwriters Association), and/or publish their screenplays in a class collection, and catalogued with an ISBN in the National Library, Singapore. The class collection will be published jointly by the Substation and the Screenwriters Association (Singapore) or by ScreenAsia.

Fee

Each term will cost S$475 per student (S$400 for SWA members). If the student needs more than one term to finish, for up to a maximum of five terms, the student will be required to re-enrol for the following term at the same cost. This places the maximum cost to the student earning the Certificate of Achievement at S$1,900.

The discount is offered to members of the Screenwriters Association (Singapore) for every term enrolled.