Feature Navigator 2011: Phase One - Treatment Workshop with Paul Chitlik

23 December, 2010

In March 2011 ScreenWest and the Australian Writers' Guild (AWG) are bringing screenwriter-producer Paul Chitlik from Los Angeles to Perth for two five-day intensive workshops for up to 16 projects (eight in each) to get one-on-one feedback and to help get your stories into the best shape. This free workshop will be the first phase of the Feature Navigator Development Program for 2011.

Paul Chitlik, author of REWRITE, A Step by Step Guide to Strengthen Structure, Characters, and Drama in Your Screenplay, will guide writers, directors and producers through the process of creating a solid draft by going back to treatment phase and ensuring the structure is sound before writing or re-writing a new draft. Chitlik (www.rewritementor.com), who teaches screenwriting at UCLA and Loyola Marymount University, and has taught at film schools around the world, will focus on the professional approach that he has employed in over a dozen films and hundreds of hours of television in his twenty-five years as a member of the Writers Guild of America.

Participants will explore how to create dynamic characters and put them into action, write seven point outlines followed by beat sheets, focusing on the key elements that drive the story, and will complete a 25-35 page treatment in the format favoured by major studios around the world. Most importantly, participants will learn the overall process of writing a treatment so that they will be able to apply that process to any future project.

The workshop will run for five consecutive days from Wednesday 16 to Sunday 20 March, and the second workshop will run Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 March. Over the five days there will be three hours per day of lecture and discussion. The remainder of each day will be available for individual consultations, reading and writing, with a focus on the needs of the individual project. Participants will develop their stories and characters in the group workshop and in private consultation with Chitlik. In the first two days (Wed & Thu) of each workshop the class will be offered in the evening so participants who have work commitments can minimise their time away from work.

The closing date for applications will be late January, and more details will be announced early in the New Year. ScreenWest is primarily looking for existing screenplays with the potential to benefit from this workshop process and a rewrite. Submissions will also be welcome for new feature ideas in early stages of development. The submission material needs to include: covering letter, one line, one paragraph, one page synopsis, first ten script pages and one page CV. If the project doesn't have a screenplay, a sample ten pages from another script will be required. A writer may apply individually, or with a director and/or producer.

Please direct initial questions to Alan Payne AWG WA Manager, on (08) 9227 9885 or wa@awg.com.au.