THP 261/ENG 210

Introduction to Screenwriting

M/W 10:40-11:55

Instructor: Gregory Farber

Classroom: ART 202

Office Hours: DGH 228, Wednesday 11:55-12:45, and by appointment.

Required Texts: Screenplay: the Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field

                                    ISBN: 0-440-57647-4, Copyright: 1994

Class Philosophy:

I believe that there are two essential parts to the practice of screenwriting: writing and analysis.  In order to improve your ability at the craft you need to keep writing.  In addition to writing you also need to be able to look objectively at others’ work, and for a screenwriter, that means looking at the work of your peers, reading screenplays, and watching films.

Attendance and Participation:

Writers need to work with each other and give constructive feedback.  Since you will regularly be giving feedback on your classmates’ work, you need to be in class.  Participating in the workshops, even if the focus is not on your work will be as valuable to your development as those times when your piece is the focus of the class.

**Missing more than four classes (missing 5 or more classes) will result in you losing ALL of your attendance points.  This is over 10% of your grade.

Assignments:

I will not accept late assignments.  Exceptions will only be made if I am SPOKEN TO BEFORE class.  You must call me or speak to me personally and make other arrangements.  Emailing me right before or during class is not acceptable.   

**NOTE:  Missing class is NOT an excuse for not turning in work when it is due.

**Also, I will NOT accept assignments via email.  Any assignments emailed to me will be counted as not received.

Grading Scale:

280pts, 40pts each                   Exercises (7)               

150pts, 50pts each                   Reports (3)                  

160pts, 2@40pts, 1@80pts     Reflections (3)

            Other:

50pts                                        First draft short

50pts                                        Outline

60pts                                        Character breakdown/dialogue sample

100pts                                      Revised outline/ending

75pts                                        1^st 10 pages of screenplay

75pts                                        2^nd 10 pages of screenplay

150pts                                      Midterm: Final draft of short

150pts                                      Final: Final draft of first 20 pages, last 5

200pts                                      Attendance and Participation

            Total Points = 1500

1470-1500 pts = A+

1425-1469 pts = A     

1350-1424 pts = A-

1305-1349 pts = B+

1245-1304 pts = B

1200-1244 pts = B-

1155-1199 pts = C+

1095-1154 pts = C

1050-1094 pts = C-

900-1049 pts = D

899 & below = E

Schedule & Assignments:

Below is a schedule of the classes and assignments.  More detailed instructions will be given in class.

Week 1:

Wed. January 18: Discuss cinema, storytelling, conflict.

Assign: storytelling exercise.  Read chapter 14.

Week 2:

Mon. January 23: Due: storytelling exercise.

Discuss: exercises; read some in class, format, conflict.

                        Assign: conflict exercise.

            Wed. January 25: Due: conflict exercise. 

Discuss: exercises; read some in class, character.  

Assign: read chapter 3, character bio

Week 5:

            Mon. February 13: Due: Reflection on Process

                                    Discuss: Continue reading shorts. 

Assign: brainstorm of screenplay.

            Wed. February 15: Due: brainstorm of screenplay.

Discuss: brainstorms.  Any unread shorts. 

Assign: Put away shorts, character exercise, Read short screenplay: “And you act like one, too.”

Week 6:

            Mon. February 20: Due: Character exercise, report on “And you act…”

Discuss: Character arcs/development, character exercise, screenplay.

                                    Assign: Dialogue exercise (characters from screenplay dialogue in

other scenarios) Read Chapter 9, report on Ch. 9.  Film report 1.

            Wed. February 22: Due: dialogue exercises. Report on Chapter 9.

Discuss: dialogue exercises. Chapter 9.

                                    Assign: Read chapter 17.  Begin outlines, dialogue for plot

points 1 & 2.

Week 7:

            Mon. February 27: Due: Report on Chapter 17.

Discuss: Chapter 17.  After the completed screenplay.

Assign: Pitch exercise.

            Wed. March 1: Due: Pitch exercise.

                                    Discuss: Revisions.

                                    Assign: revisions, reread, and reflection of short. 

Week 8:

            Mon. March 6: Due: reflection on short, film report 1.

                                    Discuss: revisions/reflections

                                    Assign: Character breakdown, dialogue sample for screenplay.   

            Wed. March 8: Due: Character breakdown, dialogue, first draft of outline.

Discuss: share characters/dialogue with class, outline.

 Week 9:

            Mon. March 13:  SPRING BREAK                            

            Wed. March 15:  SPRING BREAK

Week 10:

            Mon. March 20: Conferences. Due: Final draft of short.

Wed. March 22: Conferences. Due: Final draft of short.

Week 11:

            Mon. March 27: Due: First 10 pages of screenplay, group A.

            Wed. March 29: Due: First 10 pages of screenplay, group B.

Week 12:

            Mon. April 3: Due: First 10 pages of screenplay, group C.

            Wed. April 5: Due: First 10 pages of screenplay, group D.

Week 13:

Mon. April 10: Due: Revised outline.  Detailed ending.

                                    Assign: Second 10 pages of screenplay.

            Wed. April 12: Second 10 pages of screenplay, group A.

Week 14:

            Mon. April 17: Due: Second 10-pages of screenplay, group B.

                                    Due: film report 2.

            Wed. April 19 Due: Second 10-pages of screenplay, group C.

Week 15:

Mon. April 24: Second 10 pages of screenplay, group D.

                        Assign: Reflection on screenwriting.

            Wed. April 26: Due: Reflection paper on screenwriting process.

Week 16:

            Mon. May 1: Final Due: Final draft of first twenty pages, last five pages.

Description of Assignments:

Exercises: 

The assigned exercises are designed to help you practice and experiment with aspects of screenplays essential to the development of any screenwriter.  There will be seven exercises: One on storytelling, one on conflict, two on character, two on dialogue, and one concerning submissions.

Reports:

These short reports will give you a chance to analyze films and screenplays and apply the things we’ve discussed in class, focusing specifically on how what you’ve seen/read relates to your own writing.  There will be one report on a screenplay and two on films.

Reflections:

Reflecting on one’s own work and the process one takes to get there is an essential part of one’s development in any field.  These reflection papers are designed to help you articulate areas where you have improved or need improvement.

*Note:

Please be aware that though I will attempt to follow the syllabus as carefully as possible, every class is fluid and dynamic.  Changes in assignments will occur throughout the semester.  If you miss class, you are still responsible for any assignments given or altered during that class period.

**Please also note that there may be content in the required readings, films, or other students’ work that contain adult themes, content, and language.