Content Tabs
"This is an excellent course that celebrates difference and myth busts taboos of the industry. If the industry operated the way this course does, TV and film would become more enriched and diverse."
-Former Student
- What does a hero's journey look like when they have an under-represented voice?
- How do under-represented writers navigate an industry not yet ready for them?
- How do you use existing expectations and dogmas to your advantage?
Writers from underrepresented backgrounds need practical advice on navigating pitfalls and bending the rules and expectations of TV and film to their benefit. They need an opportunity to explore their ideas among like-minded peers who can help support and nurture them.
This course runs on Wednesday evenings, after working hours (18:15-20:45), for 13 weeks — giving you greater flexibility to hit weekly writing homework deadlines. At the halfway point, there will be a 1-week break solely for writing your project.
Under-representation and under-represented groups in the UK relate to the protected characteristics as defined in the UK Equality Act 2010. Additional areas include regional participation, socioeconomic background, and caring responsibilities. This is not an exhaustive list.
- British Film Institute
As a neurodiverse and disabled writer, during his career, John noticed a common issue with screenwriting books, lessons, and dogmas: far too many of them do not adapt or cater to underrepresented voices.
Instead of championing one existing screenwriting theory, this course acknowledges that one size does not fit all!
The lab utilises John’s From Scratch to Screen method — a visual, flexible, creative methodology for screenwriting — a form of writing that is inherently visual! The lab equips writers with a wide range of existing tools to tackle writing and rewriting screenplays. Over 13 weeks, you will:
- Learn From Scratch to Screen — a visual method for visual writing.
- Learn the basics of developing a concept into a pitch and treatment.
- Develop a minimum of one sellable pitch for your project.
- Practice writing and redrafting for both original ideas and existing IPs.
- Gain invaluable practice in pitching exercises and mock Writers’ rooms.
- Learn a toolbox of popular structures, theories, and troubleshooting techniques — and how to make them work for you!
- Write, redraft, workshop, and polish at least 20-30 pages of a personal project screenplay — short, pilot, or feature.
ABOUT THE TUTOR:
John Servante is a Writer with a disability and neurodivergence. A former NFTS student, John won places on both Channel 4’s 4Stories initiative and the BBC Studios Writers Academy, working with a breadth of BAFTA-winning producers including Elizabeth Kilgariff, Marcus Wilson, John Yorke, Philip Trethowan and Ben Bickerton, and John Chapman.
Writers should attend with ideas or stories they wish to work into scripts and pitches.
Please fill in the application form.
