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Screenwriting Institute
A residential screenwriting program where students develop original scripts, workshop ideas with peers, and learn from an award-winning screenwriter.
Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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Screenwriting Institute at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Applications open
Eligibility
Grades 9-12; good academic standing
Age range / Year group
Ages 14-18
Location / Region
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Cost
$3,500
Duration
1 week
Format
In-person
Application deadline
Rolling · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
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Accommodation: Required campus residence
Meals: All meals provided
Certificate: Wake Forest Certificate of Completion
Faculty: Award-winning screenwriter
Campus experience: Dorm life and evening activities
Screenwriting Institute summary
A practical introduction to writing screenplays for film, television and video games, built around lessons, writing time and script analysis.
Students develop original scripts, use screenwriting software and test their work through workshops, peer discussion and table reads.
It suits committed storytellers who want an intensive creative experience and are comfortable sharing unfinished work for feedback.
What is Screenwriting Institute?
The Screenwriting Institute is a Wake Forest Summer Immersion experience focused on the art and craft of writing scripts for film, television and video games. Students learn how story structure, character, genre and tone work on the page.
The residential program combines classroom instruction with sustained writing time, script analysis, workshops and table reads on Wake Forest University's Reynolda Campus. Students also meet screenwriting professionals and learn to format work with industry-standard software.
Why Succeed highlights Screenwriting Institute
Students finish the week with multiple original screenplay drafts rather than only attending lectures.
The curriculum connects story structure and character development with workshopping, editing and peer table reads.
Industry-standard screenwriting software introduces the formatting conventions used for professional scripts.
Academic leader Holly Swenson brings experience writing award-winning work across shorts, features and television.
The residential campus format combines concentrated creative work with supervised evening activities and university life.
Who is Screenwriting Institute for?
Best for
High school students who enjoy creative writing, want to understand professional screenplay craft and are ready to discuss drafts with peers.
Not ideal if
You want an academic-credit course, a day-only option or a program focused mainly on filmmaking and production rather than writing.
Is Screenwriting Institute worth it?
It can be worthwhile for a student who wants structured time to turn story ideas into formatted scripts. The mix of instruction, individual writing, professional discussion and peer feedback offers more practical depth than a general creative-writing taster.
The limitation is value for money: the experience is intensive but brief, and it awards no school or college credit. Families should weigh the residential campus experience, creative outputs and certificate against the tuition and additional application fee.
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Cost and what is included
$3,500; includes All meals during the on-campus stay, Transportation for off-site field trips, Campus academic and evening programming, Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion.
Accommodation
Required campus residence
Meals
All meals provided
Provider details
Review the Wake Forest University provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
1 week; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Screenwriting Institute need?
Effort level
High-intensity creative week.
Best started
Begin essays and approach a recommender four to six weeks before applications open.
Main challenge
Drafting quickly while responding constructively to feedback.
Typical preparation
Choose one or two story ideas that can become short screenplay projects.
Read a professionally formatted script and notice how action and dialogue appear on the page.
Draft application essays early and give your recommender enough time to respond.
Practice sharing a short scene and revising it after specific feedback.
Useful if
You already keep story ideas, scenes or character notes.
What do students do on Screenwriting Institute?
Students move from story principles to original screenplay writing, then test and improve their work through analysis, discussion, workshops and table reads.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Learn how screenplay language, structure, character, genre and tone work.
- 2
Read and analyze different styles of storytelling.
- 3
Use screenwriting software to format industry-standard scripts.
- 4
Complete daily script-writing and creativity assignments.
- 5
Share scripts through class table reads.
- 6
Workshop and edit drafts using professional and peer feedback.
- 7
Develop multiple original screenplays by the end of the experience.
Screenwriting Institute dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Programme dates
21-26 June 2026
Applications open
1 November 2026
Summer 2027 application cycle.
2027 dates release
1 November 2026
Scheduled publication of the next summer dates.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Applications | Rolling admissions | Local | Reference date | |
Programme dates | 21-26 June 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Applications open | 1 November 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
2027 dates release | 1 November 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Current students in Grades 9-12
Good academic standing required
No school suspensions
Home-schooled students may apply
International students may apply
Fluent English required for participation
How much does Screenwriting Institute cost?
Tuition
$3,500 — All meals are provided.
Funding or discounts
- Application fee: $60 — Nonrefundable and due with submission.
- Enrollment deposit: $550 — Nonrefundable payment securing a seat.
- Need-based scholarships: Available — Limited, first-come funding for eligible applicants.
What's included
All meals during the on-campus stay, Transportation for off-site field trips, Campus academic and evening programming, Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion
How to apply to Screenwriting Institute
- 1
Create an account in the Wake Forest Pre-College student portal.
- 2
Complete the online application and two essay responses.
- 3
Provide a teacher, counselor or administrator as your recommender.
- 4
Self-report your GPA; a transcript and test scores are not required.
- 5
Pay the $60 nonrefundable application fee when submitting.
- 6
Complete the scholarship section and upload the required W-2 if seeking aid.
- 7
After acceptance, select an available institute week and submit the $550 deposit.
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What does Screenwriting Institute cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Story and structure
Explore how stories establish ideas and use setup and payoff.
Character development
Build characters around goals, obstacles and flaws that drive scenes.
Screenplay language
Learn screenplay conventions and format scripts with industry-standard software.
Genre and tone
Examine how genre expectations and tone shape a script.
Workshopping and editing
Share drafts, join table reads and revise scripts through feedback.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Screenwriting Institute?
A typical day during the program.
Lessons and assignments
Story lessons and focused script-writing assignments run from 9:00 am.
Writing and table reads
Writing time continues after lunch before class table reads and a daily debrief.
Campus activities
Dinner is followed by activities, free time and a 10:00 pm lights-out.
Weekly cadence
Academic programming runs during the day, with Sunday check-in and Friday checkout.
Who teaches on Screenwriting Institute?
Academic leader Holly Swenson is an award-winning screenwriter and Wake Forest communication graduate specializing in screenwriting, narrative production and film analysis. Her writing experience spans shorts, feature films, television and adapted narratives.
Students also engage in discussions with professional screenwriters.
Where do students stay on Screenwriting Institute?
Residential plan
- Campus residence: All participants must stay in an assigned Wake Forest residence hall.
- Meals: All meals are provided through campus dining or catered arrangements.
- Overnight support: Professional and residence-life staff live in the hall and supervise overnight.
- Evening activities: Staff lead activities such as sports, karaoke, panels and workshops.
Roommates are assigned randomly unless a request is granted; requests are not guaranteed.
What happens after Screenwriting Institute?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Keep original scripts as creative-writing portfolio pieces.
Use industry-standard formatting in future screenplay projects.
Build experience discussing and revising work through peer feedback.
Receive a Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion.
Explore further study in screenwriting, creative writing, film or media.
Participation does not award academic credit or preferential Wake Forest admission.
Where does Screenwriting Institute take place?
The institute takes place on Wake Forest University's Reynolda Campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Students live in campus residence halls, eat in the university dining hall and join supervised activities across campus.
Paid airport shuttles may be available from Piedmont Triad and Charlotte Douglas airports.
Screenwriting Institute FAQs
Students study storytelling, screenplay language, structure, character development, genre, tone, workshopping and editing. The experience covers scripts for film, television and video games.
Students work toward multiple original screenplays and learn to use screenwriting software to produce industry-standard scripts.
Yes. All participants must stay in an assigned Wake Forest residence hall for the full institute week.
Yes. All meals are provided during the on-campus stay, with campus dining and catered arrangements used as appropriate.
Academic leader Holly Swenson is an award-winning screenwriter whose experience includes shorts, feature films, television and adapted narratives. Students also engage with professional screenwriters.
No. The institute carries no secondary-school or college credit, but students who complete it receive an official Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion.
Applicants submit two essays, a recommendation, a self-reported GPA and a $60 nonrefundable application fee. Transcripts and test scores are not required.
Program staff supervise students during academic, recreational and evening activities. Professional and residence-life staff provide overnight support, with an on-call rotation throughout the week.
Alternatives to Screenwriting Institute
Compare these related residential programs if you want a different creative-writing emphasis, location or program length.
Alternatives to Screenwriting Institute
Residential creative writing summer program in St Andrews
Creative Writing
Deadline: Not announced
From £7400
15-18
St Andrews
In-person
Best for
Students exploring fiction and broader creative writing.
Creative writing summer course based in Cambridge
Creative Writing
Deadline: Not announced
From £5495
16-24
Cambridge
In-person
Best for
Older students wanting a broader writing course.
Residential journalism and media writing in Cambridge
Media Studies
Deadline: Not announced
From £7400
14-18
Cambridge
In-person
Best for
Students interested in factual storytelling and media.
Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources and verification
Source types reviewed
- Wake Forest Pre-College Programs Applications
- Wake Forest Pre-College Campus
- Summer Immersion Program Dates | Wake Forest Pre-College
- FAQ | Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program
- Apply - Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program
- Wake Forest Screenwriting Summer Pre-College Program
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)
Official program page checked
Application process reviewed
Eligibility requirements verified
Tuition and fees checked
Campus arrangements reviewed
Schedule details checked
Funding terms reviewed
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Screenwriting Institute
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