Film School Applications
Build Your Screenwriting Portfolio
Are you applying to a film or screenwriting program? A compelling portfolio is your first chance to stand out. We can guide you step by step in building a professional writing portfolio—whether you’re polishing short scripts, developing a feature outline, or showcasing your unique voice as a storyteller. With practical tips, examples, and expert advice, you’ll learn how to present your work with clarity, impact, and intention.

Our Script Doctoring Services (for film school applications)
A complete offer for beginner and experienced screenwriters
We specialize in supporting screenwriters through every stage of serious, ambitious, and rigorous writing projects.
Our script development process is designed for all screenwriters—regardless of their familiarity with dramatic structure or their mastery of screenwriting conventions.
From the initial spark—an idea, a desire, or an intuition—all the way to the full dialogue script and production dossier, we work alongside you with a clear, step-by-step approach that remains focused and thoughtful at every key moment in the creative process.
We help you avoid common pitfalls and clichés (or push beyond them to make them resonate), break down a story in order to rebuild it, challenge easy solutions, and confront the essential questions of subject relevance and authorial voice.
Why a Screenwriting Portfolio Matters
Your portfolio is often the first thing a selection committee sees—and it speaks volumes. More than just a sample of your work, it shows how you think, how you tell stories, and what kind of voice you bring to the big screen. A well-crafted portfolio gives a clear sense of your potential and your creative vision. Admissions staff aren’t expecting perfection—they’re looking for promise, originality, and discipline.
What to Include in Your Portfolio
Each film school may have different requirements, but in general, a strong portfolio includes:
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Short Screenplays: 5–20 pages, either stand-alone or excerpted from a longer piece.
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Feature-Length Excerpts: A polished section (typically the first 10–15 pages) that shows your ability to sustain narrative tension.
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Loglines & Synopses: One-sentence summaries and one-paragraph overviews of your scripts help the reader understand your intentions.
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Personal Statement: A brief essay (often required) explaining your journey, values, inspirations, and why you’re pursuing film.
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Optional Materials: Treatments, visual pitch decks, mood boards, or lookbooks if you have them—especially if you’re applying to a directing or production-focused program.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even strong writing can be undermined by avoidable errors. Watch out for:
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Including too much material—quality matters more than quantity.
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Neglecting spell-check and proofreading—typos distract from your ideas.
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Submitting without context—always add loglines or short intros.
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Forgetting your audience—your reader might be a filmmaker, not a literary critic.
How to Choose and Organize Your Material
Think of your portfolio like a curated exhibit. Admissions officers have limited time, so make their experience meaningful:
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Lead with your strongest work—the piece you’re proudest of.
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Include no more than 2 or 3 full writing samples. It’s better to go deep with a few than shallow with many.
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Show range (different tones, genres, or formats), but keep a consistent voice.
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Add a short introduction page with titles, page counts, and a one-line logline for each script to help orient the reader.
Formatting and Presentation Tips
First impressions count, and formatting is part of storytelling. Keep your documents clean, legible, and professional:
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Use screenwriting software like Final Draft, Celtx, WriterDuet, or Arc Studio.
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Export your files as PDFs, and name them clearly: e.g., FirstName_LastName_ShortScript1.pdf
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Follow industry-standard formatting: Courier 12pt font, correct margins, no fancy visuals unless required.
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Add page numbers and your name/email in the header or footer.
Want Personalized Feedback?
Need a second opinion on your scripts? Looking for guidance on structure, tone, or how to frame your personal statement?
We offer:
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💬 One-on-one coaching via Zoom (script review + strategy)
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📅 Flexible scheduling—Book a session directly [via our contact form or calendar link]
Services
As part of our services for screenwriters, whether working alone or with a production company, we can offer the following services:
Scenarios received per week
- Theoretical-practical introduction to scriptwriting (for novices)
- Initial Brain-storming for new project (from an idea)
- Definition of « the big idea »
- Work on the premise
- Existing scenario reading sheet
- Treatment or scene to scene before scenario
- Specific work on the structure
- Work on the main and secondary characters
- Work on the rhythm
- Diagnosis on the originality of the script & subject
- Dialogue work (option with professional· comedian)
- Formatting to production standards
- Help with documentary research
- Help with production file
- Advice on the approach of production companies
- Specific work on genre film
- Initiation for adolescent·s (in the presence of a parent)
- Special script-doctoring « Series » (long accompaniment)
- Adaptation of an existing work (theatre, novel..).
- Pitch Preparation
It’s crazy to get up one morning with an idea and end up with a movie. Thank you anyway ! It’s is much more concrete now because it m’a asked a lot of research and reflection. J’ai had a lot of headache but for the good cause. L’rcriture c’was crazy as sensation!
Because you never let me down. Once again, when you are well accompanied you accomplish beautiful things.
Organisation
Choose the method that suits you best, we adapt to each configuration.

In person
Paris, Brussels, London
Paris
Our premises are located in Paris, in the 14th arrondissement, close to the Montparnasse train station. We can receive you there for specific sessions. We can also meet at your home, or in an external, neutral location (at your convenience and expense).
London
We are very often in London for one-off missions. Vincent Fournier (your contact person) is fluent in professional English.
We are based in NW6 area but can move throughout the city.
Brussels
Stephane Lhoest has offices in Brussels and Walloon Brabant, we are available very regularly on site for specific missions.
NEW ! Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
Thanks to a partnership set up with Jakdi, Vincent also accompanies Ivorian authors.

Remotely
Visio – Mail – Phone
First approach
We are of course reachable at any time by electronic means of communication. Our contacts are on this page, do not hesitate to contact us.
Sending your projects
If you send us a text (short, long, documentary), specify if it is a production search or a request for script-doctoring service.
We will answer you in both cases. In all transparency, however, understand that for requests for production, the response times are longer.
Web Cam Session
We have access to various video conferencing platforms (GoogleMeet, Teams, Zoom, Whatsapp.) to communicate with you.