Writing Your Short Film
This practical ten week course will introduce you to the wonderful world of short film, help you generate and hone your own ideas, and create the time and space for you to write the first draft of your own short film script.
In an intentionally small group, you’ll listen to lectures and take part in practical written exercises to help you get to grips with character, structure and pitching your ideas, as well as writing treatments and making mood boards and pitch decks - everything you'll need to get your short film ready for the world!
Most importantly, you’ll receive support and feedback from an experienced writer.
Each participant will receive a detailed script report on their first draft, and a half hour Zoom chat to discuss feedback and next steps.
Once you've paid for the course here, you'll receive an email within 48 hours with more information, and an email a week prior to the course with joining instructions and some links to materials to help you prepare.
Where: Zoom
When: weekly - 6.30 - 8.30pm (UK Time), from Thursday 5th October - 7th December - I'll open the classroom at 6.00pm for anyone who would like to join for coffee and a chat, and the sessions themselves will start at 6.30pm, prompt.
Nb: This is the first time I'm running a course like this, in this format, and as such it's a bit of an experiment. This will be the only time I'm able to offer this course at such a (relatively) low price, and I will be asking participants to fill in feedback forms in the middle and at the end of the course.
I'm committed to making film and television accessible to everyone and will be offering two FREE spaces on this course to people on low or no income, no questions asked.
These free spaces will be made available at 5pm (UK time) on Thursday 7th September and offered on a first come, first served basis.
For anyone who can afford it, the 'Pay It Forward' option will help to pay for these places.
Michael Lee Richardson
Michael Lee Richardson is a writer and youth worker based in Glasgow. Michael’s short film, My Loneliness is Killing Me – directed by Tim Courtney – won a BAFTA Scotland Award in 2018. It has been shown on BBC Scotland, and at film festivals around the world. Michael’s most recent short, Who I Am Now - directed by Jack Goessens - premiered at Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2022. Michael is currently in postproduction on Just Jackie, their first short as director.
Michael has film and television projects in development with a range of different broadcasters and production companies, and has also written for radio, and published poetry, prose and children’s nonfiction. Michael is passionate about telling rich, authentic stories about queer and working class lives and culture.
An experienced teacher, Michael has delivered workshops and courses for a range of organisations, including Scottish Book Trust and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Outside of writing, Michael likes 80s makeover montages, witches, and going to the shops.