In response to growing demand for accessible, high-quality educational programming, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is launching the ABFF Masterclass Series, a new online program designed to connect emerging creatives with some of the most accomplished voices working across film, television, and digital media today.
Presented as quarterly live webinars beginning in March, the series will feature directors, producers, showrunners, studio executives, actors, and other creative leaders sharing practical insights about the craft, business, and evolving future of storytelling.
Delivered via Zoom, each session will combine expert instruction with real-world case studies and interactive audience engagement, creating a dynamic learning environment for filmmakers and creators from around the world.
Crafting Standout Screenplays
with Carolyn McDonald
This 75-minute screenwriting masterclass, programmed in association with New York Film Academy (NYFA), will cover the basics of a 3-act feature screenplay, along with elements that offer participants tools to enhance their screenwriting skills to create signature works that stand out.
Topics of the session include:
- Establishing a foundation of definitive, yet universal themes
- The Anatomy of a screen story & log line
- Vital elements of the 3-act structure
- Building multi-faceted characters: wants, needs & why’s
- Crafting relatable protagonists, complex villains & stimulating relationships
- Creating memorable set pieces at key moments in each act
- Landing with a satisfying climax & resolution
- The “less is more” of visual writing