When you sign up for The Biz of Screenwriting contest, you also get the Basic Writing Assignments Class.
Purpose: To provide a process for getting writing assignments and some advanced writing skills required for assignments.
Approximately 80% of the income screenwriters make in Hollywood comes from writing assignments. Also, assignments are an easy way to break into the Indie market and get an IMDb credit. So it’s important that you have this skill set.
THE BIZ CLASS
The first three levels of the contest are designed as a training ground for the writing assignment process. You receive lessons and apply the skills doing that level’s assignment. By putting these valuable skills to use, you’ll increase your level of competence and confidence and be more prepared for a future paid writing assignment.
Each level will also provide you with feedback on your writing and gauge how well you implemented the lesson.
THE LESSONS
L-1 Lesson: How the writing assignment process works and how you can get paid screenwriting jobs. Plus basic tips on writing a high-quality scene.
Application: You’re given a logline of a scene and the roles of two characters. Your job is to write a 2-5 page scene.
Feedback: Basic feedback on the overall quality of the scene.
L-2 Lesson: The Secret to Writing A Producer’s Vision. Plus: Writing unique character dialogue and adding subtext to a scene.
Application: You’ll receive a new scene logline with two characters that include four core character traits each and the subtext of each character.
Feedback: How you used the character traits and subtext in dialogue.
L-3 Lesson: How to “take notes” from producers to improve the script and what to do if you disagree. Plus: Seven ways to make any scene more interesting.
Application: You’ll be asked to make a major change to the scene you wrote in level 2 (equivalent of getting notes from a producer on your writing).
Feedback: Quality of the change that was requested and how you made the scene interesting.
NOTE: Levels 4 and 5 serve as the “elimination part” of the contest. Contestants in Levels 4 and 5 will receive feedback to add to the lessons of the first three levels.
Join the Biz of Screenwriting 2 Contest/Class.
QUOTES FROM PREVIOUS FINALISTS
“In particular, I learned the importance of being able to interpret producer’s notes and incorporate them into my script in the most creative and powerful way possible, knowing it oftentimes may require radical changes and ‘outside the box’ thinking. This ‘insider’s glance’ at the writing assignment process was invaluable.” - Kevin McCarthy
“My biggest breakthrough was the ability to plan, execute and apply interest techniques in sync with character traits and actions. I learned to be more focused and selective during my brainstorming sessions of interest techniques. I would exclude interest techniques that were not consistent with character traits and actions and use those that were.” - Kaden San
“The Biz of Screenwriting Contest improved my rewriting skills by giving me a fresh way to look at scenes that I’ve already read a hundred times or more. When producers hire me to rewrite myself now, they’ll feel like they got two writers for the price of one.” - Shaene Siders
Join the Biz of Screenwriting 2 Contest/Class.