Stop Circling. Decide If Your Script Is Real. Most screenwriters don’t fail at writing.
They stall.
They collect notes.
They rewrite the opening.
They talk about “developing” an idea for years.
This five-week course exists to end that.
Not by motivating you.
By forcing decisions.
What this course actually does:
This is not a creativity class.
It is not a theory overview.
It is not a safe space.
This course pressure-tests your idea and your thinking.
By the end, you will know:
- Whether your idea can sustain a feature screenplay
- What your story is actually about
- Whether to move forward, pivot, or walk away cleanly
Clarity is the outcome.
Momentum is the side effect.
Who this course is for:
This course is for:
- Writers stuck at page 15–30
- Writers with multiple half-finished scripts
- Filmmakers blocked by the script stage
- Novelists and storytellers moving into screenwriting
You do not need a finished idea.
You do need the courage to test one.
If you want reassurance, look elsewhere.
If you want truth, you’re in the right room.
How the five-week Screenwriters Foundation works:
Week 1 — The Idea Interrogation
Most scripts fail because the idea isn’t strong enough.
This week exposes that immediately.
You’ll learn:
- How ideas actually generate momentum
- Why most “great concepts” collapse by page 30
- Whether your idea deserves your time—or should be killed early
Killing weak ideas is not failure.
It’s professional survival.
Week 2 — Story That Holds
Structure isn’t theory.
It’s load-bearing.
You’ll learn:
- How to build a story that sustains tension
- Why some scripts feel inevitable and others drift
- How to create a page-turner without gimmicks
This is where guessing stops.
Week 3 — Character or Nothing
If your protagonist doesn’t carry the story, nothing else matters.
You’ll learn:
- How to create characters that generate conflict naturally
- Why traits, pressure, and magnification matter
- How professionals analyse character—not admire them
Weak characters kill strong ideas.
This week fixes that.
Week 4 — Dialogue and Description That Earns Its Place
Dialogue is not conversation.
It’s action.
You’ll learn:
- How writing description sets the stage
- theialogue 16 tricks of writing description
- The traps that make dialogue feel fake
- How dialogue works on multiple levels at once
- Why less dialogue usually means more tension
- the 18 tricks to writing dialogue
You’ll stop writing what sounds good
and start writing what works.
Week 5 — Pitch Clinic: The Moment of Truth
Every screenwriter pitches.
Most are terrible at it.
This final session forces clarity.
You’ll learn:
- What a pitch meeting is actually for
- How to find the real hook of your story
- How to communicate confidence without bluffing
- When visual aids help—and when they hurt
You don’t leave with hype.
You leave knowing whether your project is viable.
This Pitch Clinic is also available as a standalone session
Book here
What you walk away with
You don’t leave “inspired.”
You leave equipped.
- A story that can survive feature length
- A professional framework you’ll reuse forever
- A shared language used by working filmmakers
- A clear next step that isn’t vague
If nothing moves after this course, something is wrong.
And we will name it.
Final Word
Ideas are cheap.
Time is not.
This course exists to stop you wasting yours.
Did you know?
- Raindance members save 30% on this course? You can join online HERE and start saving immediately
- This course is FREE for our HND and Postgraduate/MA/ students
- You can book a free 1-1 consultation about our full-time degree courses HERE
- The Raindance Guarantee: If this course fails to meet your expectations, let us know at the break and we will make a full, 100% no-questions-asked refund
- We don’t teach ‘filmmaking’ at Raindance. At Raindance we make filmmakers.
Philip McDermott –
Challenging and creative
Opens the door to nuts and bolts of screen writing
Recommended
Tom Lynch (verified owner) –
A really good kick up the arse – instilling the confidence and creativity needed to start on one’s journey.
Douglas –
A very insightful course, tells you what you need and how to use it. Well worth a few evenings and a bit of money!
Jayne –
An excellent introduction to screenwriting. The homework is very good at motivating you to stop procrastinating!
Keith –
Really loved the class. I learned so much about how to construct a compelling story that’s relevant not just for screenwriting but for any format. I’m so glad I took this class.
Barbara Vonau (verified owner) –
First course on screenwriting I have ever been on. Very practical. Relaxed working environment. Lots of useful ideas and tricks being conveyed. Good value for money.
Nick Lailey (verified owner) –
Great course. The boost I needed to go forward confidently with my projects.
Worked very well as an online delegate too.
Hannah –
I enjoyed the course and it was presented well by Elliot and the team.
A good confidence boost and time out from day to day to indulge and become engaged in screenwriting.
Elisa (verified owner) –
Very satisfied with this course. Good advises and exercises helps me to expand my way to think on how to work on character development and style. The chance also to meet other writers in such enthusiasts and collaborative environment has been a unique occasion.
Ore Alexandra Sanderson (verified owner) –
Love this course. Great advice given and thought inspiring exercises for homework that actually got my creative juices going for scriptwriting. Only wish it was longer.
Ievgeniia Ficarra –
* First two days of the course I could not see the shared screen with the movies that Elliot was bringing as an example. (online)
* I did not receive the answers within online chat during the course.
The rest is fabulous!!!!THANK YOU!
David Parera (verified owner) –
I am loving every second of this course!!! Elliot is an amazing teacher and he is providing us with the best lessons and study material.
Engaging homework everyday to keep you writing and he really will give you the condidence to do it.
Totally recommended course for alm types of writers.
CLAIRE –
Packed full of great study materials and practical advice. Elliot’s class is a relaxed, collaborative enviroment perfect for any budding screenwriter.
Dani Lima (verified owner) –
Really enjoying the course. Elliot is a very professional, supportive e creative tutor, always encouraging us to develop and improve our writing skills as well as providing us with a range of possibilities, guided exercises and valuable information for our career. I would highly recommend it.
Alex Callister –
This is five evenings of pure gold.
I can honestly say I leant more from Elliot than I did during my six month certificate in creative writing.
The course is a whistle stop tour of what makes a good story, conflict within story, getting the setting right for your story, understanding the type of hero you have (in your story). The confusing mechanics of what a screen play should look like are explained along with plenty of insider tips for rookies and lots and lots of looking at scripts and watching the films that were made from them.
I am an author looking to adapt my work for the screen but I would recommend this course to anyone doing any kind of writing.
If possible, attend the Charing Cross venue in person and bask in the energy and creative dynamism.
Cannot recommend highly enough.
Michael Taylor (verified owner) –
Fabulous experience. I got so much out of doing this course, it completely restored my love for film-making and has given me a real boost and also an informed perspective towards writing my script. Its an inclusive environment which studies some great movies and applies this study to some really stimulating, rewarding, and fun practical writing exercises Thankyou Elliot.
Karo –
Wonderful experience, fun and engaging. it really helps a lot to understand little tricks in screenwriting. Thanks a lot1
Conrad Addo (verified owner) –
Elliot was great and gave good feedback during my script pitch. Really nails that you must write and read scripts to progress.
Jimi Tihofsi –
If you ever thought of writing and have got the energy to write, without a doubt this course will help you to channel that energy into a screenplay.
Carol Harris (verified owner) –
Really enjoyed this course. Elliot delivers expert insight and practical advice to help advance anyone’s writing aspirations, plus a few funny anecdotes. Highly recommend.
SanQ (verified owner) –
Great course all you need to get you started. The online course was great you can watch back later, go over points again. I totally recommend it.
Ana Ramos (verified owner) –
This course is dangerous. Suddenly, with very simple tools and techniques you write a script that sells.
I enjoyed every lesson and the online networking with other brilliant talents. Excellent.
Simon Richards (verified owner) –
Whatever your level of writing experience, you’ll discover something here.
Gabriella Niles-Ewen (verified owner) –
A wonderful course taught by Elliot! I learnt so much and gained many new skills. Thank you! Highly recommend.
Elliot Grove –
I’d blush at your compliment, but am afraid it would distract you from your writing! Keep writing!
Philip (verified owner) –
Elliot has expanded my knowledge of screen writing no end. Even the homework is interesting & creative. Would highly recommend.
SJ Lowes (verified owner) –
I’ve just finished the last of five Wednesday nights on this course, and I have to say it has been great.
It’s a great mix of craft theory, practical writing and know-how that you could only get from people that have actually done this. The group was made up of aspiring writers at varying stages of their writing careers who, between them, brought some real substance to the sessions, and definitely one or two to watch.
The day after each session you get a follow up with the resources relevant to the session as well as so many others that your tutor (Elliot for my group) thinks will be useful to you. The resources that are opened up to you, particualrly when you become a member, are just immense.
For anyone considering getting on the next course then ( and speaking as a natural cynic) don’t hesitate to enroll, because if you want to get serious then this is the course you need to do it with. It’s a non-judgemental, welcoming and light-hearted learning envirnment that remains focused on your goals. Everyone at Raindance wants you to win.
Ian O’Driscoll –
This is a brilliant course that has expanded my knowledge of the screenwriting craft, and I really feel it has opened new doors for me in the industry. Elliot is a brilliant teacher and makes the classes as fun and enjoyable as they are informative.
I’d definitely recommend this course to any aspiring screenwriters!
Willard Bond (verified owner) –
Great info, fun delivery, interesting anecdotes, helpful exercises, and Elliot is an entertaining teacher. Glad I signed up!
Saleena Sadasivan (verified owner) –
Great insights , helpful exercises, and Elliot is a great storyteller who genuinely wants to support! I would definitely recommend the course.
Nashwah Azam (verified owner) –
This is a wonderful course! I felt like all the lessons were so insightful, useful and it was made better by the homework to compound the lessons! As a beginner writer I felt this course was such a great intro to scriptwriting and I really liked how nonjudgmental, supportive and positive the classes were. I never felt the need to prove I was worthy of being there!
If anyone is on the fence, I definitely recommend this course 100%. It’s such a great intro and even though it’s short, I’ve learned so many useful skills that are already paying off in progressing my career. Elliot is a really insightful teacher and he’s always so supportive to everyone in the course, I learnt and gained so much confidence from him.
Lynnette Kyme (verified owner) –
This isn’t a ‘kerpow in your face course’, its a subtle learning that suddenly gets under your skin type course, and you realise it starts to become the immoveable thing in your diary no matter what..Elliot steers you towards discovering creative pockets in your brain you didn’t know were there, while at the same time he opens portals into the brains of all the writers you have long looked up to. And then you start to believe you can make it happen. Absolutely generous support of time and resources. Loved it.
Lesa Smith (verified owner) –
If you need inspiration to write, if you need that extra boost of confidence and skillsto finish that script, then attend this course. Elliott is a master story teller and his knowledge base seems endless. Had the best time being inspired and meeting like minded writers. Definitely do more of his classes.
Esther Martin –
As with all Raindance courses, you will leave this with real ideas and an actual collection of your own character breakdowns/poster plans/etc., which you are inspired to thrash our during the course. This isnt a course about script structure, which you can look at anywhere online? it’s about the realities of scriptwriting from idea generation (brilliant ideas!) to getting on with it and reaching out to those who need to see it!
nicoloriboni (verified owner) –
Great lecture, with helpful exercises. Can’t wait for the next module, really useful!
Igor Ismail (verified owner) –
the course is very interesting! it helped me a lot ! thank you very much !
Barry Alexander –
Great course, really enjoyed the exercises. Strongly recommend to anyone who is interested in learning more about the basics of the art and business of screenwriting.
Kent Johnston –
The Raindance Screen Writers’ Foundation certificate, including the Pitching Skills Workshop, is a terrific five week course.
Elliot covers a multitude of genres and topics. He explains everything meticulously to enable one to have a clear understanding of everything that is covered, which is particularly helpful to a complete novice beginner such as I.
I personally found that by doing this course, and having the opportunity to soul search for the hidden creativity that is in all of us – then being able to portray this in the written word – is very therapeutic..
This course has certainly given me more confidence. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in developing skill in Screenwriting, Scriptwriting and the art of Pitching.
Thanks to Elliot and all the staff at Raindance ✨
nicoloriboni (verified owner) –
I honestly believe Raindance offers some of the best film courses out there. The screenwriter’s certificate course helped me shaping my first feature screenplay with the right perspective. The course provided invaluable advice and practical exercises essential to develop ideas, characters and the script itself. To end it all the pitching skills workshop to learn how to pitch your script for production. Highly recommend, I truly loved It.
Justin Presser (verified owner) –
I am a newcomer to film and had my mind set on learning cinematography. I thought learning an introduction to screenwriting would be useful to understand storytelling and a different part of the filmmaking process. What I hadn’t expected was to be given a solid framework, the encouragement and inspiration to start writing screenplays myself. What an exceptional course and film making school. Thank you Raindance.
Josh Mansell (verified owner) –
Although being online whilst the Raindance offices were out of use, I thoroughly enjoyed the screenwriters course. Elliot is an intriguing teacher with numerous stories from time in the industry. Compared to other writing courses I’ve taken, this one was much more about action, developing skills from practice and for me this was exactly what I was looking for. I have finished the course feeling much more equipped, and motivated to go out and write my first screenplay.
Mish Apter –
I highly recommend this most enjoyable course. Great depth and breadth of knowledge skilfully presented and explained with exercises that are fun, practical and illuminating.
Inspired and enthused, many thanks.
Ms A R Harrison (verified owner) –
Great course, very informative and detailed. I’m learning so much. Elliot is a highly knowledgeable teacher and makes the work fun and detailed! Thanks a million!
Lesley van Dijk (verified owner) –
Doing the screenwriting course has given me a boost to write my script. It’s been a great pleasure to take part and a wonderful learning experience. I’ve loved doing the homework assignments which challenge you creatively. Elliot is such a positive person which makes you feel hugely encouraged. Highly recommend it!
Jessica Boyd (verified owner) –
A highly informative 5 sessions leaving me with lots to think about. Elliot is a charismatic teacher with much wisdom to impart!
Caroline Wilson (verified owner) –
A great view of the industry from someone who knows. An enjoyable course. Thanks Elliot
Victoria antunes (verified owner) –
Amazing course! Big opportunity to know more about screenwriting and the industry in general
Giuliano –
I really enjoyed the course and appreciated the teacher’s passion and expertise. The location was excellent too. I would highly recommend it.
Linnhe Harrison (verified owner) –
I didn’t know what to expect, especially as I attended online rather than in person, but I was really impressed by the passion, knowledge and generosity of Elliot’s tuition. I learnt a great deal, and I feel much more confident going foward.