Writing for Film, TV and Novels. Taught by commissioned screenwriter and published author Matthew J Gunn

Matthew taught a screenwriting class at the arts centre I run. He made all the students feel very comfortable, explaining everything clearly. He was interested in what everyone contributed and related to the very different styles of communication used by members of the group showing sensitivity to those who needed more support and encouragement. The information he shared was easy to follow and really valuable advice for every level. As well as his experience and knowledge in the field, his sharing of the practical realities of how the sector works was invaluable. The exercises were relevant and thought provoking and discussion was inclusive and lively.

I’ve been lucky enough to have worked with Matthew on a few different projects, including feature film scripts, TV pilots, and show bibles. He helped me write the script to my first feature film and then later on while editing his advice on story structure was very useful in cutting scenes together. Matthew’s guidance is practical and direct. He is a big fan of the phrase “While theory is very helpful for when you get stuck, practice it what allows you to get better.” So having him get me to write out scenes and concepts and then show me where they could be improved and where they where strong really helped me get my head around the process, it really did demystify it for me. What really sets Matthew apart is his openness to all kinds of stories, which meant I could take whatever basic idea I hd, the start of a concert and he was able to give me the skills to flesh it out. No matter the genre: drama, comedy, or something more unconventional, he engages fully with the world you’r

Matthew is a highly experienced and very knowledgeable writing mentor and has previously given me invaluable advice and constructive criticism. His instinct for plot construction, narrative shape and character consistency is always spot on. As a writer it is always easy to imagine that your writing is watertight, having worked on several drafts and presumably thought of everything, but Matthew can always spot problems which have never occurred to me. He has prepared long and exhaustively detailed reports for me, highlighting all the necessary points, breaking things down into plot, characterisation and structure and giving plenty to help work on the next draft. His enthusiasm and love for what he is doing is infectious and inspiring. I thoroughly recommend Matthew as a writing tutor.