Overview

This course is intended to introduce students to the art of screenwriting through techniques that emphasize dramatic structure, visual language and character development. The goal of this course is to create, develop and write your own short film script. This class is perfect for those who have always wanted to try their hand at writing a short script and for those who want to dust off their screenwriting skills. Topics covered include storytelling, character and character arcs, conflict, dialogue, log-lines, synopsis, beat sheet, feedback, and revisions. We will break down short films, explore story and develop outlines that help break down film structure. You will also learn how to analyze your fellow students' work, give constructive feedback and learn how to provide and implement comments in a useful manner. We will learn the drafting process, techniques for rewriting, collaboration and the art of story development. This course is designed to build on the fundamental concepts and techniques of screenwriting with an emphasis on narrative structure, dialogue, visual language, and especially character development. As a class we will work together to learn and break down three-act structure, understanding plot points, and the importance of character and story arcs. Through the use of various exercises designed to enhance understanding of the craft of screenwriting, students will learn how to construct a visually dynamic, character-driven, short narrative screenplay, ready for production. By the end of this 12-week course, each student will complete their own 6-8 page narrative screenplay. The emphasis in this workshop class will revolve around developing layered story, supported by interesting characters. Students are required to participate in class. We will learn and develop our skills as a team.