Selling the Screenplay I: From Script to Pitch

This course offers a dual focus on craft and commerce, guiding students to view their work through the lens of buyers, funders, and creative executives. Through eight lectures, students will shape their ideas into outlines and treatments, write a mock grant application, and develop a detailed Story Bible—all while refining their voice and understanding how to position their work in today’s film and television landscape.

Info: This session provides an overview of key industry gatekeepers—agents, managers, executives, and funders—and explores how “story” is defined through both creative and industry lenses. You’ll learn core concepts like active vs. passive protagonists, wants vs. needs, and transformation myths. The deliverable is to begin developing your outline or treatment and watch Inside Out.

Info: You’ll gain a solid understanding of outlines, including their format, length, and the use of loglines and synopses. Structural tools covered include the Central Dramatic Argument, Dramatic Question, Central Relationship, and the Seven Big Beats. The case study focuses on Inside Out. The deliverable is to refine your outline and watch The Last of Us (Season 1).

Info: This session dives into writing treatments, including structure, stylistic choices, and how to handle moral ambiguity in storytelling. You’ll also cover option agreements, WGA/WGC regulations, and what it means to work "on spec." The case study continues with The Last of Us (Season 1). Your deliverable is to submit the Movie Analysis assignment.

Info: Learn what funders, contests, and grants look for in a writer’s personal voice. Explore tone, aesthetic, and authorial identity as marketable assets. You’ll also discuss industry trends, timing, and how to answer the question, “Why now?” The deliverable is to begin a mock grant application.

Info: This session focuses on crafting compelling protagonists, distinguishing between simple and complex characters, and understanding why character drives longevity and cultural impact. An optional character breakdown worksheet is provided. The deliverable is to submit your Story Bible.

Info: You’ll examine genre as a tool for structure, language, and market positioning. Learn when and how to mix genres while maintaining clarity and tone. Case studies include Unbreakable and The Last of Us Episode 3. The deliverable is to continue revising your outline or treatment.

Info: Explore what a professional screenplay looks and reads like, with a focus on scene-level tension and narrative propulsion. The case study for this session is the prologue from Midsommar. Your final outline or treatment is due.

Info: In the final session, you’ll learn how to craft and deliver a compelling five-minute verbal pitch. You’ll participate in live pitch practice with feedback from the instructor and peers, and get introduced to Part II, which focuses on visual pitch materials and producer presentations. The deliverable is to practice your verbal pitch in class.

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