Ideas & Premise
- Finding and testing story ideas
- Theme, genre and audience
- Loglines and central dramatic questions
- Research and story worlds
- Choosing the strongest premise
Write stories built for the screen
Scriptwriting School in Lagos
Turn an idea into a structured screenplay through practical writing, feedback, table reads and disciplined rewriting.
The course promise
Move from an interesting idea to a clear, properly formatted script that can be developed and produced.
- Format
- Onsite at Praxis Studios, Lagos
- Approach
- Practical instructor-led programme
- Credential
- Certificate of Completion
Training outcomes
What you will be able to do.
This is a practical learning experience, not a lecture-only class.
- Develop a strong premise and logline
- Create structured outlines and character arcs
- Write visual scenes and purposeful dialogue
- Format a professional screenplay
- Plan rewrites and pitch the finished concept
Inside the programme
Develop ideas into scripts that can actually be produced.
Students move from premise and research to loglines, treatments, outlines and complete scenes. The course explains theme, genre, dramatic questions, structure, turning points, conflict, stakes and character arcs so a promising idea can sustain an audience’s attention.
Writing practice focuses on visual action, scene purpose, subtext and distinctive dialogue across short films, features, television, commercials, documentaries and branded content. Table reads, feedback and rewrite plans prepare each script for pitching, collaboration and production, with guidance on formatting, copyright and professional presentation.
What the programme covers
- Premise, research, theme, genre and audience
- Loglines, synopses, treatments and outlines
- Structure, sequences, turning points and pacing
- Character goals, flaws, relationships and arcs
- Scene design, visual action, subtext and dialogue
- Film, television, commercial and documentary formats
- Screenplay software and professional formatting
- Table reads, rewriting, pitching and copyright basics
Full curriculum
Built to go deeper than the basics.
Each module combines explanation, demonstration, exercises and feedback appropriate to the subject.
Structure
- Beginning, middle and end
- Acts, sequences and turning points
- Goals, conflict and stakes
- Pacing and escalation
- Outlining before drafting
Character
- Wants, needs and contradictions
- Backstory and behaviour
- Relationships and conflict
- Character arcs
- Writing distinctive choices
Scenes & Dialogue
- Scene purpose and change
- Subtext and visual storytelling
- Natural but purposeful dialogue
- Entrances, exits and transitions
- Rewriting weak scenes
Screenplay Craft
- Professional screenplay format
- Action, description and readability
- Introducing characters and locations
- Writing with production awareness
- Fade In and Final Draft foundations
Rewrite & Pitch
- Receiving and applying feedback
- Table reads and script diagnosis
- Revision plans and draft management
- Synopses, treatments and pitch documents
- Protecting work and approaching collaborators
Practical work
You leave with proof.
Exercises lead toward finished work that demonstrates what you can do.
Practical assignments · Portfolio focused- 01Logline and story treatment↗
- 02Character and structure outline↗
- 03Short screenplay↗
- 04Table read and revised final draft↗
How you learn
Demonstration, supervised practice and useful feedback.
Every major concept is connected to a practical task. Instructors demonstrate the workflow, explain why each decision matters and supervise learners as they apply it with relevant equipment or software.
Feedback focuses on both technical accuracy and communication: whether the work is clear, intentional and suitable for a real audience or client brief. The goal is repeatable professional judgment, not memorising a list of buttons.
Facilities, equipment and assessment
Classes take place in Lagos with access to the production tools appropriate to the programme. Learners may work with professional cameras, lenses, lighting, sound, stabilisation, editing systems or digital platforms according to the course.
Progress is assessed through exercises, participation and finished practical work. Students are encouraged to organise their files correctly, document their process, respond to feedback and complete portfolio-ready projects they can continue developing after the programme.
After the course
Graduates leave with a clearer production workflow, practical reference material and an understanding of how the skill operates in employment, freelance and business settings. Course completion is a foundation; continued practice, portfolio development and responsible professional conduct remain essential.
From foundation to professional workflow
Understand the reason behind every important decision.
The programme is sequenced so that foundational knowledge supports the more demanding work that follows. Learners first develop a shared vocabulary and a dependable setup process, then apply those principles to guided assignments with increasing creative and technical responsibility.
Real production rarely happens under perfect conditions. Practical sessions therefore address preparation, troubleshooting, time management, communication and quality control as well as the headline creative skill. Students learn how to identify a problem, protect the work already completed and make a sensible decision when time or resources are limited.
Building work that can be presented professionally
A strong portfolio should show judgment, not just participation. Learners are guided to select, refine and present their best work with enough context for an employer, client or collaborator to understand their contribution. File naming, backups, version control, exports and delivery are treated as part of the craft because unreliable administration can undermine otherwise excellent creative work.
Where the subject involves clients or audiences, the course also discusses interpreting briefs, asking better questions, estimating realistic effort and responding to review comments without losing the objective. These habits help students move from classroom exercises to assignments that have deadlines, stakeholders and measurable expectations.
Who benefits from the programme
The training is suitable for committed beginners, self-taught creatives who need structure, professionals adding a related capability, entrepreneurs building an internal content function and teams that want a consistent workflow. Prior experience is helpful for some advanced exercises but is not required unless the current class schedule states otherwise.
Class size, timetable, fees and available formats may change between cohorts. Prospective learners should request the current course schedule before making travel or payment arrangements. Our team will explain the present format, what to bring and any software or equipment requirements.
Selected work
Learn against a real production standard.
Selected Praxis productions give learners practical references for planning, camera work, lighting, sound, direction, editing and professional delivery.
Samsung Product Unveiling Event
Culturati — African Culture Event
Corporate Event Coverage
Best fit
Who this course is for.
- Beginners seeking a structured starting point
- Working creatives improving their practical skills
- Entrepreneurs and teams building in-house capability
Common questions
Before you register.
Do I need prior experience?
No. The course begins with foundations and progresses into supervised practical work.
Is the training practical?
Yes. Learners work with relevant tools, complete exercises and build portfolio evidence.
Will I receive a certificate?
Learners who complete the required classes and practical work receive a Certificate of Completion.
How do I get the current fee and timetable?
Use the registration enquiry button to request the latest schedule, class format, fee and payment information.
Next session
Request the schedule, current fee and registration details.
Tell us you are interested in Scriptwriting and our academy team will send the latest information.