Online Screenwriting Workshop

Learn the Essentials of Screenwriting from an Authority on Story

You don’t have to travel to Austin to learn from Jill Chamberlain and The Screenplay Workshop curriculum. In just five weeks, you and your fellow video conferencing writers will learn the core techniques to creating memorable and satisfying scripts. All you need is Skype, some free screenwriting software, and this course.

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“Very impressive! Jill Chamberlain’s Nutshell Technique is like the Rosetta Stone: it cracks the code behind why we love the movies that we love. It goes way beyond tired old beat sheet formulas and instead guides you to organically write the story you want to tell.”

Callum Greene
Producer: Star Wars Episode 9
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“Jill Chamberlain’s Nutshell Technique has been a real eye opener and the magic panacea I’ve been searching for as a screenwriter. Through her process, being able to have a bird’s eye view of a workable draft in just a few bullet points has been revelatory, forever changing the way I approach story.”

David Gleeson
Screenwriter, Tolkien
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“I was really impressed! Jill Chamberlain is incredible with story. She understands it so well and is super quick to tap into writers’ work.”

 

Kat Candler
Showrunner, Queen Sugar
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What’s Included

12.5 Hours of Workshop Time

Five 2 1/2 hour class sessions, each one filled with Jill Chamberlain’s unique lectures, skill-building exercises, group discussions, and individual story consultation.

Beat Sheets and Feedback

Get feedback on your story “nutshell” and your beat sheet outline from Jill Chamberlain and your fellow classmates.

Worksheets

Digital handouts of key story concepts and professional screenplay examples make convenient references in and outside the workshop.

Film Analysis

Each week the class analyzes a film assigned for outside viewing and deconstructs its underlying structure.

Syllabus

The five-week class was developed for amateur and seasoned screenwriters alike. Each week there is a focus on mastering a different area of the screenwriting craft.

Week 1

The Nutshell Technique and Story Structure

Lecture on the Nutshell Technique and the underlying structure of a feature film screenplay. A film viewing assigned pre-workshop will be analyzed to illustrate the lesson.

Week 2

Plot Development, The Eight Sequence Method

Delving deeper into how to structure your screenplay, you’ll learn the eight sequence method for a three-act story. Your own story nutshell will be reviewed by Jill and the class.

Week 3

Character Development

Learn the secrets to creating compelling on-screen characters. Once your nutshell has been cleared, you can turn in a beat sheet for your story.

Week 4

Writing in Screenplay Format

Learn how to write in industry format, describe scenes, and effectively create action. We’ll go over all the rules — and when you can break them.

Week 5

Dialogue

Writing natural yet concise dialogue is an art form, and this is when we go over the principles to get you on your way to mastery.