On Day 1, participants will explore foundational concepts such as the power of storytelling, the Three-Act Structure, character development, and writing engaging dialogue through interactive exercises and examples. Day 2 focuses on advanced techniques, including creating conflict, maintaining pacing, and enhancing visual storytelling. The course also emphasises polishing scripts, avoiding common mistakes, and industry-standard formatting, culminating in a final session on pitching and refining screenplays for future success. What You Will Learn Day 1: Foundations of Screenwriting Understanding the power of storytelling in film • Key components of a screenplay: structure, plot, and character development • Examples from classic and contemporary films • The Three-Act Structure • Breakdown of the Three-Act structure: Setup, Confrontation, and Resolution • Creating dynamic and relatable characters • Protagonists, antagonists, and supporting characters • Character arcs: Growth and transformation over the course of the story • Workshop: Create a character profile • Writing Engaging Dialogue • The art of writing natural and impactful dialogue • Subtext: What characters say vs. what they mean • Balancing dialogue with action and visuals • Writing exercise: Craft a short scene with dialogue Day 2: Advanced Techniques and Screenplay Crafting • Understanding the importance of conflict in storytelling • Types of conflict: Internal vs. external • Raising the stakes: How to keep your audience engaged • Pacing and Structure Beyond the Basics • Maintaining momentum throughout the screenplay • Scene transitions and pacing techniques • Managing subplots and parallel narratives • Case study: Analysing pacing in popular films • Visual Storytelling • Writing for the screen: Show, don’t tell • Crafting vivid descriptions of scenes and actions • Polishing Your Script • The rewriting process: How to improve your first draft • Common screenplay mistakes and how to avoid them • Formatting essentials: Industry standards for screenplays • Creating a log-line and synopsis Simon Hunter is a highly accomplished director and show-runner known for his strong visual storytelling, particularly in the realms of outdoor and travel themes. His debut feature film, *LIGHTHOUSE*, a $2.5 million British thriller, garnered critical acclaim and won multiple awards at European film festivals. It was lauded by the *New York Post* for its intense suspense. Following the success of *LIGHTHOUSE*, Simon joined the renowned London-based commercials company Infinity, where he directed high-profile commercials for major brands like British Airways, Coca Cola, and the British Heart Foundation. His ability to bring captivating visual stories to life was further demonstrated in his 2005 science fiction film *MUTANT CHRONICLES*, starring Thomas Jane, Ron Perlman, and John Malkovich. In 2017, Simon pursued his passion project, *EDIE*, starring Sheila Hancock. The film became one of the most successful independent British films of the year, receiving numerous awards and theatrical releases worldwide. Simon’s recent work includes the 2022 World War One love story *CAN YOU HEAR ME?*, featuring Peter Facinelli, Sir John Standing, and James Cosmo. The $5 million film is currently in post-production. In 2023, Simon expanded his expertise into television as the show-runner for *COLD MIND*, a TV series centred around a series of gruesome murders on the Portuguese Algarve. The series, currently in post-production, is set to be previewed at MIPCOM in October 2024. Simon is represented by United Talent Agency in Los Angeles for his work in feature films and television.

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