Screenwriting

Diane Howard, Ph.D.

Tell a Good Story!
 

Office- Presser 421

Office Hours- M/T/Th- 4-5 p.m.
http://dianehoward.com/Spring_2010_Performance_Studies_Calendar.htm

Appointments Available- dhoward@umhb.edu

Textbook:
Real Screenwriting: Strategies and Stories from the Trenches by Ron Suppa, Thompson Publishing

Additional Readings:
Handouts in class

Course Goal:
Students will write a short screenplay.

Course Objectives:

• Students will demonstrate effective screenwriting techniques.
  Students will demonstrate effective collaboration techniques.
• Student will demonstrate effective research techniques.

Student Responsibilities:

• Students will complete assigned readings.
• Students will come to class with prepared assignments.
• Students will collaborate on the online My Campus class site.
   

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate effective screenwriting techniques.
  Students will demonstrate effective collaboration techniques.
• Student will demonstrate effective research techniques.
• Students will write a skillful, short screenplay.

Course Topics Outline:

• Writing Notebook
• Screenwriter’s Life
• Collaborating, Giving Feedback
• Concept to Script
• Narrative Films for Different Purposes- Entertainment, Training, Education…
• Premise
• Illusion of Reality/Believability
• Genres
• Research
• Dynamic Openings
• Hooks
• Characters We Care About
• Backstory
• Clear Goals
• Conflict in the Story
• Protagonist
• Antagonist
• Supporting Characters
• Structure
• Scenes & Sequences
• Dialogue
• Subtext
• Ending
• Audience
• Narrative
• Format
• Rewriting/Revising
• Theme/Major Ideas for Your Screenplay
• Action Outline for Your Screenplay
• Description of Characters for Your Screenplay
• Description of Your Characters' Development
• Description of Your Characters’ Interactions/Conflicts/Resolutions
• 1^st Draft
• 2^nd Draft
• 3^rd Draft
• Final Draft
• Final Reading of Final Draft

Mission Statement- In alignment with the university's mission statement, the goal of this course is to train skillful screenwriters, who as leaders can effectively exercise faith-based discernment and service in a global society.

Evaluation:
One third of the final grade is based required projects.
One third of the final grade is to be based on the following: responsibility, dependability, effort, academic integrity, time invested, and class attendance/participation. One third of the final grade is to be based on the final screenplay.

Appropriate Dress:  Modest Clothing,  no hats or flip-flop shoes

Teaching Philosophy- See http://www.dianehoward.com/phil.prac.contrib.htm
 

Student Policies- This class will adhere to student standards as set forth in the UMHB Student Handbook.

Academic Integrity- Students will produce their own work and will not plagiarize.

Accommodations are to be made for students will disabilities as guided by the campus testing and counseling office.

Extra Credit for Special Event Participation:
Students can receive extra credit for participation in events from the following categories. They are personal marketing workshops, laboratory performances, productions (on or off campus), and/or Humanities programs/events (see calendar).