Getting Started
A New Framework for Developing Screenplays
Foundations
Advanced Development
What's Next?

Preparation and Resources

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Hi there, Emmanuel here!

Let’s talk about preparation, available resources and how to make the most of the course…

This course closely follows my book, Screenwriting Unchained. You don’t have to read any of it before you start, but if you enjoy the course content it might be a worthy extension, especially regarding the case studies. The book also provides many hands-on exercises for writers that complement the ‘Behind the Scenes‘ sections. You’ll find the main differences between the course and the book in a comparison table on the course page here. A free sampler (first 70 pages of the book) is available in the Members’ Area.

If you only have access to ‘A New Framework for Developing Screenplays (the first three training modules of the course), you don’t have to watch any specific films before starting the course, unless you want to avoid spoilers (please see the note at the bottom of this page).

If you’re doing the full course or the live Advanced Development Workshop, you need to watch the following titles, preferably before going through the course, at the latest before starting Module 5 (Behind the Scenes I):

Must-Watch Titles

Gravity (A. Cuarón)

Available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and on Bluray/DVD
Plot-led case study in Module 8

Misery (R. Reiner)

Available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and on Bluray/DVD
Dramatic scene in Module 5 and dramatic sequence analysis in Module 8

Silver Linings Playbook (D. O. Russel)

Available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and on Bluray/DVD
Character-led case study in Module 9

Dunkirk (C. Nolan)

Available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and on Bluray/DVD
Theme-led case study in Module 10

Optional Titles

To avoid spoilers and make the most of the hybrids/exceptions case studies, you might also want to watch:

The Lives of Others (F. H. Von Donnersmarck)
Available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and on Bluray/DVD
Hybrid/Exception case study in Module 11

Edge of Tomorrow (D. Liman)
Available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and on Bluray/DVD
Hybrid/Exception case study in Module 11

Birdman (A. G. Iñárritu)
Available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and on Bluray/DVD
Hybrid/Exception case study in Module 11

The Secret In Their Eyes (J.J. Campanella)
Available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and on Bluray/DVD
Hybrid/Exception case study in Module 11

Crash (P. Haggis)
Available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and on Bluray/DVD
Theme-Led story used to illustrate planting and pay-off in Module 7

It’s up to you to source these films if you haven’t watched them already. I’ve chosen well-known titles that should be easy to find just about anywhere in the world on streaming, bluray or DVD.

For your convenience, we provide direct links to stream, rent or purchase these titles wherever they are available. Please note that some of these are affiliate links. We might earn a small amount if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. Although we try to keep them up-to-date, availability fluctuates and some links might not work in your country. Please kindly report any broken links.

Spoiler Alert!

If you mind spoilers, please make sure that you watch Gravity and Two Days, One Night before going through the first training module, ‘What’s Wrong With the 3-Act Structure?’ I only discuss them briefly towards the end of topic 1.1 but I do disclose their endings.


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