You’ve got an idea. Now what?
Turning a first spark of inspiration into a story worth telling.
This workshop will take place over Zoom in 2027. Date and time to be confirmed.
Welcoming Zia Holloway!
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Where do film ideas actually come from — and how do you know when you’ve found one worth pursuing?
In this practical workshop, writer Zia Holloway will explore the process of finding, developing and interrogating ideas before they become scripts. Working across television, film, theatre and other forms, Zia brings a writer’s perspective to the challenge of turning an initial spark into a story with direction and potential.
How do you take that starting point and work out what it could become?
Together, we’ll explore how to recognise the potential in an idea, ask the right questions of it and decide which format best serves the story.
Attendees will leave with a clearer sense of their idea’s potential, practical ways to develop it, and a starting point for taking it forward.
Workshop Focus:
✅ Finding the Spark – Where ideas come from and how to recognise the beginnings of a compelling story
✅ Idea, Premise or Story? – Understanding the difference between an interesting thought and a story with real potential
✅ Interrogating Your Idea – Asking the questions that reveal what makes your idea distinctive, what it’s really about and whether there’s enough there to develop
✅ Finding the Right Format – Exploring whether your idea belongs in a short film, feature, television series or another form — and what makes an idea particularly suited to a short
✅ Putting It into Practice – Using a practical exercise to explore an idea and identify possible next steps
This workshop is aimed at aspiring screenwriters, emerging filmmakers and anyone sitting on an idea they’re not quite sure what to do with.
Turning a first spark of inspiration into a story worth telling.
This workshop will take place over Zoom in 2027. Date and time to be confirmed.
Welcoming Zia Holloway!
–
Where do film ideas actually come from — and how do you know when you’ve found one worth pursuing?
In this practical workshop, writer Zia Holloway will explore the process of finding, developing and interrogating ideas before they become scripts. Working across television, film, theatre and other forms, Zia brings a writer’s perspective to the challenge of turning an initial spark into a story with direction and potential.
How do you take that starting point and work out what it could become?
Together, we’ll explore how to recognise the potential in an idea, ask the right questions of it and decide which format best serves the story.
Attendees will leave with a clearer sense of their idea’s potential, practical ways to develop it, and a starting point for taking it forward.
Workshop Focus:
✅ Finding the Spark – Where ideas come from and how to recognise the beginnings of a compelling story
✅ Idea, Premise or Story? – Understanding the difference between an interesting thought and a story with real potential
✅ Interrogating Your Idea – Asking the questions that reveal what makes your idea distinctive, what it’s really about and whether there’s enough there to develop
✅ Finding the Right Format – Exploring whether your idea belongs in a short film, feature, television series or another form — and what makes an idea particularly suited to a short
✅ Putting It into Practice – Using a practical exercise to explore an idea and identify possible next steps
This workshop is aimed at aspiring screenwriters, emerging filmmakers and anyone sitting on an idea they’re not quite sure what to do with.
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Zia Holloway is a prolific Wales based writer represented by Penelope Killik at the Artists partnership. Her numerous original projects in development include THE DEATH OF WHALES with The Development Partnership and The immigrant (director Alonso Ruizpalacios is attached to direct), QUEEN and KING with Objective Fiction, and a television adaptation for 5x Media, CANAL 16. She was part of BBC Welsh voices and won the BBC Wales writer’s award in 2021. She also has two exciting features in development.
Across the span of her career she has worked both within the UK and US television markets, most recently working on a television adaptation for Fifth Season and Joy Coalition. Her characterful work focuses on the representation of her generation in an ever-changing world and bringing to screen distinct perspectives, using the elements and genres of propulsive thrillers, grounded sci-fi, and magical realism.
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ATTENDANCE
If you can't attend the event on the day. We’ve got you covered. This workshop will be recorded and available for you always.
CAPACITY
We have a limited number of concession tickets available on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you identify as working class, are currently on benefits, or if you consider yourself to be financially disadvantaged in a way that is hindering your progression in your career, these tickets are available to you.
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
Underscore Studios is unfunded and comprised of three volunteers. We believe that upskilling yourself should be affordable, engaging, and transparent. The money towards Workshops such as these means that we can keep them as low as they are, pay our Freelance Workshop leaders, support the organisation to be sustainable, and when we can, make more of our services available for Free._
We are aware that even the cost of a concession ticket may be a key barrier for many people.From time to time we are able to offer Bursary places, please email info@underscorestudios.co.uk for more details.