WRIT 363 - Screenwriting

Required Reading

Armer, Alan A. Writing the Screenplay [SCP]

Vogler, Christopher. The Writer's Journey [JRN]

Langsdale Library reserve materials [LLR]

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

1. Explain terminology appropriate to television and film scripts.
2. Explain the standard steps in developing a dramatic script.
3. List and explain the structure and conventions of various types of scripted dramas.
4. Develop scripts that conform to the conventions of existing television series.
5. Create effective characters.
6. Write appropriately-formatted television and film scripts.

Grades

Sitcom Episode 25%

Drama Episode 25%

Final Project 50%

Borderline grades will be determined by attendance, participation, and other intangibles.

Script Packages

Sitcom

1. Choose a currently-in-production, prime-time sitcom.

2. Watch several episodes in order to familiarize yourself with the show's premise, characters, plots, and other conventions.

3. Develop one original episode for that series.

4. Your package will contain reading notes, a log line, outline, treatment, and one 7:00-10:00 scripted act.

Drama

1. Choose a currently-in-production, one-hour prime-time drama.

2. Watch several episodes in order to familiarize yourself with the show's premise, characters, plots, and other conventions.

3. Develop one original episode for that series.

4. Your package will contain reading notes, a log line, outline, treatment, and one 7:00-10:00 scripted act.

 

Final Project

1. Develop an original 30:00 drama (film or television, serious or comic) that follows the stages (and contains the character archetypes) of the heroic journey.

2. Your package will contain reading notes, a premise, primary character portrait, outline, treatment, and script.

DATE	TOPIC	READING ASSIGNMENT	WORK DUE
Class 1	Intro/Overview
Class 2	Tools & Terms	LLR: [Sitcom #1]	I.D. Sitcom.
Class 3	Sitcom #1	SCP: Concept/Structure/1-36, 291-297 LLR: [Sitcom #2]	Sitcom Log Line I.D. Drama. List Sitcom conventions.
Class 4	Sitcom #2	SCP: Structure/37-68	Sitcom Outline
Class 4	Sitcom #3	SCP: Comedy/213-242
Class 5	Sitcom #4	JRN: Intro/ix-34	Sitcom Treatment
Class 6	[Transition]	SCP: Format/195-212 JRN: Archetypes #1/35-60	Sitcom Script (4 copies)
Class 7	Drama #1 [Sitcom Wkshp]	SCP: Character/69-110 JRN: Archetypes #2/61-80 LLR: [Drama #1]	List Drama conventions. Drama Logline
Class 8	Drama #2	SCP: Dialogue/111-164 JRN: Journey #1/81-126 LLR: [Drama #2]	Drama Outline Sitcom Script Pkg (rev)
Class 9	Drama #3	SCP: Subtext/165-180, 291-297 JRN: Journey #2/127-180	Drama Treatment
Class 10	[Transition]	SCP: Adaptation/243-260 JRN: Journey #2/181-236	Drama Script (4 copies)
Class 11	Final #1 [Drama Wkshp]	SCP: Careers/261-289 JRN: Conclusion/237-300 LLR: [Film Script]	Premise, Protagonist Portrait
Class 12	Final #2		Outline Drama Script Pkg (rev)
Class 13	Final #3	NO CLASS: Individual Conferences	Treatment
Class 14	Final #4 [Final Wkshp?]		[Script (? copies)]
Class 15		NO CLASS	Final Script Pkg (rev)

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