All stories revolve around character. Without fully fleshed out, 3D characters, any story or script will fall flat - so this Lab could be invaluable for anyone writing fiction for the screen.

In this short course, participants will hear insights on narrative character-building that will help writers understand the interpersonal dynamics that colour a backstory and bring characters to life.

Each session will be dedicated to a different angle on characterisation at the writing and development stages, and to understanding the complex reasons a character might behave in the way they do.

This Lab is open to everybody, but best suited towards those working towards a long-form narrative project in film or TV. The teaching can be applied to short films but you will find it more relevant to full-length.

Speakers for these sessions include:

• Chris Hayward, writer and actor in Sundance hit Brian and Charles, on how he breathed life into a robot with a washing machine tummy.
• Marley Morrison, writer/director of BIFA-winner and Glasgow Film Festival darling Sweetheart, on writing characters close to home
• Aneil Karia, writer/director of 2022 Academy Award-winning short The Long Goodbye and Sundance 2020 winning feature Surge
• Claudia Yusef, Head of Development, BBC Films, on how characters evolve through development
• Arabel Charlaff, practicing psychotherapist on what writers can learn from psychodynamic theory