1 session: Saturday, May 2, 10am–5pm

A good short film can be the quickest way to make a name for yourself as a filmmaker, but writing that film can be deceptively difficult. In this workshop we’ll examine a number of very successful shorts across all genres to discuss and detail the most effective ways to create a compelling short film. We’ll discuss how to choose the right concept and length for your film, particularly with regards to exhibition at festivals, on the web, and other venues. Students should come prepared to share a short film script they have already written, as there will be in-class writing exercises to demonstrate concepts and examples.

Tuition: $175 regular/$130 members/$100 low-income

Rod Peyton received his MFA in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute (the year it was named #1 Film School in the World by the Hollywood Reporter), and his BA in Studies in Cinema and Media Culture from the University of Minnesota. He has developed projects for 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures and Google, and his short films have won awards at festivals across the country. He currently divides his time between Minneapolis and Los Angeles, where he works as a screenwriter.