Film Writing: Rubrics

Overall Course Rubric:

Greenlight

The writer has attended all class sessions but one.

The writer has kept a notebook that reveals evidence of lateral and vertical thinking and consistent effort.

The writer has completed all required course work, both in class and take-home.

The writer contributes consistently and actively during workshop, offering constructive feedback to peers.

The writer has received a greenlight on the final treatment and pitch.

This means the studio is impressed and interested in a deal: have your people call our people!

In academic parlance, this means an A.

Yellowlight

The writer has failed to meet one or two of the categories listed above.

This means the studio is somewhat interested, but has some concerns about the project. Set up another meeting after doing som re-writing.

In academic parlance, this means B or C (depending on what is missing)

Redlight

The writer has failed to meet more than two of the categories listed above.

This means the studio is not interested in the project and hopes you come back next time with something more substantial.

In academic parlance, this means D or F.

Rubric for how your screenplay will be assessed.

Though I believe this is the beginning of a full screenplay I encourage you to develop--by the end of this May term you will not need the full 120 page screenplay. What I will expect to be completed are the following:

            --advanced story sentence

            --4 page treatment and/or detail of 9 point plan

            --opening sequence of screenplay (1^st 10 pages)

            --pitch to the class

Scoring:

Characteristic is not present or problematic:  0

Characteristic is somewhat present, could be improved or developed: 1

Characteristic is clearly present: 2

Characteristic is strongly present, a strength of the screenplay: 3

_______ Characteristic #1: A Good Setup

The screenplay has the necessary elements for a good setup: protagonist, normality and disturbance, plust a problem arising out of the disturbance. [see p. 52]

_______ Quality #2: Disturbance

The screenplay has a “real but unusual” disturbance, one that involves disruption or change. [see p. 53]

_______ Characteristic #3: Action line

The screenplay has an action line or series of actions (main plot) that develop from the disturbance. [54]

_______ Characteristic #4: Relationship line

The screenplay has a relationship line (subplot) that can be distinguished from the action line. [58]

_______ Characteristic #5: Identifiable protagonist and antagonist

The screenplay has an identifiable protagonist and antagonist.

_______ Characteristic #6: First act turning point

The screenplay has a first act turning point that is an actual surprise/obstacle. [75]

_______ Characteristic #7: Second act complications and turning point

The screenplay has second act complications and a further turning point. [77]

_______ Characteristic #8: Climax

The screenplay has a climax that answers the problem posed by the first act turning point [79]

_______ Characteristic #9: Ending

The screenplay has an ending [81]

_______ Characteristic #10: Use of symbolism and myth

The screenplay uses symbolism/myth to develop ideas, themes, or relationships. [88]

_______ Characteristic #11: Effective opening scene

The screenplay has an opening scene that establishes the protagonist and his/her normality. [87]

_______ Characteristic #12: Clear and clean presentation

The writer presents the screenplay (and the pitch) clearly and cleanly, without noticeable (and unintended) errors that distract from the presentation.

Total score: ____________

Greenlight: 24-36

Yellowlight: 11-24

Redlight: 0-10

What will count as your screenplay:

            --advanced story sentence

            --4 page treatment and/or detail of 9 point plan

            --opening sequence of screenplay (1^st 10 pages)

            --pitch