Screenwriting Workshops

I am very grateful to Ana Cristina and for my participation in this workshop; it was a great spark to better understand what a good story is made of. I have improved my skills, my motivation as a writer and it has made me a more confident producer.

Kashan Peña
Producer at NBCUniversal Media, LLC.

Learn the secrets to creating or adapting a story for film, television or the Internet.

Camara Films offers modular workshops for professionals and non-professionals.

The workshops combine the theory and practice of screenwriting to understand how a story works on any screen.

Discover how to create, develop, or evaluate a story according to proven storytelling and writing techniques applied in the most recognized and awarded Hollywood productions.

Workshops are led by Ana Cristina Henriquez, professional filmmaker, script doctor, and USC alumna, trained by legendary screenwriting expert Robert McKee.

Modules

Level 1 – 8 hours

What is a screenplay? Where do you begin?
Audiovisual writing vs. literary writing.
What is drama?
The classical structure: the three acts.
Plot points and dramatic turning points.
Premise: what it is and how to define it.
Theme: what it is and how to identify it.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) for exploring ideas, premises, and themes.
How to use AI to generate variations of a synopsis.

Level 2 – 8 hours

Conflict: what it is and how to articulate it.
What is a character, and how do you develop one?
Protagonist and antagonist.
Character vs. characterization.
Action vs. dramatic action.
Logline and tagline.
Using AI to develop character profiles.
Common biases and stereotypes in AI-generated content.

Level 3 – 8 hours

Dialogue and subtext.
Why is subtext one of the areas where human talent makes a difference?
What is a sequence? What is a scene?
Using AI as a brainstorming tool for scene development.
Critical analysis of AI-generated dialogue.
How to improve AI-generated dialogue to make it more natural and human.

Level 4 – 8 hours

Anatomy of the first page.
Basic elements of standard screenplay format.
Key aspects of writing the first ten pages of a feature-length screenplay.
Current AI tools for screenwriters.
How to write effective prompts for audiovisual project development.
Advantages and limitations of AI in screenwriting.
Ethical, legal, and copyright considerations related to the use of AI.

Message to Participants

Artificial intelligence can help explore ideas, generate alternatives, and overcome creative blocks. However, human sensitivity, emotional depth, subtext, and authorial voice remain essential elements of audiovisual storytelling. AI is a valuable support tool, but the best results emerge from the collaboration between the screenwriter’s creativity and technology.

General information

We offer individual and group scriptwriting classes.

Each level: 8 academic hours.

Location: live – online.

Requirements: synopsis of a maximum of 2 pages per participant.

Group classes: to be determined.

Number of students: 4 – 10.

Date: to be determined.

Individual class schedule: to be determined.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the course available in English?
- Yes! For the English course all the material and exercises are in English. The film scenes we will analyze will be shown in English.
Are the scripts we will read in English?
- Yes!
Will I receive a certificate?
- Upon completion of any of the workshops you will receive a certificate signed by the teacher.
Can I take the course even if I am not a writer?
- Modules 1 and 2 go over useful material for anyone interested in knowing the fundamental elements behind a good screen story. Whether you are a writer or not, these first two levels provide you with knowledge that will change the way you look at stories in any audiovisual medium. The exercises in levels 3 and 4 are designed for those who wish to complete the treatment and first few pages of a story of their own. However, the foundation gained in each level prepares anyone who wishes to tell a story to take the first steps in its construction, whether or not they are a writer.