Writing For the Movies: Story Structure

(EGL 315)

This writing workshop explores the art and craft of writing a feature-length, narrative screenplay. Each participant develops a story idea into a detailed treatment, and then writes a portion of it in professional screenplay form. Emphasis is on transforming a story idea into a screenplay that is fresh, engaging, and meaningful. Lectures include how to develop stories best suited for the screen; how to build strong plot lines that aren’t held back by the conventional three-act structure; how to create memorable characters; and how to construct thematic unity in a screenplay. The core of this intensive writing workshop is not just writing—but rewriting. Class members present their work on a regular basis and continually develop their scripts based on supportive criticism by the instructor and their fellow writers.

Carl Yorke, Screenwriter

Carl Yorke is a writer, actor, and story development professional. He has a degree in theater from San Francisco State University, and studied screenwriting with Robert McKee and John Truby in Los Angeles. He worked professionally in Hollywood for more than sixteen years as head staff reader at Creative Arts Agency, Hollywood’s most powerful talent agency, as vice president of development for Perlman Productions at Warner Brothers and for 20th Century Fox, and as a script consultant for writers, actors, directors, and production companies. As an actor, he has appeared in numerous roles on stage, network television, and in feature films.