The Comic PremisE: A screenwriting Workshop with Steve Kaplan

Seminar (in association with the Melbourne International Film Festival's MIFF 37º South Market & Accelerator): 
Sunday 7 August 2011, 10.30am–5.30pm,
The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne

Workshop:
Monday 8 August to Wednesday 10 August 2011,
The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne

Good comedies pull audiences into the cinema and Australian audiences love a good, home-grown comedy. But what are the keys to writing a comedy that works? Why do some comedies work more successfully than others? These are among the questions that will be addressed at Screen Australia’s Screenwriting Workshop with Steve Kaplan.

The workshop will provide a select group of comedy screenwriters with the opportunity to spend three days with one of Hollywood’s foremost comedy minds, strengthening the foundations of their outline into the sharpest, funniest version of their comedy idea. During the course of the workshop, participants will develop their comedy idea into a workable treatment from which they can build a sound screenplay. Places will be limited to 12 selected writers.

For almost 15 years, Steve Kaplan has been one of the industry's most sought-after experts on comedy. In addition to having taught at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other prestigious universities, Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre. He regularly serves as a consultant and script doctor to such companies as DreamWorks, Disney, HBO, Paramount and Touchstone.

This initiative is aimed at those who have a specific interest in writing comedy screenplays and individuals must apply to Screen Australia with demonstrated feature screenwriting experience, preferably in comedy. 

On the first of the four-day comedy intensive Steve Kaplan will give his renowned seminar on the principles of comedy screenwriting. This will be a public seminar presented in association with the Melbourne International Film Festival's MIFF 37º South Market & Accelerator program and all workshop participants are required to attend

The following three workshop days will be a group setting, expanding upon the concepts and principles introduced during the seminar, along with continuous feedback and guidance from Steve on the development of each participant’s outline. Following the workshop writers will develop their outline into a longer form treatment. Finally, Steve will provide an individual follow up session to each participant via Skype or telephone.

Eligible writers already working with a producer may invite their producer to attend the workshop, although producers are not required to participate in the writing exercise.

Workshop preparation

Prior to the workshop, participants will be informed of a short list of films that they are required to view and be familiar with.

Participants will be required to attend the public lecture on Sunday, 7 August in Melbourne.

Fees

Successful applicants will not be charged for attending the lecture or the workshop.

Airfares and accommodation expenses only will be reimbursed for participants who live outside Melbourne up to a maximum of $1000, on presentation of receipts and a tax invoice. Participants traveling from Western Australia are entitled to a reimbursement of $1200.

Eligibility

Please note, this program is aimed specifically at professional screenwriters with a commitment to working on comedy feature film ideas.

Applicants must fulfil at least one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Demonstrated experience as a feature film writer with at least one produced feature film credit and a genuine interest in writing a comedy movie.
  
• A television writer with at least one produced telemovie credit or four hours of TV drama series credits (not serials) and a genuine interest in writing a comedy movie.
  
• A screenwriter who has been supported in the last three years for feature development through Screen Australia or its predecessor agencies or through a state agency or who has been privately commissioned by a recognised production entity and who has a genuine interest in writing a comedy movie.
  

PLUS

• Applicants must be available to attend the lecture and undertake the full workshop.
  
• Applicants must undertake the required workshop preparation.
  
• Applicants must be able to complete post-workshop assignments.
  
• Applicants must also meet the general eligibility requirements set out in Screen Australia's Terms of Trade.

Assessment process

Applications will be assessed by a combination of Screen Australia Development Managers and industry specialists as required. Screen Australia will advise applicants of the success or otherwise of their application.

Assessment criteria 

Screen Australia will take the following considerations into account when assessing applications for this program:

• The strength of the comic premise and the potential of the outline to be developed into a comedy script.
  
• The strength of the writing skills of the applicant, their experience and their track record.
  
• Clear indication of the applicant’s intention and goals to develop a comedy feature film.
  
• Evidence of and ability to apply skills in a practical environment and to participate constructively within a group dynamic.

Application materials

Applications must be submitted using the relevant Screen Australia form, and include all supporting material listed in the checklist on that form.

Applications must include an outline of a feature film comedy idea (must be NO MORE than 4 pages), an example of previous work in the form of a screenplay (preferably a comedic screenplay) and any other relevant material in order to assess the application, including CVs.