Ctwr 529: Intermediate Screenwriting

CTWR 529: INTERMEDIATE SCREENWRITING

Fall 2010 SYLLABUS

Section 19254R

Monday 1- 3:50

SCX 201

Professor: Mark Jonathan Harris

213 740-3319

Office hours: Monday 4-6; Wednesday 4-6; by appointment only

“To be an artist means never to avert your eyes.”

--Akira Kurosawa

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This class is an intermediate course in writing for the screen. Its goal is to help you write the best scripts possible for 546 or thesis film production. It also aims to build on the screenwriting skills you developed in 505 and enhance your ability to write both cinematically and dramatically. Beyond that, the course strives to do what all good writing courses do -- help you to see clearly and to find your own voice as writers.

Students will complete four short scripts (8 – 12 pages) during the semester. Three of the scripts will be individual projects. One will be written with a partner. All will be workshopped in class. Character and story exercises will be assigned as needed. Among other things, the exercises are intended to help you discover just how character and story are interdependent.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Writers are encouraged to make your stories unique and personal. To use your own lives and experiences. To strive to find your voice. To discover the stories only you can tell, not the stories you think Hollywood wants you to write.
Learn the techniques of creating character by writing biographies and monologues.
Learn to write a synopsis for your story idea and how to pitch that story in a way that engages your audience (and you must define that audience) and makes them want to see the film.
Learn the unique characteristics of the short film form.
Learn to write compelling scenes and dialogue and to reveal character through action and the unique elements of cinema.
Learn the techniques of analyzing a screenplay by reacting to the work of your classmates.

ASSIGNMENTS:

All assignments are due on the week indicated and must be emailed to all students and the instructor by 6 PM on the Sunday night preceding Monday’s class. You must use Final Draft or Movie Magic screenwriting software. Scripts must be properly formatted and proofread. Typographical errors and sloppiness are unprofessional and unacceptable. Assignments to be delivered by email should be in pdf format. The filename should consist of the student’s last name_assignment name_date.pdf (Example Harris__Script1_ 9/30/10.pdf)

Outlines and treatments are to be written in Word and emailed to the group as “.doc” documents. DO NOT EMAIL US “.docx” documents.

The class is a workshop and you will be expected to read and give feedback to the material of your classmates. The collaborative process is central to writing for film and television and is an integral part of the 529 experience. Learning to analyze and critique screenplays intelligently is an essential skill for anyone involved in filmmaking.

GRADING:

Class starts promptly on time. Tardiness will not be tolerated. Assignments are due on the required date. Late assignments will receive lower grades. The only acceptable excuses for missing an assignment or taking an incomplete in the course are personal illness or a family emergency.

Absences are not allowed. If you must miss a class, please notify me in advance by phone or email. More than one absence will result in a lower grade.Three unexcused absences will result in failure.

CTWR 529 grades will be based on careful consideration in the following areas of your work.

The ability to keep up with the writing required in the course’s schedule.
Demonstrated understanding of the fundamental principles of a good story: character, tension, and movement.
Demonstrated understanding of the fundamental principles of a good script: character, visualization, scene, dialogue.
Completion of all assignments.
Class participation. The willingness to help classmates in their struggles with story, character, and structure.

GRADING WEIGHTS:

CNTV 529 grades are based on: Class Participation 30%, Assignments 70%

You will receive a mid-term written grade/evaluation.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE – Fall, 2010

Wk / Content
1. / In-Class Assignment: MOST TRAUMATIC MOMENT
2. / Read Assignment #1 Traumatic Script Pitch
3. / NO CLASS LABOR DAY
4. / First Draft Traumatic Script
5. / Rewrite Script #1
6. / Pitch Script #2 URBAN LEGEND, GHOST STORY, JOKE,
ANECDOTE
7. / First Draft #2
8. / Rewrite Script #2 Pick partners for script #3
9. / Pitch Script #3 (the collaborative script)
10. / First Draft #3
11. / Rewrite #3
12. / Pitch Script #4: PASSION PROJECT
13. / First Draft #4
14. / Rewrite #4
15. / Optional Rewrite; all material due

LAPTOP POLICY

Laptops are permitted in the classroom only for making notes. If they are used for any other purpose, the student will be asked to leave the class.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure this letter is delivered to me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The telephone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

The School of Cinematic Arts expects the highest standards of academic excellence and ethical performance from its students. It is particularly important that you are aware of and avoid plagiarism or submitting a paper authored by anyone other than yourself. Violations of this policy will result in a failing grade and be reported to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. If you have any doubts or questions about these policies, consult Scampus, the Student Guidebook, which contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00.