1 session, Thursday, September 28th 7-9 pm EST/4-6pm PST

online, 12 students max

Do you want to write a screenplay but can’t seem to find the ‘perfect’ idea? Or maybe you have too many ideas and don’t know how to pick one? Or you have a vague idea but you’re not sure what the next step is? … Well that stinks for you. Kidding! Then this class is for you!

The goal of this single-session course is to give writers the tools and strategies to best prepare for that first day when they sit down to write page one. We will focus on getting to the heart of your story idea by helping you to construct or refine a logline (a summary that’s only a sentence or two but is the most important part of your screenplay).

We’ll then learn about different outlining strategies and do a few exercises as a way to test your logline to make sure your story summary is in the best shape for starting your screenplay.

The course will be a combination of lecturing and exercises to help generate and refine ideas.

Duncan Birmingham is a writer and filmmaker in Los Angeles. The feature film he wrote and directed, Who Invited Them, was named one of the best horror films of 2022 by The Hollywood Reporter. He's written on various TV shows including as an executive producer and writer on Maron (starring Marc Maron) on IFC and co-executive producer and writer on Blunt Talk on Starz. His screenplay Swingles was featured on The Black List and his short films have premiered at festivals including Sundance and AFI.

Prewrite Your Screenplay, 1 session with Duncan Birmingham