Syllabus
Fall Term
Course Meeting Times
Lectures: 2 sessions per week, 2 hours per session
Course Goals
Gain greater awareness into film as a visually driven medium. Become a better-informed and more experienced writer. Develop a set of personal disciplines and directions in your writing practice. Complete a first draft feature screenplay.
Contribute new ideas to the classroom. Explore perspectives. Competently field questions. Reflect on what is learned and think of ways to make improvements.
Instructor Expectations
Learn and have fun! Respect varying points of view. Be present for class. Arrive prepared with finished work and all appropriate materials. Embrace academic integrity. Take responsibility for your own learning.
Grading
Final Project 50%
Reflections 40%
Attendance & Participation 10%
(Punctuality counts. Attendance is taken sharp at the start of class.)
(In-class contribution and interaction with other students and the instructor exhibited through asking questions, offering answers, sharing opinions and ideas are all ways of demonstrating participation.)
*Papers turned in late will receive one letter grade lower per day.
**Independent reading and media viewing are vital components of the course and to be completed outside of class.
***Drinks are permitted in the classroom. Students are expected to pick up after themselves.
****Plagiarism, cell phone use, text messaging during class…hmmm.
Calendar
Week Topics Key Dates
1 Course Introduction, Story Ideas
The Cinematic Experience & Power of an Image
2 Screenwriting Fundamentals
Writing Workshop Introduction Due
3 The Action-Idea
From Story to Screen—Guest Speaker
4 Aristotle’s Poetics in Screenwriting Finish Tierno, Reflection
Writing Workshop
5 Emotion Driven Plots Over Spectacle
Scene Development
6 Building Living Characters
Writing Workshop Act 1 Due
7 Naked/Winning Dialog
Writing from the Unconscious
8 Cinematic Storytelling Finish Van Sijll, Reflection
Writing Workshop
9 Midterm Consultations
Midterm Consultations
10 Meaningful Storytelling
Writing Workshop Act 2 Due
11 Structural and Relational Editing
The Importance of Music and Sound
12 Fundamentals of the Craft Finish King, Reflection
Writing Workshop
13 Time, Perspective, Point of View
Story Analysis—Guest Speaker
14 Content and Consciousness
Writing Workshop Act 3 Due
15 Building Your Writing Toolbox
Patanjali On Writing Finish Patanjali, Reflection
16 The Rewriting Process Final Project Due
Course Review
