ScriptLab & Story Editing

ScriptLab is focused on fiction feature films, both original ideas and adaptations, in early stages of development. Both experienced and emerging filmmakers from all over the world develop their projects through peer-to-peer group work, with the support of professional script consultants for the duration of nine months. The work is structured within 3 residential modules, plus 2 online modules.

ScriptLab is a programme that has changed shape over the years, yet always retained its core belief that an ongoing conversation among peers is an invaluable asset to dynamic and creative development in the early stages of writing a screenplay. We believe that the most original stories are realized through the generous sharing of personal processes of creation among a group of film professionals, bringing diversity of experience, culture, and personality to the table.

The programme welcomes 16 projects in a treatment stage that are selected to work in 4 groups, each guided by a tutor with wide experience as a script consultant. A story editor trainee – who works side by side with the tutor – completes each group. 

Throughout the year the projects are developed through the enriching experience of sharing this creative stage of the writing process with the other filmmakers in the group. To complement the peer-to-peer conversations, there are 1:1 sessions with the tutor as the project advances.

ScriptLab also offers Master Classes where the participants will meet with industry professionals to discuss the role of the creative producer in early development, contemporary choices for production and distribution, with a focus on digital alternatives, the craft of oral storytelling and working for a climate-conscious film industry.

A final presentation of the projects during the TFL Meeting Event  in November concludes and completes the programme: all participants present their projects, together with their producer (if any), to an audience of specially invited international producers, sales agents and other film industry professionals, have one-to-one meetings with Decision Makers, and are granted visibility thanks to the TFL Catalogue.

ScriptLab – story editing is a hands-on training for film professionals who want to work with writers and directors in the development stage of their fiction feature film projects. The aim of the programme is to provide an insight into the development process of a feature film – focusing on the early scriptwriting stage.

Each of the 4 selected participants joins a specific group, which involves 4 projects and is guided by a tutor with a wide international experience as a script consultant, who acts as a mentor to the story editor trainee.

Throughout the year the projects, which in general begin the programme in a treatment stage, are developed through the enriching experience of sharing this creative stage of the writing process with the other filmmakers in the group. To complement the peer-to-peer conversations, there are 1:1 sessions with the tutor and story editor trainee as the project advances.

The story editor trainees will acquire skills in the fields of treatment and script analysis, assessment of project development and script consulting. More concretely, they will gain insight and training in working with writers, from an idea up to a professional draft of the script, helping them find the core of their story and encouraging a script loyal to the intention of the writer and/or director.

In addition, professionals active in the fields of development & production will meet with the participants along the programme to assess the progress of their work and to give them broader advice on their careers.

A final presentation of the projects during the TFL Meeting Event in November concludes and completes the training: the ScriptLab – story editing participants present themselves and have the opportunity to network with an audience of international producers, sales agents and other film industry professionals, and are granted visibility thanks to the TFL Catalogue.