Job Details

Everything begins with the story. Writing is the fundamental core of all visual story production. Dreaming of new worlds and characters is fun but how do you actually turn an idea into something real that can be shared with the world? While writing can often feel like an individual artform, it quickly becomes collaborative when you go to turn your script into reality. Creativity meets structure and purpose when pen hits the paper, so it is useful to learn the basic tools and techniques that can bring your stories to life.

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Course Levels

This course is offered for youth, explore, advanced and professional levels. There is no kids level. This is an ongoing format class, which means it has no set beginning or end. You can continue to take classes until you and your teachers decide it is time for you to move up to the next level.​

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LEVEL: YOUTH 

• Ages 12-16

• Classes are available once per week for 1.5 hours per class

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LEVEL: EXPLORE

• Ages 17+

• Classes are available twice per week for 2 hours per class

• This level is open to all beginners and those who are curious to explore the craft

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LEVEL: ADVANCED

• Ages 17+

• Classes are available twice per week for 2 hours per class

• The advanced level open to those with some previous level of experience, and those who are interested in pursuing it as a career.

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LEVEL: PROFESSIONAL

• Ages 17+

• Classes are available twice per week for 2 hours per class

• The professional level open to those with previous working experience. An entrance interview is required.

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Writing Topics Covered

• Attention to detail in writing your story

• Breakdown scenes in a film & breaking a series

• Character development

• How to “kill the baby” & letting go of ideas

• What are loglines and how to make one

• How to write short form and social media content

• Script coverage

• Script formatting

• Pitch decks & summaries

• How to write a treatment & synopsis

• The basic structure of storytelling

• The process of story drafts (what to do with them? action lines, silent movie, visuals, dialogues, character breakout, etc.)

• Tricks for breaking through writers block

• What an assistant director does with your script

• What happens to your script after you're doing writing it. How does it end up on screen?

• How to begin your story notes and script

• Agents, managers & lawyers

• How to sell your script

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Wellness Topics Covered

• How to maintain a healthy creative lifestyle balance (discipline, schedule, rent, etc.)

• Dealing with harassment (long hours, food on set, sexual, emotional, etc.)

• How to critique/give feedback

• Professional development (expectations, behavior on set, maintaining connections, marketing yourself, how to say no to people [knowing when the answer is no and how to make as few people hate you as possible])

• How to deal with social media content and feedback

• What notes are, how to interpret them & how to deal with feelings of being attacked emotionally

• Your support team (manager, agent, etc.) and tips how to grow your career

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Previous Experience Required

No previous experience required for youth and explore levels. Some previous experience required for advanced and professional levels.

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Ages

Ages 12+

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Prerequisites

There are no other prerequisite courses within the Catalyst curriculum.

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Cost

• €20/class for youth

• €25/class for explore, advanced, and professional

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Location

Classes are held in-person at our Kinostudio campus in Tirana, Albania

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Class Schedule

TBD

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Class Size

• Up to 10 students per class for youth

• Up to 20 students per class for explore and advanced

• Up to 10 students per class for professional

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Language

All classes are taught in English

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Video Recording

Classes are not recorded for later use​

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Scholarships

​Scholarships are available on a limited basis to those who can demonstrate a financial need. To request a scholarship review meeting, please fill out the scholarship request form here.