4-Week Online Screenwriting Camp for Teens

Core Subjects

Students will engage in the following core subjects throughout the program:

• Elements of Screenwriting – A lecture and screening-based class where students learn the basics of writing for film and television. Through discussions and exercises, they will explore fundamental principles such as structure, character development, dialogue, and visual storytelling. Practice scenes will be written and workshopped as students analyze key films (watched as homework) and scenes (watched in class).

• Screenwriting Workshop – Building on the lessons from Elements of Screenwriting, this hands-on class allows students to develop an idea for a short film and transform it into a fully realized script. Through instructor feedback and peer collaboration, students will refine their storytelling techniques and improve their writing skills.

• Story Generation – This workshop focuses on helping students find inspiration for their stories. The first two weeks will include writing exercises designed to help students identify compelling ideas in the world around them. In the second half of the course, students will develop a treatment for the feature-length version of one of their story ideas.

• Television Writer’s Room – In this collaborative workshop, students will form the “writing staff” of an existing TV show, brainstorming and mapping out their version of an upcoming season. Each student will create an outline for an episode, learning the professional process of writing a spec script.

• Comedy Writing – A once-a-week class dedicated to humor in screenwriting. Students will engage in exercises and lessons designed to enhance their comedic timing, understand different styles of humor, and learn how to integrate comedy into their stories.

Final Projects

By the end of the program, students will complete one of the following final projects, demonstrating their mastery of screenwriting techniques:

• A Feature Film Treatment – A fully developed treatment outlining a feature-length screenplay, including major plot points, character arcs, and thematic elements.

• A Short Film Script (7-12 pages/minutes) – A polished short screenplay developed through writing workshops and instructor feedback.

• An Outline of a Spec Script for an existing TV Show – A structured episode outline for an existing television series, following industry standards for professional screenwriting.

The 4-Week Online Screenwriting Program is designed to immerse students in the world of professional screenwriting, allowing them to refine their skills, develop original ideas, and explore different writing formats. With an extended timeline, students have more time to workshop their stories, receive feedback, and build a strong foundation in film and television writing. By the end of the program, students will have a fully developed project, showcasing their ability to create compelling narratives and preparing them for further screenwriting endeavors.

To learn more about our programs, please refer to NYFA’s camp brochure.