New Filmbase Course: Writing Short Films That Get Funded

admin | November 30, 2009

Filmbase’s day-time course (10–12 December, 10.30am–5.30pm) will give expert guidance in crafting short film scripts.

Making a successful short film is very often a springboard to a career in feature films, documentaries and TV drama. Competition for short film funding under the various Irish schemes, including the Filmbase/RTÉ Awards, is incredibly high.

The aim of this course is to give writers and producers expert guidance in crafting their short film scripts to the standards required by Filmbase/RTÉ and other funders and to improve the quality of entries for Irish short film schemes.

There will also be a Meet the Funders panel, where participating filmmakers can hear from and ask questions of the people who select the winners. This course is highly recommended for filmmakers who propose to apply for the Filmbase/RTÉ short film awards.

Mary Kate O Flanagan is an award-winning screenwriter and experienced tutor and script consultant. She regularly reads and shortlists projects for schemes across the European film industry. ‘I would rank Mary Kate on the highest international level in terms of her knowledge of filmmaking, her contributions to the creative process, and her expertise in dealing with screenwriters’. Philip LaZebnik. Screenwriter: Mulan, Pocahontas, The Prince of Egypt.

The course content includes: finding a visual correlative for the theme of a short film; developing an idea from conception to production-ready script; avoiding the most common pitfalls and how to rewrite; examining what makes short films effective.

This day-time course will take place 10–12 December from 10.30am–5.30pm.

It costs €180 for waged members and €150 for unwaged members. A €60 non-refundable deposit is required and bookings can be made by phone: 01 679 6716 or at Filmbase reception. The course outline is available from grainne@filmbase.ie