Screenwriting is arguably one of the most challenging art forms in the writing world. Although any writing effort is a monumental task in and of itself, coming up with an original or adapted screenplay is monumentally complex that not every person is set-out to be comfortable in right away.
Fortunately enough, there are plenty of ways for screenwriters to greatly improve. Whether it’s through the due diligence of constantly writing or by taking words of advice online, all of it is a practical manner that can greatly improve a novice screenwriter’s ability writing-wise.
Besides a screenwriter’s own personal fruition to improve their craft on their own, there are plenty of screenwriting classes that are worth taking as well. Whether it’s a screenwriting class for beginners that have never written a script before, or a more advanced level class for experienced writers, there are classes for everyone. With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best screenwriting classes you should take!
Photo credit: Birmingham City University
If you’re looking for the basics on how to format a feature length screenplay, Udemy’s Screenwriting for Beginners is certainly the place to go. This course covers the basics in screenwriting format with two hands-on instructional videos that teach you everything you need to know in how to format and develop an industry-standard screenplay.
2. The Fundamentals of Screenwriting: Give your Script a Solid Foundation (Screenwriters University)
Screenwriters University offers a number of fantastic screenwriting-oriented courses, but their fundamentals of screenwriting course is arguably their best. This course allows you to work with industry experts to learn proven screenwriting techniques to get the most out of your script.
Besides having an ivy-league status attached to it, Yale also offers an excellent summer writing workshop that you can apply to regardless if you’re a Yale student or not. The course brings together the experience and expertise of leading teachers, authors, editors, agents, and publishers in a series of panels and workshops.
The New York Film Academy has a certain level of astonishment attached to it, with their online screenwriting course being one of the best you can take. The course is held completely online and was developed by the same faculty that created the curriculum that is used in their long-term screenwriting programs.
For those interested in the story and structure of your script, consider checking out Skillshare’s write your screenplay course. This class takes you through the development process to completing your first draft. Although it sounds more beginner-oriented, it’s a lot more hands-on than most entry-level courses.
Aaron Sorkin is often regarded as one of the best screenwriter’s of all time, his most famous scripts being The Social Network, A Few Good Men, Moneyball, and countless others. In Sorkin’s masterclass, you’ll learn his rules of storytelling, dialogue, character development, and what makes a script actually sell. Considering Sorkin is one of the best in the business, this should be on your high-priority list to check out.
Udemy’s Inspirational Screenwriting course is a fantastic course that prides itself on teaching the screenwriting secrets behind successful cinematic stories in the world of film & television script writing. By the end of this course, you will be able to sculpt a full-length feature film screenplay.
For yet another beginner-oriented screenwriting class on Udemy, the Beginning Screenwriting made EASY course is all-about making a screenplay without a large amount of difficulty. The course has a step-by-step approach to screenwriting. It goes over all the basics that you need for planning your movie script including the idea, structure and characters, script writing, screenplay format, and what to do after writing the first draft.
Although not focused on the screenwriting portion, but more so the treatment for your script, a treatment is an extremely crucial part of having a great script. This course allows you to take the chance to map out your plot and develop your characters before you’ve backed yourself into a corner with a script that isn’t anything notable. You’ll learn what a treatment is and isn’t, when to use a treatment, the proper format for a treatment, how to use a treatment as a sales tool, and much more.
If you’re interested in a broad course that covers just about everything you’ll need to know about screenwriting, definitely check out Gotham Writers Screenwriting course. This course allows writers to develop their craft while learning in a way that’s clear, practical, and inspiring. Since forming in 1996, Gotham Writers has taught a number of excellent screenwriting-oriented classes that have been tremendously helpful for screenwriters of all levels.