On 15 and 22 May in Cape Town and on 29 and 30 May in Johannesburg, The Writing Studio will present the Write Journey workshop for aspirant screenwriters, where the secrets of writing a universal story that reflects the uniqueness, history and culture of South Africa and the continent, will be revealed.
Guest speaker is producer Ross Garland (Big Fellas, Confessions of a Gambler), who is in post-production with the screen adaptation of John van der Ruit’s best selling novel, Spud. Garland will talk to the writers about what it takes to be a screenwriter in South Africa and how to turn your idea into profit.
The Write Journey workshop follows The Writing Studio’s reputable tradition of 16-years of workshops throughout South Africa. The trainer is Daniel Dercksen, who has been presenting workshops in scriptwriting and creative writing since the inception of The Writing Studio, including a Master Class for Screenwriters for the Talent Campus at the Sithengi Film and TV Market in Cape Town, and facilitated a “Directing Actors’ workshop with acclaimed actor Eriq Ebouaney.
During the workshop aspirant scribes will learn the fundamentals of building and telling a compelling story, and how to effectively dramatise ideas, characters and plot.
Within two days writers will have the tools and resources to write a screenplay built on solid foundation that is ready for the development process of turning words into images.
Writers will learn how to turn ideas into marketable concepts, and concepts into profitable stories. The workshop also examines the process of writing a screenplay from inception to first draft, explores the differences between the writing process and filming process, looks at how to develop three-dimensional characters, and how to structure a story that delivers maximum dramatic or comedic impact.
The Write Journey is a workshop for anyone who has a story to tell and ideal for novelists and short story writers who would like to transform their work into a tangible screenplay for film or television and learn the fundamentals of writing for a visual medium.
The workshop turns theory into practise and ideas inside out. It explores the full dramatic or comedic potential of stories and empowers local storytellers with the write tools to tell their stories through pictures and dialogue.
The workshop is also an introduction into the world of filmmaking and teaches writers how to read and interpret the fascinating language of film, and how to evaluate and analyse film, television constructively.
Following the workshop, the writers can sharpen their storytelling skills by signing up for The Write Voice workshop or tackle writing the first draft of their screenplay in The Write Draft advanced workshop.
The cost of the workshop is R900 with a discounted rate of R800 for students, scholars and pensioners, Bursaries are allocated on discretion to unemployed and disadvantaged writers.
The Cape Town workshop takes place at the Artscape Theatre Centre on Saturday, May 15 and 22 from 10am until 5pm.
The workshop is also hosted by Screen Africa in Johannesburg at the Sasani Studios on May 29 and 30 from 10am until 5pm.
During a time of recession, The Writing Studio encourages writers to invest in their creative talent and turn inspiration into profit.
For more information on the Basic Workshop for Screenwriters visit the website www.writingstudio.co.za , send an email to info@writingstudio.co.za or call 072 474 1079.
