Join award winning film maker Gary Hewitt for this monthly in-person workshop Series:

This year-long series of monthly workshop program is designed for beginners and aspiring writers looking to bring their film ideas to life. Whether you have a concept for a movie or a half-finished script, this course will help you develop the craft and confidence to complete a full feature-length screenplay. Each session combines eLearning, hands-on exercises & practical techniques. Over 12 months, you’ll explore story development, structure, character, dialogue, and the professional tools of screenwriting. By the end, you’ll have the foundation and the momentum to take your script into the world.

Who Is This Course For?

• Complete beginners to screenwriting

• Anyone interested in creative writing or storytelling

• Writers looking to transition from other forms, including novelists, playwrights, poets, or short story writers.

Workshop Schedule

(Monthly Breakdown – Subject to change) Each session runs on the first Tuesday of the month, starting on Tuesday 3rd February between 7–9:30pm (with a short break).

1. Project Treatment – Loglines, Synopsis, Genre & Theme

2. Characters – Arcs, Motivation, Protagonists & Antagonists

3. Structure – Three-Act Structure, Turning Points, Conflict

4. Step Outline – Narrative Approach & Scene Mapping

5. Screenplay Formatting – Industry Standards & Software

6. Scene Structure – Openings, Power, and Purpose

7. McGuffins & Payoffs – Talismans, Setups & Chekhov’s Gun

8. World Building – Visual Storytelling & Internal Logic

9. Rewriting – Editing, Arcs, Subplots & Theme Development

10. Get your head down – One-on-One Meetings, project Feedback

11. Exposition & Dialogue – Writing Natural, Meaningful Exchanges

12. Taking Your Script Into the World – Pitch Decks, Competitions, Agents (Guest Speaker)

Workshop location:

The monthly workshops will take place at the Refractive Hub at Witherspoon Building  Storie Street, Paisley,  PA12AR

Annual Fees: £96.00 for the 12 sessions

Concessions available for unemployed and students, please contact muriel@refractive.scot

About the Tutor:

Gary J. Hewitt is a Screenwriter and Director whose films have screened at BAFTA and Oscar recognised festivals. His debut feature Cleek (2018) gained worldwide distribution, and his short Mia won over 10 awards, including Best British Film. His recent feature The Defender is available on TUBI, Prime Video, and STV Player. Gary has sold three screenplays in 2025 (Highland of the Dead, The Wicked Within, and The Rot in the Cabin) and continues to develop new projects. He has completed the Script Reading and Reporting Course at the National Film and Television School (NFTS), further strengthening his industry insight and professional development. Alongside his filmmaking, Gary teaches for Refractive and previously served as Film Engagement Manager at GMAC Film, helping to nurture emerging voices in the Scottish film industry