presented BY FIZZ & GINGER FILMS
Connect to Your Creativity: Transformative Retreats for Actors, Screenwriters & Fledgling Filmmakers
Location & Accommodation
Nestled in the South Norfolk countryside, Starston Hall sits beside an ancient woodland in nearly 5 acres. The vast skies and open fields that surround us, invite you to take a moment to stop, breathe, ground and expand. We are only 20 minutes away from Diss train station with regular direct connections to London Liverpool Street (1hr 30min).
We offer people who are coming to partake in our retreats the opportunity to stay an extra day or two either side in order to explore the area. The vibrant city of Norwich is 30 minutes north and we are 40 minutes away from the beautiful coastal town of Southwold, not to mention the delicious Flint Vineyard just 15 minutes away!
Accommodation is offered in either double or shared twin 5 meter bell tents. Each bell tent is set up with raised beds, soft flooring and all bed linen in provided as well as fire pits and solar charging banks, although we do encourage people to take the time to switch off from their phones as much as possible. There is a large shared bathroom with walk-in shower on the ground floor of the main house. Groups are kept small with a maximum of 10 people staying at any one time.
Classes & Courses
Evening Masterclasses
Screenwriting: PAGE TO SCREEN
FILM PRODUCTION 101
Evening classes are 2hrs long and take place once a week at Starston Hall. Depending on the course, classes run over six to eight weeks.
Our Screenwriting Masterclasses guide you through the fundamentals of storytelling, the nuts and bolts of character development, story arcs and writing for genre as well as offering guidance on the practicalities of production.
Our Film Production classes run over eight weeks and cover all aspects of filmmaking including: producing, budgeting, the running of a set, cinematography, editing, directing, post production and distribution.
For more information on our Screen Acting Masterclasses visit The ScreenActorsRetreat.com
Weekend Retreats
SCREENWRITING: Page to Scream
CREATIVE WRITING FOR PERFORMANCE
Our weekend courses are a blissful retreat away immersed in nature, whilst offering people the flexibility to study around their day to day commitments. We are all too aware of growing demand for genre content in the industry, especially when it comes down to horror. So with that in mind we are hugely excited to announce our first Genre Retreat - Screenwriting: Page to Scream.
Offering the chance to escape into the Norfolk countryside for a weekend of creativity, immerse yourself in the world of horror and all this genre has to offer. Gift yourself the all important time and space to put pen to paper and get that idea down that's been bubbling away for far too long!
Creative Writing for Performance, is part of our winter retreat programme and is a unique course that covers Screenwriting for Film, Screenwriting for TV, Playwriting, and Performance Verse.
Longer Retreats
SCREENWRITING: PAGE TO SCREEN
Fledgling Filmmaking
We offer our unique Screenwriting: Page to Screen course as a four day retreat, allowing for plenty of writing time in-between lectures and the chance to escape, embrace and immerse yourself in creativity.
Our Fledgling Filmmaking course offers the chance to learn hands on how to make a short film. Over the course of six days participants will work together to produce and shoot a short film, whilst learning about the various aspects involved in the pre-production, production and post-production of filmmaking. The Retreat runs adjacent to our Fledgling Filmmaking: For Actors, meaning that you don't have to fear being in front of the camera if that's not your bag, but equally if you are an actor and have always wanted to make your own short film, this is a great springboard!
For more information visit The ScreenActorsRetreat.com
Additional Work
Movement
Yoga & quigong
Breath & Body
connection
Reiki
Our retreats are not just a place to train, but a place to connect, create, and rediscover your voice as a storyteller. That is why we offer additional elements and practises including body and breath work that help support an individuals creative exploration.
We believe that an important part of connecting to your creativity involves not only the learning aspects of the Retreat but also the community and support that comes with it. After completing a course we want to make sure that people feel they can receive ongoing mentorship as they continue on their creative paths.
We recognise that being a creative can be a tough, exhausting and at times deflating vocation. But it can also be extremely cathartic and creativity can play an important role in the healing process. That is why as part of some of our longer retreats we also offer Reiki sessions.
PATRONS
& LEGENDS IN THEIR FIELD
A big part of what we hope to deliver here is a greater sense of community and connection within the industry. That's why we are gathering together an exciting list of Patrons, all with extensive experience, who are helping to advise and guide us with the development of our courses and what we are offering.
We are also extremely excited to be welcoming a 'Legend in Their Field' to each of our retreats. This means that on every one of our Retreats you'll not only be partaking in the unique courses that we offer, but there will also be a 2hr Masterclass from an industry professional who is top of their game and in our option a legend in their field!
OUR PLEDGE
As part of our carbon reduction plan we are partnering with Just One Tree - this means that for every person who attends one of our courses or retreats a tree is planted. For more info JustOneTree.life
Key Highlights
Industry Relivance
Connection to Nature
Professional Development
Visual Storytelling
Ongoing Mentorship
Holistic Elements
Testimonials
"It was without a doubt the hardest term and the one I have learnt the most!
Thank you Matthew for pushing us to grow."
Espe.
"Thank you so much Matthew, I've learnt so much. I loved how free of judgement your teaching was, it really made it a safe environment for me to try different ways of acting and to grow my skills."
Tegen.
"It's been fantastic, by far the best term yet. Not only learning about how to
work on camera but you encouraged us to work on physicality and timings. Hugely
valuable knowledge you've passed on to us which will stand us all in good stead in the future."
Sherief.
Contact Us
For all inquiries and bookings regarding retreats and classes please contact us directly by emailing info@creativescreenretreats.com
Alternatively fill out the contact form below and we'll get back to you asap!