The First Ten Pages: A Screenwriting Workshop

The First Ten Pages will take a look at the opening pages of a number of successful scripts, both new and old, to learn how to craft that all-important exposition—beyond which an underwhelmed reader will never venture.

How does one structure and pace the first page or two to hook the reader into continuing? What should be accomplished in a script by the bottom of page ten—and how to do it? What are some examples of scripts that defy—with wildly successful results—all of the conventional rules—and how do they get away with it? What makes a good title?

Such are some of the questions that will be answered. 

The First Ten Pages: A Screenwriting Workshop with Matthew Kozlark

July 10–14

1 to 4 p.m.

Ages 13 to 17

Matthew Kozlark is a writer based in Los Angeles. His tennis thriller The Qualifier is currently in development. His writing has been recognized by Amazon Audible’s Emerging Playwrights Fund, a James Patterson Fellowship, a Pflughaupt Fellowship, and the Wright and Willets Prizes. He served for two years as a judge for the Iowa Short Fiction Award. He has led seminars and writing workshops for students at the Pierrepont School in Westport, CT and the Deep Center in Savannah, GA. He has a BA from Yale University and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.