Scriptwriting Courses

Interested in writing for stage or screen?

2007-05-14T15:38:00.000+08:00

YOU CAN

Learn the art of dramatic script writing in 8 weeks
Produce your film with our production company
Or sell your finished script for RMB500,000

In this course you will learn:

2007-01-10T12:00:00.000+08:00

STORY

The purpose of art and stories in our lives
Entertainment vs. enlightenment
Semiotics and the cognitive connection

STRUCTURE

Anatomy of the 3-act structure
Scene-by-scene and act-by-act analysis
Plot patterns and the nine critical events

CHARACTER

Eight character functions all stories must have
Character vs. characterization
Character as a story's driving motivation

CONFLICT

Effective and ineffective forms of conflict
Fear/hope, tension/release, threat/violence
The axis of antagonism

METAPHOR

Story substance, quality, and appeal
Communication and the ladder of abstraction
Convention and the ladder of originality/familiarity

IDEATION

Character, scene, and thematic ideation
Respecting genre and convention
Research and the myth of writer's block

REVISION

Identifying and strengthening weak scenes
Overcoming plot holes and logic problems
Ideation, incubation, and chaotic interpolation

CRAFT

Premise to polish
The writer's eye
Maintaining inspiration

Student discount offered

2007-01-09T20:45:00.000+08:00

Students who enroll with a friend will receive a discount of RMB1,000. This discount ends May 31st.

Jingzhuanxue partners with two production companies

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As of February 2007, Jingzhuanxue has partnered with two Beijing film production companies. Students who produce quality work during their 8-week course may have their work purchased by these production companies and get their films produced. Films of all genre and length will be considered.

Press Release: New school offers scriptwriting course

2007-01-06T21:16:00.000+08:00

PRESS RELEASE:

BEIJING - With the State Administration of Radio Film and Television offering RMB500,000 for "more sophisiticated scripts," a new school promises to teach film students how to cash in on the offer.

Jingmeng Zhuangao Xuehui (憬梦撰稿学会) offers an 8-week course in writing for the stage and screen intended primarily for college-age students, but open to anyone looking for more inspiration or creativity. The course includes 24 hours of classroom instruction plus additional workshop hours, and meets once a week for three hours in locations in Wudaokou and Guomao. Topics include story, structure, character, conflict, metaphor, ideation, revision, and craft.

"People kept asking me for my advice on their scripts and stories, so I decided to teach a class," says Peter Walters, Beijing-based screenwriter and course instructor. "I love writing, and I love talking about writing. If I can help someone get their script started or finished, I'm happy." A former journalist and writing instructor in America and China, Walters is currently writing a two film scripts set in China, a number of TV scripts, and is co-authoring a book on narrative semiotics.

Rounding out the teaching team is Christopher Ruggles, an American film producer and Beijing-based Arts Director, who previously taught subjects ranging from Latin, literature, Classics, and film at Yale, Northwestern, and Beijing Broadcasting University. "I'm happy to be working with Peter," says Ruggles. "Our primary goal is to develop talent and empower people to transfer their cultural experienes to the stage and screen."

While students will focus primarily on short scripts (10-30 pages), graduates of the 8-week course may receive additional mentoring on full-length scripts. Two production companies attached to the school may option or produce students' work through all stages of production. All classes are taught in English.

For more information visit jingzhuanxue.com.
English: 135.2214.8109
汉语: 139.1103.9985