Calling all emerging screenwriters wanting to learn more about the principles of writing!

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Screen Queensland and Screenworks have engaged AFTRS to offer the ‘Introduction to Screenwriting Course’ which will teach participants how to create a short film they could take to festivals.

Delivered by Jayden Rathsam Hua, an award-winning Chinese-Australian writer and director well-known for his successful shorts, this course is designed to introduce participants to the craft of screenwriting which starts with a short film, along with some hands-on methods for building the foundation of character, storyline and structure.

The two-week course commences on 15 October. Eligible participants will partake in four online evening sessions along with an in-person event in Cairns on 31 October which will allow writers to network and also hear a read-through of their work by two local actors. 

As part of the course and to help inspire the participants, Screenworks has collaborated with Port Shorts to offer discounted tickets to attend the Saturday night viewing on 19 October to be immersed in the world of short films and local film festivals. Port Shorts Festival Director, Alison George and local Writer and Producer, Jannah Dryden will then join the in-person event on 31 October to offer attendees an insight into their journey and experience in short form films.

The course is designed to cover the following learning objectives:

  • An introduction to how story ideas and story worlds are generated
  • Outlining the main principles of classic screenwriting, and the difference between conventional and alternative structures
  • The concepts of the three-act screen story, dramatic premise and theme
  • Tools for developing character arcs
  • Discover the practice of writing visual documents that reflect the ABC stories
  • Learn the principles of writing scenes and sequences.

This course will be capped at 20 participants and each one will be selected via an application process where you will need to meet the following criteria:

Eligibility requirements:

  • Applicants must be over 18 years of age to apply for this course.
  • Applicants must be an Australian citizen or resident, living in North Queensland for a minimum of the past 6 months.
  • Must be able to demonstrate a story/script they are currently writing. 

Submission materials:

To be considered for this course you must have a story idea that you have already been working on. It can be in the very early stages of development.

  • A basic treatment of your story which may include some of or all of the following:
    • Logline
    • Synopsis
    • Main character information
    • Statement (250 words) about the story you want to tell and why.
    • Script sample of up to 5 pages (optional)

This initiative is part of Screen Queensland’s North Queensland Regional Program delivered in partnership with Screenworks. Registration and personal information will be shared with Screen Queensland to assist with the delivery of future projects.

Guest Speakers:

Jayden Rathsam Hua is a Chinese Australian writer/director focused on documentary and horror, with a Masters in Producing from AFTRS. His short documentary, the Key of B, won ‘Best Documentary’ at the Lightworks Film Festival and the Gold Award at the Atlanta International Documentary Film Festival. His short film, SUSHI NOH, has screened at over 30 international film festivals, winning Audience Choice and ‘The Most Bonkers’ award at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, ‘Best Student Short’ at Another Hole in the Head in San Francisco, and ‘Best Screenplay for an Australian Short’ at Flickerfest 2023, releasing online on Halloween 2023 on Short of the Week, ALTER, and Vimeo Staff Picks. 

Since graduating from AFTRS, Jayden has worked as the Production Coordinator for Lingo Pictures and in the VFX Production team at Industrial Light and Magic for Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 (2023). Jayden is a MIFF Accelerator Lab and TIFF Filmmaker Lab alumnus and won the 2023 Inner West Film Fest Pitching Competition, panelled by Breathless and Causeway Films, with his concept for the SUSHI NOH feature film. Jayden has since co-founded the genre-focused Australian production company COSMIC SCREAM alongside producers Hugo Koehne and Henry Koehne and is currently developing the SUSHI NOH feature film, his debut feature, MATRIARCH, with support from Screen Australia, and is in post-production for his next horror short, BELLOE, due in 2024.

Alison George is the Festival Director of Port Shorts Film Festival since 2015, Ali George plays a key role in selecting the films for screening, curating the overall festival experience, and liaising closely with filmmakers. Alongside her festival duties, she continues her work as a professional photographer and videographer, and contributes her skills on film sets in the camera department.

Jannah Dryden is an emerging Australian filmmaker based in regional Queensland whose work in comedy is starting to garner significant attention and praise. She began her screen career writing and producing commercial advertising comedy skits, notably working with comedy great Celeste Barber, before transitioning into narrative comedy in 2022. Along with her creative co-pilot Glenn Saggers, Jannah’s debut short comedy film Chesters (2023) received numerous accolades, including Best Australian Short Film, Best Director, and several finalist and semi-finalist nominations both in Australia and abroad, and more recently selected as a finalist in this year’s Port Shorts Film Festival.

NQ Introduction to Screenwriting course is delivered in partnership with Screen Queensland and delivered by AFTRS.