Saturday, July 26th, 2025

The class will meet via Zoom, 11:00AM - 2:00PM PST

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us.

Instructor Heidi Lux is a produced screenwriter and satirist. Her screenwriting credits include Nickelodeon and Tubi. As a satirist, Heidi is currently a managing editor for The Belladonna Comedy, and has written for McSweeney’s, Reductress, and more. 

Read an Interview with Heidi on Screenplay Structure Made Simple. 

This is a one-day workshop digging into the nitty-gritty of screenplay structure. We’ll go over the three-act structure, and how it can be used as a for story planning, beat placement, action pacing, character arc development, and more - freeing up writers to think of it as a tool, rather than a rigid “rule” that needs to be followed.

We’ll analyze structure with a focus on process, rather than theory. How can this be used as a tool to serve you and your writing, instead of a rigid system of rules meant to be adhered to. Structure is there to support your story, not take over your story.
We’ll break down the traditional story structure, going over each story beat and what it’s there for.

We’ll discuss:

• How structure can be used to help you communicate your theme.
• How structure gives the story a natural sense of pacing.
• The relationship between structure and pattern (and what this means for audience expectations).
• How to prevent a “saggy” Act II.
• How to get the most milage out of your midpoint.
• How the different schools of story structure all say the same thing (and help you find which one is best for you!).
• How to use story structure to show a character’s arc.
• How to use the rules to break the rules (and how to break audience expectations in a way that’s satisfying).
  

Screenplay structure doesn’t have to be daunting. It’s the roadmap for your story. I’ll teach you how to make story structure work for you, and not the other way around.

COURSE OUTLINE:

• Introduction: The Power of Structure
  • Why structure exists in storytelling
  • Emotional impact of structure on audiences
  • Structure as a foundation for creativity
• Three-Act Structure Fundamentals
  • Act I: Setup and inciting incident
  • Act II: Confrontation and complications
  • Act III: Resolution and transformation
  • Essential story beats within each act
• Practical Application: Film Analysis
  • Breaking down sample films through structural lens
  • Identifying key beats in successful screenplays
  • Recognizing structural patterns across genres
• The Rhythm of Storytelling
  • How structure creates pattern and pacing
  • Character wins and losses as rhythm creators
  • Connecting structure to character arcs
• Avoiding Structural Pitfalls
  • Late story starts and how to fix them
  • Solutions for the "saggy" Act II
  • Balancing structural elements for maximum impact
• Comparative Structure Systems
  • Overview of different structural frameworks
  • How various approaches complement each other
  • Analyzing the same film through multiple structural lenses
• Making Structure Work for You
  • Adapting structure to your writing process
  • When to follow and when to innovate
  • Effectively breaking structural expectations
• Q&A Session
  • Addressing specific structural challenges
  • Tailoring advice to individual projects
  • Final thoughts and resources

Course Texts:

Students will be asked to watch 2 movies before class so that we can unpack the structure of these movies within class. Students will receive handouts on structure after class (including structural templates).

Course Takeaways:

• A clear sense of how screenplay structure relates to character arc, and how to use structure to make put your character through the ringer.
• Comfort in basics of the three-act screenplay structure, and comfort with utilizing it as a tool to unlock your script’s story, rather than a rigid template that must be adhered to at all costs.
• An understanding of the requisite story beats audiences expect from a feature film, what the function of these story beats are in terms of the larger narrative, and a sense of how the different schools of structure (e.g. Hero’s Journey, Eight Sequences, Save the Cat) all feed into the same story beats.
• Students will be given three different structural templates that can be used when mapping a story.

Join us for an intensive, enjoyable journey into screenwriting, and leave with the confidence and tools to bring your vision to life.

Can't Make It Live?

No problem! The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes.

Testimonials: 

"This class covered a lot of great material, and I particularly liked all the real-life examples." -former student

“Heidi's class was absolutely foundational and I particularly loved learning how to write a vomit draft. I hope to learn more from you!!" -former student

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

This one-time seminar will be conducted live via Zoom. The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes.

Tuition is $75. You can pay for the course in full  or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.

• Instructor: Heidi Lux

• Class: Saturday, July 26th, 2025

• The class will meet via Zoom, 11:00AM - 2:00PM PST

• Tuition is $75.

Contact us HERE if you have any questions about this class.