Lights, Camera, Action

 

They say this is the film-school generation, what a MBA was to the 1980s. That makes new faculty member Christopher Beattie's success in the film industry even more intriguing. He's worked on more than 60 feature films and countless projects including commercials, both as a producer and taking a behind-the-scenes role as a key grip.  Even locally the Downingtown resident is involved in film: he   assists and teaches at the  the annual West Chester Film Festival. No doubt he could probably think of many projects to do this summer. But he likes to teach and so he's planning to modify his adult class in scriptwriting and  introduce it to young students at CCAA's Summer Camp.    (The adult class begins April 24th, so sign up now.)  

Why teach scriptwriting at an art center?   Christopher, who has a degree in the Fine Arts,  generally conducts his scriptwriting much like a painting class, with critiques, short “warm-up” exercises and a focus on the basics.  An experienced teacher, he has found that beginning writers often get hung-up on the same things. Much like a beginning artist, who might become overwhelmed with a simple still-life, students struggling to write their first script often can't see the forest for the trees. “They tend to introduce all these elements,” Christopher said recently at his home in Downingtown. (He had some uncharacteristic “down time,”  largely because his wife had just given birth and he had a few days before her return with their newborn).

The first goal is generally to explain the difference between scriptwriting and a writing a screen play. The former involves "keeping it simple" and developing believable characters and plots.“I'm amazed how everyone can do it.”  His focus always comes down to teaching the basics of story-telling. “We take it scene by scene,” he said of examining scripts to include such elements as conflict, the key to all good stories, he says.

Participants who are new to writing need not fear the blank page. Class exercises are designed to get the creative juices flowing. Plus, Beattie plans to show several feature-length films during classes to get students re-acquainted with the pleasures of seeing good films.

Class Information
Sign-up now. A Saturday afternoon scriptwriting class will run for eight weeks beginning September 29th. Teens are welcome. That class will include a focus on the history of film and the basics of cinematography and composition. Bring a notebook and pen to class and be prepared to think like a Hollywood pro!   

 

They say this is the firm-school generation, what MBA was to students of the 1980's. That makes new faculty member Christopher Beatties's success in the film industry even more

intriguing. He'sworked on more than 60 feature films and countless projects including commercials, both as a producer and key grip. They say this is the firm-school generation, what MBA was to students of the 1980's. That makes new faculty member Christopher Beatties's success in the film industry even more intriguing. He'sworked on more than 60 feature films and countless projects including commercials, both as a producer and key grip.