WritING Holiday Movies
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OVERVIEW
Diwali, Nowruz, Thanskgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Eid Al-Fitr, New Year, Midsommar, Ferragosto, Kwamza... Wherever you live, every year you will experience national holidas and cultural celebrations. For some, this comes with anticipation, excitement and hope. For others, they just bring pressure and stress. Holidays can feel like a rollercoaster. For writers this creates perfect scenarios that subject our screen characters to the kind of social, physical, financial, relational, and emotional challenges that make good drama or great comedy. We expect holiday movies to reference familiar elements, such as family gatherings, food, music, gift giving, love, loneliness, bah-humbug, peace, renewal and light. But familiar elements do not have to be formulaic, especially if we know how to re-craft and inject them with fun, action or fear. We can leave the audience uplifted, thrilled or scared. And when a re-imagined or re-invented formula works, audiences love it. Whether the world outside makes you want to write something uplifting, to punch back with an action-led drama or hide under the sofa from ghosts or just the horror of it all, a holiday movie in your writing portfolio makes sound commercial sense . This half-day online course covers a range of screen narratives from a variety of countries and cultures. What they have in common is protagonists navigating a festive season, holiday, or festival. CONTENT PART ONE: The first workshop looks at common ingredients and recipes for festive narratives. We examine the familiar and explore unexpected mixes offered by stories that elevate the narrative and resonate with audiences. PART TWO: The second workshop is hands on. First you will brainstorm how to elevate standard story ideas to something fresh and original. Then you will workshop your own holiday movie idea. ABOUT YOUR TUTOR ELIZABETH CLEGG I’m a writer, script editor and development consultant, specialising in stories based on true events and real people. I have an original feature biopic under option, and am currently Development Consultant on two biopics. I have designed, taught or assessed screenwriting and creative writing courses for academia, cultural bodies and industry. As well as Euroscript these include: Bectu; the British Council; the Commonwealth Media Development Fund; the European Development Fund; Goldsmiths (University of London); London College of Communication (University of the Arts London); the London Film Academy; the National Film and Television School; NorthWest Vision; Roehampton University; the UK Film Council; and the UNESCO Programme for Creative Content. I am a Fellow of the HEA (HIgher Education Academy). |
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT ELIZABETH'S COURSES AND FEEDBACK
"...brilliant session [...] the pace and interaction were just right and complimented the incredibly well delivered information, what a gift for you to share your knowledge with us." Deborah Telling True Stories for the Screen "It was a privilege to access your knowledge and insights to screenwriting and its industry. I learned plenty both from yourself and my fellow students that was relevant to my specific project, as well as to the larger business of getting a film to the screen." Nigel Telling True Stories for the Screen "It was uncanny. She knew exactly what we were thinking, what we were going to ask and what we needed to hear almost before we did." Gill and Elaine True Stories Incubator BOOKING DETAILS TWO-PART ONLINE WORKSHOP DATES PART ONE - THURSDAY, 2nd JULY, 2026 PART TWO - THURSDAY, 9th JULY, 2026 TIMES 18:00-21:00 (UK); 19:00-22:00 (EU); 13:00-16:00 (EST); 10:00-13:00 (PST) PRICING Part One + Two - Full Price: £95.00 Part One + Two - Concession or Partner Price*: £85 Part One Only - Full Price: £65.00 Part One Only - Concession or Partner Price*: £50 *Concession price available to anyone receiving benefit/pension. Partner price available to members of: BECTU, Directors UK, Lane's List, Society of Authors, WFTV, WGGB. Proof required. Remember to check the ScreenSkills website for bursaries www.screenskills.com/training-and-opportunities/?fundingOptions=ScreenSkills%20funded PAY IN 3 STAGES, FOR FREE! Those with PayPal accounts can opt to pay for workshops in 3 payments: 1st at time of purchase; 2nd at 30 days; 3rd at 60 days. Click PayPal Button at Check Out. Select PAYPAL OFFERS. For any questions or queries about the workshop and its suitability for you, email me a the link below.
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