Writing a Successful Thriller

Would you like to bring your script development skills to the next level and give your thriller project a total makeover? If so you’ll want to check out this live workshop…

What’s in it for You?

Based on the innovative Story-Type Method®, this add-on workshop explores essential tools for developing a successful thriller, either for Film or TV.

For example, we’ll explain how Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs applies to thrillers specifically. We’ll explore the many sub-genres, as well as one of the most important aspects of thriller writing, which is management of information through the use of mystery, surprise and dramatic irony: To write a great thriller, it’s essential to be aware of the difference between a whodunit and a suspense story. We’ll also discuss Cold Starts and Encore Twists, which are often used in this popular genre.

From creating edge-of-the-seat tension to crafting a satisfying ending, your thriller writing and development skills will greatly improve with a clearer understanding of these tools.

Using clips, examples and detailed case studies from successful thrillers such as Misery, Minority Report, Se7en, Gravity, The Silence of the Lambs, Taken, Falling Down, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, Children of Men, The Fugitive, Heat, Mute Witness, The Bourne Trilogy, Breakdown, Jaws, North by Northwest, Memento and many others, we’ll look at the storytelling tools and techniques needed to master this very popular genre.

This workshop is usually commissioned by independent producers, studios, regional/national film funds or training organisations.

Please see the FAQs below for more details.


Writing a Successful Thriller Workshop
Fees on January 1st, 2024

Excl. 20% UK VAT if applicable
INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION COMPANY

£3,995
5-9 participants

  • Includes preparation and online delivery (using our webinar platform & Zoom)
  • Partial in-person delivery, travel & accommodation costs on top (please see the FAQs below)
  • A/V equipment / Meeting room not included
  • Maximum 9 participants

Would you like to bring your script development skills to the next level and give your thriller project a total makeover?

This package will train creative producers, development execs, story editors and writer/directors working for the same independent production company, making sure that everyone in the team is on the same page and equipped with the best tools when discussing thrillers.
A separate slate assessment service can be arranged (fee to be defined depending on the number of projects in development).

One or more extra day(s) for project work can also be booked alongside the workshop to allow meetings on individual projects immediately after the last day. See the next column for more details.

This add-on module is an extension of our Advanced Script Development Workshop. Participants are expected to have attended the main workshop / course or read Screenwriting Unchained.

OPTIONAL ONE-TO-ONE DAY

£2,995 (4 projects)
For project work meetings

  • Includes preparation and online delivery (using Zoom)
  • In-person delivery, travel and accommodation costs on top (please see the FAQs below)
  • Each meeting is an extended script chat (up to 90 min.)
  • £695 for each additional project
  • Actual fee varies, written notes optional

While the Thriller Workshop is very practical and allows the participants to focus on a specific project if they want to, there is no time during the workshop to discuss individual projects.

A number of extra days can therefore be booked along with the workshop to make time for specific projects, read in advance (max. 130 pages), to be discussed with the creative team (producer, writer, director, story editor) immediately after the last day. All the participants to the meeting have to have followed the workshop.

We’ll focus on the strengths and weaknesses of each project, as well as the way forward.

For more extensive project work following this workshop, you might want to consider this new hands-on extension of our Advanced Development Workshop: The Rewrite Stuff – 12 Ways to a Stronger Screenplay, which can be adapted specifically for thriller projects.

REGIONAL/NATIONAL FUND OR STUDIO

From £4,995
for 10-20 participants

  • Includes preparation and online delivery (using our webinar platform & Zoom)
  • Partial in-person delivery, travel and accommodation costs on top (please see the FAQs below)
  • A/V equipment / Meeting room not included
  • £249 for each additional participant

This version of the workshop is aimed at regional / national funds or organisations who would like to train a larger number of participants (usually up to forty-eight, though more is technically possible). It’s also the option a studio would go for to train their development team and writers developing projects with them.

The content of the workshop can be fine-tuned to a specific audience (for example producers, story editors and development execs, or writers and directors).

While the tools are the same, the approach can be different depending on the participants’ role in development. This being said, the workshop works equally well with a mixed audience as long as participants have roughly the same level of experience.

This add-on module is an extension of our Advanced Script Development Workshop. Participants are expected to have attended the main workshop / course or read Screenwriting Unchained.

Average Rating: 5.0 stars (based on 3 ratings)

Enlightening and inspiring.

Terrific workshop. Emmanuel drilled down into the essence of various types of thrillers. Enlightening and inspiring. Delivered with passion and insight. I recommend Emmanuel’s Story-type method workshop for any writer, producer or director interesting in finding the most efficient and effective way to tell their story. [Thriller Workshop for Screen Skills Ireland]

Ferdia Mac Anna

Extremely useful!

I enjoyed Emmanuel’s lecture ‘Writing a Thriller that Producers Want to Make and Audiences want to Watch’ which he gave at the London Screenwriters’ Festival 2017. I found his talk plus these notes extremely useful in creating the structure for the thriller I am writing. [Thriller Lecture for the London Screenwriters’ Festival]

Rita Wheeler

Highly recommended!

The Thriller Writing workshop I attended was extremely useful and Emmanuel gave us notes and advice that I will without a doubt revisit during the writing process. I would highly recommend attending his workshops. [Thriller Workshop for Screen Skills Ireland]

Dave Thorpe

Have Any Questions?

FAQ's

Don't hesitate to contact us if your question isn't answered.

Who might want to attend a Story-Type Method workshop?

This is an Advanced Development Workshops add-on, so it's not for complete beginners.

Most of our alumni are working professionals.

How is the workshop delivered?

This workshop is delivered live, online, over two or three consecutive days. We use advanced presentation tools to offer an interactive, engaging experience including polls, chats, Q&As and hands-on group work.

Travel permitting, it is possible to deliver the final live session of this workshop in person if optional one-to-one meetings (or a "Rewrite Stuff" hands-on extension) have also been commissioned, for an additional fee. Please contact us for more details.

Are there prerequisites or language requirements?

All our courses are delivered in English, so a good verbal understanding of the language is necessary.

This add-on module is an extension of our Advanced Script Development Workshop. Participants are expected to have attended the main workshop, done the main course or read Screenwriting Unchained.

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