As infection rates fall and vaccination rates rise, we are at last able to plan our Watermill Great Creative Reawakening from July onwards – and, among other inspiring courses, give you an opportunity to kick-start your scriptwriting career with two of Britain’s most successful drama and comedy writers. Our scriptwriting course with our friends and ‘living legends’ Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran will run from Saturday 24 July to Saturday 31 July 2021.
Laurence and Maurice are the creative minds behind classic television programmes such as Birds of a Feather, Goodnight Sweetheart and Shine on Harvey Moon. And in a new incarnation they’ve written hit stage musicals, like Dreamboats and Petticoats and Save the Last Dance for Me. As well as comedy drama, Marks and Gran also create serious, award-winning scripts for stage, film, TV and radio.
Laurence and Maurice reckon their course at the Watermill is a wonderful opportunity for isolated writers to get out of lockdown and share their ideas with others, probably under the dappled shade* of the Watermill vine verandah.
The week-long, all-inclusive residential course will provide expert advice on what it takes to create a successful script. While concentrating on comedy drama, Laurence and Maurice’s unique insights are invaluable for anyone wishing to discover the secrets of scriptwriting for all drama genres. You will learn all about the complete scriptwriting process, from developing an original idea, through structure, character, plot and, finally, script.
There will also be one-to-one tutorials, team writing sessions and, of paramount importance, the study and analysis of classic films and television programmes. As a previous guest on a Watermill scriptwriting course said: “The teaching is truly inspiring, the setting beautiful and the hospitality, second to none.â€
Laurence and Maurice say: “We can’t promise you success, of course, but we can promise that you will leave the Watermill a much better scriptwriter than when you came.â€
*Don’t worry that you are going to be too hot: we will use the verandah in the morning and in the evening, and if it’s too hot during the day we can repair to any of the Watermill’s public rooms, all of which have air conditioning, powered by our hidden array of photovoltaic cells. As we say, you will be Cool and Green.)
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
24-31 July 2021 x places left
Scriptwriting
To learn more about Laurence and Maurice and their course at the mill, please visit their 2021 Tutor Profile Page.