Shorts by Forties (Women only) (Age: 25-45)

Week One
 Welcome, Introductions, Opening Notes                                                            

1. The 3 Act Structure in Storytelling - Explanation, exploration, and practice with the classic Greek structure of storytelling with using 3 major divisions when telling a story.
2. Break
3. Script Outlines – Generate 3-5 ideas - Everyone will have time to brainstorm and write 3 different script ideas using the principles of the 3 Act Structure and also receive feedback on them                                                          
4. 3. Pitch Rounds: 30-second pitches to other participants - Participants will be introduced to the idea of the “art of a pitch” or the 30 seconds to 1-minute filmmakers have to convince funders to invest in them. Using their script outlines, they will choose 1 film to pitch to the entire workshop in order to receive feedback.
5. Break          
6. Film Screening: The Lunch Date by Adam Davidson, Short Film winner, Oscar (1989)

Week Two

 Scene Work

1. What is the character doing, how are they changing, and how is the story progressing? - Showing internal and external conflict in film through character development in storytelling/script writing.
2. Storyboarding and envisioning a story - Understanding the role of a storyboard in helping to prepare the actor/director/crew for filming.
3. Break
4. Revisions of story outlines - Choosing 1 project to hone in on and create a compelling storyboard around the story outlines by applying the information about character development learned in this week’s seminar.
5. Re-pitch strongest ideas - In small groups, participants will re-pitch their chosen project for more feedback and further revision.
6. Break
7. Film Screening: A Dog’s Life (Charlie Chaplin)

Week Three

1. Mentor Meetings, 1:1 with Facilitator - Each participant will have 10 minutes to discuss her project with the facilitator in a one-on-one setting to ask questions.
2. Write, Reflect, Revise final story choice - Self-guided rewrite of chosen script
3. Break
4. Ins/Outs of planning a shoot - An overview of the practical considerations of filming (lighting, sound, weather etc.)
5. Break
6. Final film concept presentations - Each participant will present her selected project to the entire group.
7. Film Screening: Alive in Joburg (Neill Blomkamp))

Week Four

1. Finalize script drafts - Self-guided work on the final version of the screenplay to make sure it is ready for shooting.
2. Looking further outside the story for inspiration/expansion - Spend some research time looking at how others have treated similar ideas, themes, stories, and characters.
3. Break
4. Peer Review Final Concepts - Final round of small group pitches to test the story ideas and polish them off.
5. Film Screening: Kung Fury (David Sandberg)