Course Objectives

• To develop a group of 12 feature film ideas from initial proposals to industry-ready first draft screenplays.
• To develop the skills and talents to a professional level of a selected group of 12 screenwriters.
• To respect the screenwriters’ unique voices and cultural background and produce screenplays that reflect these.
• To provide and develop the bedrock writing talent for the Singapore film industry’s future growth and development.

Course Description

THE FIRST DRAFT will be selecting a total of 15 participants for the programme. Of the 15 participants, only 12 will proceed to the workshop stage, and the other 3 are selected as reserves for the programme. Based on a five and six-day residential core, intensive peer review and ongoing online mentoring, THE FIRST DRAFT offers screenwriters the opportunity to develop and fully realise the potential of projects from initial draft to industry standard first draft. The course consists of;

• An initial five-day residential programme (venue to be confirmed) in March 2010 conducted by LCC tutors.
• a six-month online mentorship with LCC tutors and monthly peer group meetings.
• a further six day residential programme in September 2010 conducted by LCC tutors.
• a final six-month mentoring programme, leading to the final delivery of an industry-ready final first draft screenplay.

Course Schedule

25 March – 30 March 2010

An intensive residential week, during which the twelve initial feature film proposals are subjected to a rigorous and stimulating process of analysis and exploration. The residential course includes key tailored lectures, explorations of character, structure and theme, intensive group workshops, writing assignments, film screenings and professional one-to-one mentoring.

April to September 2010

Online one-to-one mentoring of each screenwriter by the programme leaders is backed up by monthly group meetings of the programme’s participants. Combined, these approaches ensure consistent supported development of each feature film project from outline to short treatment. Pivotal scenes are also written during this phase, anchoring overall development to the underlying dramatic tone and style.

23 September – 29 September 2010

The second intensive residential week, during which the feature film treatments are analysed, expanded and guided to the next stage of development. This residential course focuses on building the characters’ dramatic arcs and the mise-en-scene of the film, and includes key lectures, screen analysis, group workshops, writing assignments and professional one-to-one mentoring.

October 2010 to March 2011

Through professional one-to-one online mentoring, supported by monthly meetings of the programme’s participants the development of the feature film screenplays proceeds via three key stages: scene-by-scene breakdown; rough draft; and first draft. By the end of this process the screenplays are fully developed and prepared for presentation to the industry with a view to production as low-budget feature films.

Instructors’ Profiles

Ms Kelly Marshall is the course director of LCC’s MA screenwriter programme. She has devised and led several screenwriting, directing and acting projects in collaboration with various institutions. She has also presented a public series of lectures in London known as ‘Knowing Genre’. Her professional screenplays, which include a range of TV drama series, animation and comedy, have been screened on BBC, Nickelodeon, Granada TV, Scottish TV, Carlton TV and Channel 5. Her period drama ‘Breach of Promise’ was also selected in national competition by North By Northwest and four other feature film projects are in development in both the UK and the US.

Ms Tessa Sheridan is the senior lecturer of LCC’s MA screenwriter programme. She has devised and led several professional film development courses, both in Britain and Europe, which include projects for MEDIA Plus Europe, the Film Council, the First Film Foundation, the Arvon Foundation, Draft Zero, Scottish Screen and the National Academy of Writing. As a script editor, Tessa has developed three feature film screenplays for the Film Council and Scottish Screen. She was also on the judging panel of the Times Short Film Competition and the Bush Theatre’s New Playwrights Competition. Tessa’s short films have also won awards across Europe and US, including the Palme D’Or at Cannes and the BBC award for Best Short Drama.

Organizations’ portfolios

The BRITISH COUNCIL is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations and the world’s leading cultural relations organisation, connecting people with learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK to build lasting relationships around the world. We operate in 110 countries and territories worldwide and have been in Singapore since 1947, where the focus is on arts, science, education, English language teaching and UK examinations services The British Council is a non-political organisation which operates at arm’s length from government. For more information, visit: www.britishcouncil.org.sg

The LONDON COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION is the largest constituent College of the University of the Arts London. University status was awarded following outstanding evaluations of teaching quality, and the college’s sector-leading research performance. The College has around 9,000 students, of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Staff include successful practitioners in London’s thriving design, photography, broadcasting, publishing, advertising, film, television, printing, retailing and media industries. LCC’s School of Media specialises in practice-based courses preparing students for employment in the media.  The MA programme is one of the UK’s leading film and television scripting courses. Highly regarded throughout the industry, it has helped students win numerous UK and international awards and has established an outstanding position as a source of professional screenwriters for both film and television in the UK and internationally. All staff are practitioners in their field, working concurrently in media and education. The course holds highly regarded accreditation status – bestowed by Skillset, the UK Government-funded media skills and training body. See: www.lcc.arts.ac.uk

Formed in 2003, the MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (MDA) of Singapore plays a vital role in transforming Singapore into a Trusted Global Capital for New Asia Media. MDA spearheads initiatives that promote industry growth in film, television, radio, publishing, music, games, animation and Interactive Digital Media. At the same time, in ensuring clear and consistent regulatory policies and guidelines, MDA helps to foster a pro-business environment for industry players and increase media choices for consumers. For more information, visit: www.mda.gov.sg .

SINEMA ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES LIMITED (SAMP) is a social enterprise set up to propel the growth of the Singapore film industry by providing professional education and services while actively engaging the community via cultural enhancement programmes.