Creative Writing for Film and Theater

A course by Gina Stevensen , Scriptwriter, Actor, and Dramaturge

Scriptwriter, Actor, and Dramaturge. Burlington, United States.
Joined January 2022

Learn the basics of scriptwriting for stage or screen, exploring everything from character development, plot, and dialogue to metaphors and symbolism

100% positive reviews (42)
2,537 students
Audio: English
English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch

Learn the basics of scriptwriting for stage or screen, exploring everything from character development, plot, and dialogue to metaphors and symbolism

From raw human emotion to relatable universal experiences, films and plays mirror the essence of what it means to walk this earth. Screenwriter, actor, and dramaturge Gina Stevensen has dedicated an entire career to crafting purposeful, character-centered narratives that capture the depth of reality on stage and on screen. A self-proclaimed rule follower with a free spirit, Gina embraces the rhythm of story structure to pave the way for authentic, unbridled expression⁠—an approach that has earned her numerous recognitions such as the 2021 Kernodle New Play Award.

In this online course, grasp the fundamentals of scriptwriting and then veer off the beaten path to express your stories the way only you can. Explore practical structures to develop your characters, plot, and dialogue, later unleashing your imagination with metaphors and symbolism. Put your stories in the spotlight with scripts that speak to any audience.

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What will you learn in this online course?

13 lessons & 29 downloads

The Central Dramatic Question
12 minutes, 37 seconds
Characters and Plot
17 minutes, 0 seconds
Sharpening the Dialogue
18 minutes, 23 seconds
Using the Imagination: Metaphors
10 minutes, 48 seconds
Choosing the Form
9 minutes, 0 seconds
Your Connection with the Story
6 minutes, 19 seconds
  • 100% positive reviews (42)
  • 2,537 students
  • 13 lessons (2h 16m)
  • 29 additional resources (16 files)
  • Online and at your own pace
  • Available on the app
  • Audio: English
  • English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
  • Level: Beginner
  • Unlimited access forever

What is this course's project?

Write a short, two-character scene for stage or screen using any topic you’re passionate about.

Projects by course students

Who is this online course for?

Anyone with a story to tell, from complete beginners to seasoned writers.

Requirements and materials

No prior knowledge is required.

As for materials, all you need is a place to jot down your ideas and flesh out your script, whether it’s a computer or a notebook and pencil.


Reviews

2,537 Students
42 Reviews
100% Positive ratings

Gina Stevensen

A course by Gina Stevensen

Teacher Plus
Scriptwriter, Actor, and Dramaturge

Gina Stevensen is a scriptwriter, actor, and writing instructor passionate about creating meaningful and character-driven narratives for theater and film. After exploring the world of the performing arts in her early years, she went on to study theater at NYU Tisch and playwriting at Columbia University. She has developed numerous performance pieces that have graced stages all across the US and England while simultaneously navigating the world of film with projects for HBO Max, BMW, and more.

Gina was the 2021 winner of the Kernodle New Play Award and the 2020 winner of the New Works Initiative. Her TV pilot “Summerland” was a finalist at the 2021 Big Apple Film Festival, as well as a semifinalist at the 2021 NYC International Screenplay Contest and the Reno-Tahoe Screenplay Contest. She has also served as a guest lecturer at the University of Arkansas, NYU, and Hunter College, and has taught screenwriting workshops in collaboration with The Writer's Rock, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, and more.


Content

  • U1

    Introduction

    • About Me
    • Influences
  • U2

    The Fundamentals of Stage and Screenwriting

    • The Central Dramatic Question
    • Characters and Plot
    • Sharpening the Dialogue
    • Using the Imagination: Metaphors
  • U3

    Writing the Script

    • Choosing the Form
    • Your Connection with the Story
    • Developing the Primary Characters
    • Exploring Through Dialogue
  • U4

    Bringing the Script to Life

    • Rewriting and Rehearsal 1
    • Rewriting and Rehearsal 2
    • Ideas for Sharing
  • FP

    Final project

    • Creative Writing for Film and Theater

What to expect from a Domestika course

  • Learn at your own pace

    Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.

  • Learn from the best professionals

    Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.

  • Meet expert teachers

    Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.

  • Certificates
    Plus

    If you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.

  • Get front-row seats

    Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.

  • Share knowledge and ideas

    Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.

  • Connect with a global creative community

    The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.

  • Watch professionally produced courses

    Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.


FAQs

Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.

All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.

The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.

You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.

If you're a Plus member, when you complete a course you've purchased, you'll instantly get your personalized certificate. You can see all your certificates in the Certificates section of your profile. You can download your certificates as PDFs and share the link online. Learn more about certificates.
Creative Writing for Film and Theater. Writing course by Gina Stevensen

Creative Writing for Film and Theater

A course by Gina Stevensen
Scriptwriter, Actor, and Dramaturge. Burlington, United States.
Joined January 2022
  • 100% positive reviews (42)
  • 2,537 students