Past Workshop Descriptions

Short Film Writing


Whether intended as a stand-alone piece of art or a calling card to showcase new storytelling talent, the short film is a fascinatingly flexible format. Through screenings, lectures and group discussions, this four-part workshop will illuminate the key characteristics of a successful narrative short film. Participants who arrive with a basic story idea will have the opportunity to workshop their concept in-class with the goal of developing a beat sheet by the end of the fourth session. Topics covered—such as screenplay format, story structure, and scene construction—are equally relevant to writers interested in long-form narratives such as feature films and television.

Participants must submit a story summary (two paragraphs maximum) of their story idea by Wednesday January 29, 2020 and should be committed to spending some time developing their concept between classes. Please submit your story summary to workshops@lift.on.ca with “LIFT Winter 2020: Short Film Writing” in the subject line. The Introduction to Independent Filmmaking workshop is recommended as a prerequisite.​

Past Instructors: Rose Schimm & Stephen Davis
Category: Writing
Maximum Capacity: 10
12 hours of instruction in 4 parts$150 /member$175 /nonmember

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