V18 launches new edition of screen-writing course for emerging professionals

The Valletta 2018 Foundation has opened a call for experienced and emerging screenwriters, producers, directors and editors who will receive training in developing feature film or television drama projects intended for production next year and in 2017.

The course focuses on the film industry while seeking to instil screenwriting skills into a generation of professionals through project development. It will be split into two modules with the first conducted in tuition-based group sessions. This will run from 14 to 20 March 2015. Individual sessions by Skype make up the second module, taking place in August/Sept 2015.

Eight writers and eight creative collaborators will be selected for this programme. Applications are invited from writers with outlines for feature-length projects and creative collaborators (producers, directors or editors) who will work on the writers’ projects.

All producers’, directors’ and editors’ applications will be considered on the basis of previous experience. Writers and creative collaborators who took part in the first and second editions of Storyworks are also invited to apply.

Storyworks is designed for projects which are ready for intensive development. The aim is to develop the skills of the creative team and guide each project to its fullest potential. Ideas will be developed to a structured and honed first draft (or strong outline), giving them the best chance of attracting finance and ultimately, reaching as wide an audience as possible. Through exploration of the team’s vision for the finished product, this course seeks to develop screenplays into well-realised, focused, and professionally presented scripts.

This is the third edition of Storyworks and is designed on the Valletta 2018 Foundation’s objective to build a generation of artists and individuals servicing the creative industry by 2018.

The effective climate of collaboration between public cultural organisations is resulting in strategic investment in cultural infrastructure and capacity building which are essential to develop and promote the Valletta 2018 Cultural Programme. Besides Storyworks, Valletta 2018 runs Technical Skills courses, the Curatorial School and the Curators in Residence Programme as well as a number of projects in schools.

The programme is organised by the Valletta 2018 Foundation in collaboration with St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity and the Malta Film Commission.

Storyworks will be led by David Howard from the University of Southern California and Story Consultant Mary Kate O’Flanagan, whose careers have led them to work with industry professionals worldwide.

The programme fee is €200 for writers who participate with their proposed scripts, €150 for producers who collaborate on a writer’s script and €300 for writer and producer who apply as a pair. Applications are to be downloaded from: www.valletta2018.org and sent to [email protected] by February 16 at 17:00. Successful applicants will be informed by February 23.

Enquiries may be made to: [email protected] or by calling 2124 2018