Whistling Woods International presents Annual 5-Day Screenwriting Workshop by Anjum Rajabali

Anjum Rajabali

The upcoming 5-Day Annual Screenwriting Workshop by Anjum Rajabali hosted by Whistling Woods International promises an immersive journey into the realms of cinematic storytelling. Over a span of five intense days, participants will delve into the fundamental principles of feature-film writing and explore the nuances of crafting compelling narratives for OTT platforms. Led by seasoned industry professionals and enriched with captivating guest sessions, this year's workshop aims to redefine storytelling paradigms while equipping participants with invaluable tools to navigate the evolving landscape of screenwriting. Sharing an intriguing conversation with Anjum Rajabali, who sheds light on the upcoming screenwriting workshop.

1. Please share some insights about the upcoming 5-day Annual Screenwriting Workshop?

AR: While a 5-day workshop cannot fulfil the job of a comprehensive training in screenwriting, it can offer you a very substantial introduction to the art and craft of the subject. Plus, it provides you with a roadmap to take your own learning further, while writing on your own. So, in these very intensive 7-8-hour days, we cover the basics of feature-film writing, with a few tight sessions on writing OTT shows, as well as expose you to the Indian way of telling stories using mythical questions, structures, and understanding archetypal characters from our myths. The workshop also features a session on character psychology.

And of course wonderful interactive sessions with guest speakers.

2. How has the screenwriting workshop evolved over the years?

AR: With changing times, changing sensibilities, and newer work being done in the film and OTT industries, screenwriting culture too has evolved. And that is reflected in the workshop content. However, it is imperative to always remember the basic principles of the screenwriting craft, which we draw from classic works of stellar writers.

The guest sessions of course lucidly refer to and demonstrate the contemporary work being done today and the evolving style of screenwriting.

3. How is this annual workshop different compared to its predecessor years? What will be the key takeaways for the participants?

AR: The key takeaways from this year's workshop, apart from understanding the fundamentals of the craft, will be insights into scripting OTT shows, dialogue-writing in the comedy and drama genres, how to pitch your script, and how to protect your rights.

4. Please share some details about the guest sessions by industry professionals?

AR: This time we have some superb guest sessions, which actually will be the highlight of the workshop.

Shridhar Raghavan and Abbas Tyrewala who have written the screenplay and the dialogue of Pathaan, respectively, will share their insights about writing big star-driven films. Ishita Moitra (Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani) will speak about the challenge of making commercial films contain meaningful layers apart from being entertaining. Raj Nidimoru will explain the process of writing OTT shows like The Family Man in his own lucid way. Durgesh Singh and Palash Vaswani will take us through the journey of scripting a successful comedy show like Gullak.

Charudutt Acharya (Arya) and Mitesh Shah (Tumbbad) will show how to write shows for OTT platforms.

Apart from this Rohit Vedprakash will demonstrate how to pitch one's scripts at studios and platforms, and the SWA lawyer will explain what are writers' rights and how to protect them.

5. How does the workshop ensure that the pace of learning matches of experienced candidates along with the inexperienced ones?

AR: We have had many experienced writers attending the workshop earlier too. They get to revisit the basics, which is always very essential for all of us to do periodically. Even in those sessions their feedback says that they learnt many new things. And then of course the guest sessions carry both categories of writers equally, with each receiving the insights at their own level, depending on their experience in the field.

6. Any parting thoughts

AR: Since screenwriting has an equal measure of art as well as craft, training becomes essential. This can be either done by oneself or it can be via formal training. Either way it is imperative that aspiring writers do it. Workshops like this one serve as a launching pad for either.