SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT LAB
Refine. Rewrite. Pitch. Get Your Screenplay Industry-Ready.
This 6-Month Online Script Development Lab is designed for writers with an original idea, an existing screenplay, or a story they want to adapt for the screen—and who are ready to take their storytelling to the next level.
Wherever you are in your creative journey, Script Lab is your gateway to transforming that idea into a polished, market-focused screenplay—one that captivates producers, excites distributors, and stands out in the crowded film industry.
This immersive, craft-focused lab offers a structured, collaborative environment with professional feedback. Participants will sharpen their storytelling instincts, test creative choices, and revise with intention—building the critical foundation required to complete a script that is both personal and professionally viable.
Through six intensive sessions, you’ll explore the underlying structure of your story, interrogate character choices, refine your voice, and complete a draft of your screenplay that is ready for industry submission and future development or funding opportunities.
About Ross Grayson Bell
Ross Grayson Bell is a globally recognized script developer, producer, and mentor, known for helping writers transform their ideas into industry-ready screenplays. As the producer of the cult classic Fight Club, Ross understands the creative and commercial demands of screen storytelling.
His international experience spans Hollywood, the UK, and Australia, where he has worked as a screenwriter, development executive, and educator. As Head of Screenwriting at AFTRS (Australian Film, Television & Radio School), Ross oversaw a program that produced multiple Australian Writers’ Guild award-nominated scripts. Many of his students have gone on to secure major development deals with production companies, broadcasters, and streaming platforms.
With a proven track record of developing award-winning talent, Ross brings his deep industry knowledge, hands-on script expertise, and strategic market insight to Script Lab, helping writers craft compelling stories that stand out in the industry.
By the end of the lab, you’ll walk away with:
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A revised and complete screenplay or pilot draft
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A deepened understanding of narrative architecture and character development
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The ability to discuss your project clearly and confidently with collaborators or funders
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Practical experience preparing and delivering a pitch that communicates your vision
This lab is about craft, clarity, and commitment. It’s a space to do the real work of screenwriting—with feedback that challenges, supports, and elevates.
What You’ll Get When You Sign Up
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6 x 3-hour online sessions delivered over six months
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A structured, step-by-step development framework to guide your writing and revision process
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Direct guidance from an industry professional with extensive experience in script development
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Peer feedback and facilitated discussion designed to test your choices and expand your thinking
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Targeted development exercises to strengthen your concept, characters, and structure
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A final pitching workshop to help you articulate your project and its creative identity with clarity and confidence
"I was fortunate to be accepted by Ross as a mentee. I followed his hints, suggestions, recommended books and movies, exercises and processes enthusiastically and uncritically. The journey was less a prescription and more a way of searching for genuine psychological truth. The process was exciting and addictive... Ross is enthusiastic, demanding, provocative, supportive, exacting, nurturing and totally, totally professional. Ross Grayson Bell is truly inspiring because he never leaves you in any doubt that he believes in your work."
- Charles Hambling
Here's how it works
Each session builds on the last, mirroring the professional development process used across major labs, production companies, and writers’ rooms.
SESSION 1: Concept, Logline & Premise Development
What’s at the core of your story? In this foundational session, you’ll test your premise, refine your logline, and clarify your central dramatic question. The focus is on building a concept with strong thematic resonance and narrative potential—one that earns its place in the crowded creative landscape.
SESSION 2: Character Development & Transformation
Who drives your story—and why do they matter? This session explores your protagonist’s arc, inner contradictions, and personal stakes. You’ll interrogate motivation, change, and resistance—ensuring your characters are complex, active, and emotionally alive.
SESSION 3: Plotting vs. Structure
How does your story move? Here, we draw the distinction between what happens and how it's told. You’ll refine the spine of your narrative, assess causality and pacing, and align your plot points with emotional turning points—so the structure serves the story.
SESSION 4: Genre & Market Expectations
Where does your story live in the world? This session examines the creative and commercial boundaries of genre. You’ll explore how to balance artistic originality with audience expectations, grounding your project in a space where it can thrive creatively and connect professionally.
SESSION 5: Industry Readiness
Is your draft working and ready for the next stage? This session focuses on final revisions and crafting a development roadmap. You’ll learn to assess your own work like a producer or funder would—identifying what’s working, what needs to evolve, and what steps lie ahead.
SESSION 6: The Pitching Workshop
Can you speak your story aloud? In this culminating session, you’ll develop and refine a verbal pitch. This is not about memorized sales language—it’s about communicating your voice, your story’s emotional core, and your creative vision with clarity and authenticity.
BONUS: Live Pitch Session
Test your pitch in the room. In small groups of four, you’ll have the opportunity to pitch directly to Ross Grayson Bell and a guest industry professional. This is a rare chance to receive real-time feedback from two seasoned experts—helping you fine-tune your delivery and gain insights into how your project resonates with the market.
What Makes This Script Lab Different?
An Industry-Aligned Creative Process
This lab is structured to reflect the real-world development cycle—from concept to draft to pitch—so your work is shaped the way the industry develops material.
Craft Comes First
We focus on deep storytelling, not surface-level polish. The lab emphasizes revision, exploration, and accountability over formulas and shortcuts.
Collaborative, Not Competitive
This isn’t about “breaking in.” It’s about building durable creative practice, learning to receive and apply feedback, and making meaningful progress on your own terms.
A Pitch with Purpose
The final session focuses on pitch not as performance, but as craft—helping you frame your story, not just sell it.
Is This Lab Right for You?
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You’re developing an original screenplay, TV pilot, or adaptation at any stage
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You want disciplined support and structured guidance to move your script forward
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You’re seeking a creative process grounded in storytelling integrity and professional standards
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You’re ready to engage deeply with your material—and be challenged to elevate it
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You want to build the skills and mindset of a working screenwriter
If this sounds like you, the 6-Month Online Script Development Lab offers a rare opportunity to do the real work of screenwriting—alongside a small, focused cohort of peers.
Apply Now
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Admission is by application and the course will close when full.
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Limited places available – Only 12 participants per cohort
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Delivered 100% online (accessible from anywhere)
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If you are accepted into the program, you will be invoiced for the full fee of $3900 Incl.
Want to be part of it?
Have any questions? Contact us on admin@writermentors.com