The Screenwriters Toolkit

Screenwriting classes often either lean too heavily on theory or simply study the technical approach to writing without a greater context for its use, as if the act of screenwriting exists in a vacuum – it does not. In The Screenwriters Toolkit with Jim Uhls, you’ll learn both the nuts and bolts of the craft, as well as its relationship to getting your work read and ultimately produced.

Jim’s sceenwriting credits include the modern classic “Fight Club” the feature-film "Jumper" the NBC television film "Semper Fi" and the SyFy miniseries "Spin" In this class, he’ll share lessons from his extensive experience writing for Hollywood and the small screen. He’ll teach you how to develop better scripts, get traction for your projects, and navigate the complex professional landscape of script development.

You’ll learn about screenwriting form and content, including:

• Vocabulary and formats
• Dialogue vs silence
• Adapting existing works for the screen
• Genre-writing

Jim will also share essential insights on developing a career in screenwriting. 

You’ll learn:

• The differences between writing for television and features
• Who to work with: agents vs managers vs lawyers
• How to obtain and manage projects of various sizes and contexts

The Screenwriters Toolkit is a comprehensive examination of screenwriting form, content, craft, and traffic. You’ll learn how to adapt your content to the size, genre, and desired professional result of the script while also learning about the best on-ramps for aspiring writers.

• What We Will Discuss in the Course
• Vocabulary & Basic Style Rules
• The Three-Act Structure
• Creating Your Lead Character
• Interview Your Lead Character
• Creating Supporting Character(s) & Antagonist
• How to Build a Scene
• Student Scene Breakdowns
• Act One: How to Write Plot Point One
• Act Two: How to Write Plot Point Two
• Act Three: The Climax & Advanced Techniques
• Teleplay: Five Act Structure
• How to Create a Series
• Creating the Pilot
• Creating the Seasons
• Advice for Just Starting
• How to Get an Agent
• The Pitch & The Notes Meeting
• How to Deal with Uncertainty
• The Mindset of the Decision Makers
• Final Q & A