Creative Writing For The Screen

Master the art of visual storytelling by crafting compelling characters, authentic dialogue, and impactful scripts.

What you'll learn

Learn the roles and responsibilities of a screenwriter

Identify methods for structuring your screenplay and defining a world

Identify strategies for pitching your script and getting your work noticed

Learn how to create compelling, multi-dimensional characters and story arcs

Requirements

You'll learn the fundamental tools of story and character development, giving you the confidence to start working on your new screenplays.

Description

Creative Writing for the Screen is a course with award-winning scriptwriter Cris Vleck, designed for storytellers who want to move beyond the page and into the visual language of film and television. Writing for the screen demands more than just good prose—it calls for precision, empathy, structure, and a deep understanding of character. This course explores what it means to think like a screenwriter, where every moment matters, and every word earns its place.Rather than focusing on formatting or industry trends, the emphasis here is on the foundational ideas that drive meaningful stories. You'll examine the screenwriter's role as both storyteller and philosopher—someone who observes the world, asks hard questions, and translates internal truths into external conflicts. Through thoughtful guidance in a series of lectures, you'll explore how characters are shaped not just by action, but by the worlds they inhabit, the choices they make, and the emotions they conceal or reveal.Whether you're just beginning your screenwriting journey or seeking to reconnect with the purpose behind your writing, this course offers a deeper look at what it takes to create stories that resonate. You'll walk away not just with techniques, but with a renewed sense of why writing for the screen matters.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction

Section 2: What is a Writer?

Lecture 2 What is a Writer?

Lecture 3 The Three Kinds of Movies

Section 3: Story Fundamentals

Lecture 4 Story & Concepts

Lecture 5 Character Development

Lecture 6 Dynamic Dialogue

Lecture 7 Visual Storytelling

Section 4: Script Structure

Lecture 8 Structure

Lecture 9 Conflict & Obstacles

Lecture 10 Scene Breakdown: The Keep

Section 5: Next Steps

Lecture 11 Pitching & The Industry

Beginner screenwriters looking to gain knowledge of story, structure and character development,Established authors looking to make a shift into the world of screenwriting,Film professionals looking to make the transition from production to writing