After many years of being taken for granted, screenwriters in South Africa are now recognised as being as important as directors are in making films.
A weekend workshop for screenwriters is held at the SABC in Auckland park, Johannesburg on August 12, 13 and 14 and guides aspirant screenwriters through the process of writing a screenplay that could make a difference in the local film and TV industries and possibly break into the international arena.
Hosted by the SABC, the weekend workshop is presented by Cape Town based The Writing Studio, an independent training institution, with published playwright and film journalist Daniel Dercksen, a qualified Education, Training and Development Practitioner, taking the writers through the write paces.
The workshop is designed to take writers through 8 steps of writing a professional screenplay for feature film, or short film, and is also ideal for writers who are interested in writing for television and the stage, as well as novelists interested in adapting their writing to the big screen.
It examines the writing process and explores the world of contemporary filmmaking and films, with emphasis on completing a successful draft of an original screenplay that will reflect the uniqueness and rich history of South Africa, and can be forwarded to producers internationally.
Hard work, great passion, unwavering determination and commitment are as essential to successful screenwriting as they are to any other creative endeavour. The Writing Studio will provide the teaching, the student must provide the passion and, hopefully, the talent. With strict adherence to the rituals of writing and learning, students will have the opportunity to develop a feature length screenplay of 90 - 120 pages. The extent to which each student takes his or her work will depend entirely on his or her own dedication and pace.
During the workshop the writers will look at how to develop their writing skills, find their 'writer's voice', how to market themselves and take ownership of their writing. It includes developing ideas from concept to shooting script, bringing characters to life, understanding the relationship between structure and the screenplay, and how to design scenes and sequences to its full dramatic potential.
The weekend workshop follows in the tradition of other workshops presented by The Writing Studio the past eight years throughout South Africa, and is endorsed by SABC Education, SASWA, Sithengi, the Cape Film Commission, with support from the NFVF.
Screenplays that have evolved out of the workshops are developed through The Write Agency, with the aim of nurturing and fostering local writing talent.
The cost of the weekend workshop is R900, with a discounted rate of R650 for members of SASWA, staff of the SABC, students, scholars and pensioners. Bursaries are available on discretion for disadvantaged writers.
The workshop takes place on August 12 from 6pm until 9pm, and from 10am until 5pm on August 13 and 14.
For the full agenda on the workshop and how to sign up visit the website, www.writingstudio.co.za; e-mail [email protected] or call +27 (0)21 425 5355.
the writing studio
develop the write attitude
Phone: +27 (0)21 425 5355
Mobile: +27 (0)72 474 1079
Fax: 086 672 1757
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.writingstudio.co.za
Posted on Monday 8 Aug 2005
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