Matthew John - Weybridge tutor





Matthew John's profile picture

Information About Matthew John:


Personal Description:

Hello, my name is Matthew. I'm a film tutor and writer. For the last two decades, I have tutored and run film workshops at universities, colleges and schools. It has been for students of all ages. I have specialized in Creative Writing (scripts and books), Directing, Producing and Film Theory. I have done this across all education levels (MA, Degree, A Level, A/S, GCSE and workshops) and adults who are looking to develop their own creative ideas in their spare time.

For students looking to complete a course, to those wanting to work in the industry, or, those who wish to develop ideas in their leisure, I can tailor lessons towards each course syllabus or each individual students' desired content. I've continued to mentor students working with them to achieve their goals and be proud of what they create.

In the entertainment industry as a writer I've had feature screenplays produced and distributed, alongside festival writing award nominations. As an author, I have four fiction books published. Most recently I released a first factual book on film history called Noir, Nihilism, and Crime, The Forgotten Films 1970-1989.

You can find a list of my released credits on the film website IMDb.

I support cancer research and hospice charities, giving proceeds of my novels in dedication and in memory of my beautiful mum.



Teaching Experience:

I started tutoring two decades ago at colleges when I was asked to be a guest speaker. I actually fell into it by a case of mistaken identity! A teacher at an A Level college contacted me believing I was a different writer who ran workshops. We got talking about the commissioned writing I had done and my thoughts on how to write a story from a blank page. They asked if I'd ever considered tutoring? I was honest and said it had never crossed my mind. So they suggested I come in as a guest speaker and see what I thought. I enjoyed it so much that I was soon running 6 workshop lessons over a month at the college. I found helping guide and advise students creative writing ideas extremely worthwhile and quite exhilarating when they finished their concept. I then started running workshops at Universities, colleges, online, one-on-one. All purely from a case of mistaken identity originally!

Below is my tutoring CV/experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

WORKSHOPS/GUEST SPEAKER
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

BRADFIELD COLLEGE
Role: Screenwriting Workshops
Level: A Level Film
Q & A with screenwriter.
Script Formatting and Industry software.
Three Act Structure & Alternative Structure.
Characters Biographies & Arcs.
Key Plot Points & Beats.
Writing your 1st draft.
Rewrites to read-through.
Script Editing.
Shooting Scripts.
Creating your Pitch/Treatment.
How to sell your script: From agents to legalities.
Q & A with Award Winning Bafta Producer.
Pitching idea to industry professionals.
Student 'one-on-one' sessions to develop their screenplays.

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON BIRBECK
Role: Writing for TV & Online Content. Workshops and Guest Speaker.
Level: MA Students
History of script writing and script editing on TV.
Television plays, sitcoms, drama serials and made-for-tv films and soap operas.
Practical nature of TV script editing.
Internet Writing as a creative medium.
Viral adverts, gaming and multi-platform concepts / interactivity.

GUILDFORD COLLEGE
Role: Film Making and Writing for Screen. Workshops.
Level: A Level, A/S Level and BTEC Film
Film, TV, New Media, and Documentary.
Film & TV Screenwriting Theory: Syd Field, Robert McKee, and Linda Seger
Studio, independent, and alternative story structures.
Formatting mediums.
Three-Act Structure.
Characters.
Story Editing.
Storyboards.
Pitches/Treatments.

STRODES COLLEGE
Role: Writing & Producing. Workshops & Guest Speaker Panels
Level: A Level and BTEC Film
Formatting.
Structure.
Characters.
Drafting.
Pitches & Treatments.
Media Packages.
Legalities, contracts, and agents.
Q & A alongside BBC producers, directors & designers.

THEALE GREEN SECONDARY SCHOOL
Role: Creative Writing. Workshops
Level: GCSE
Script, Novel and Stage Formatting.
Creating Structure.
Creating Characters.
How to make your concept for film or theatre production.

QUEEN MARY'S COLLEGE BASINGSTOKE
Role: Film Theory & Screenwriting. Workshops
Level: A Level and BTEC
Film & TV Screenwriting Theory: Syd Field, Robert McKee, and Linda Seger, covering Hollywood Studio, independent, and alternative structure.
Practical Elements of Screenwriting: Formatting, structure, character biographies, drafting, script edits and readings.
How to create Media Packages, Trailers, and Marketing for TV & Film development.
How to pitch to producers and WGGB contracts.
Student 'one on one' sessions to develop their screenplays.

CINE CLUB FILM SCHOOL
Role: Film Tutor 'Theory and Practical'
Level: After school film workshops for ages 5-16
Tutoring covered all aspects of Production; theory, writing, development, filming, scheduling, crewing, editing, marketing, and screening of finished project.
Working with children aged between 5-16 tutoring them to develop film-making skills.


FREELANCE WORKSHOPS

UK TUTORS
Role: Writing for Film, TV, and Books - Personal Tutor.
Film Theory - Personal Tutor.
Level: Students of all ages and levels
GSCE and A Level Film Theory.
Writing all formats from blank page to shooting script.
How to pitch and market finished concept.
How to produce and direct a short film.

WRITING FOR FILM & TV LOCAL WORKSHOPS
Role: Film Making Workshops - Writing. Pitching. Filming.
Level: All ages
Concept Ideas and Formatting for Film, TV, Stage, and Novel.
Creating Your Concept: Building your story from initial idea to formatting
3 Act Structure. Character Biographies. Story Synopsis.
Writing your Concept: Using the structure learnt above to develop your 1st Draft
Practical aspect of Drafting, Script Editing and Read-Through by actors.
Understanding and making use of Script Reports and Script Feedback.
Selling your Script: How to sell and/or get your story made.
Creating Treatment Packages: including pitching directly to producers.
Pre-Production development to On-Set Filming.
Editing the final concept to Marketing the finished piece for release/distribution.

SEAP (UK Charity)
Role: Film Making Workshop Leader
Level: 25 to 60 years of age
Writing and Concept Development.
Filming, Scheduling and Crewing.
Editing, Marketing and Screening of finished project.



Tutoring Approach:

The workshops, courses and online tutoring I've run have been structured for students interested in learning many aspects of film courses including - writing, filmmaking and film theory. I can tutor and advise students wanting to work in the entertainment industry for future careers, or, students wishing to complete a qualification. I also tutor adults of all ages who wish to develop ideas in their leisure time.

I tutor towards students' creative ideals and the educational institutions course syllabus. I've continued to mentor students afterwards working with them to achieve their goals and be proud of what they create. The key aspect when tutoring from my point of view is communication and collaboration. It requires hard work, dedication and full commitment from a tutor. I say to all new students wise words my mum used to tell me - "Believe in yourself. Through dedication and hard work, you can achieve anything".



Map showing Matthew John's location

Qualifications:

  • BA HONS FILM
  • A LEVEL FILM
  • A/S JOURNALISM

Further Information:

Availability:  Weekends / Weekdays (all times)
Types of Tutoring:   Travels to you / From their home / Online
References Supplied?   Yes
Current DBS/CRB Check?   Yes