Week 12 – What I’ve Learned

With my first MA module finished, I’m currently in limbo waiting for my feedback. In the meantime, I thought I’d write up a few of the big lessons I’ve taken away from the last three months of studying.

Structure is everything

Don’t fight structure. Don’t assume your script has to be formulaic, generic, and predictable just because it has a beginning, middle, and end. Following story beats and taking your character on an emotional journey makes your film stronger 99% of the time. Whether you’re writing a Hollywood adventure like Raiders of the Lost Ark or a low key arthouse drama like Red Road, using three or five act structure will help you reach the finish line.

Learn to pitch

Not just because 50% of being a writer is explaining your ideas succinctly and dynamically, but because summing your story up in a few sentences helps you get to the heart of what it’s about. If your idea is too complicated to be described in three minutes, or you struggle to communicate the premise in 50 words, you may need to go back and figure out exactly what story you want to tell. Speaking of which…

Writer’s statements are useful

Writer’s statements are tough. How do you explain why you’ve chosen to write a particular script in a few hundred words? Ideas often come from nowhere, so having to offer a rational can be daunting. However, producing a writer’s statement is useful for getting to the heart of the themes and emotions you want to explore. Understanding why you want to tell stories can be revelatory, helping you to realise what you’re passionate about.

Screenwriters can do anything

If there’s one lesson that’s stuck with me from the last three months, it’s the ever-changing nature of what a screenwriter does. From classic film and TV scripts to games and interactive projects to new, uncharted mediums, screenwriting is an all-encompassing job that requires versatility and an open mind to succeed. Whilst writing film and television is ultimately my goal, undertaking this MA has shown me alternative paths and routes writers can take to make it in the industry.

–Harry Ford