May term: Film Writing Workshop
Class and work Schedule
Dr. Meehan
Web resources:
Screenwriting resources from google: http://directory.google.com/Top/Arts/Writers_Resources/Screenwriting/
Hypertext book: scriptwriting secrets
http://www.scriptwritingsecrets.com/contents.htm
list of scripts available
http://www.angelfire.com/movies/coolscreenwriter/screenplays.html
simply scripts: resource for scripts and treaments, including treatment for star wars, and unproduced scripts
http://www.simplyscripts.com/treatments.html
Link to nicenet.org--where you will post your work and respond to others:
Week One: Ideas and Story
May 15: Introduction
Workshop: starting notebook, ideas from and for film
Homework (HW): list of one sentence film ideas; read pages 1-12
May 16: Ideas
Reading: chapter 2
Workshop: film genres
HW: read chapter 3; continue to brainstorm story sentences
May 17: Ideas
Reading in class: chapter 4
Workshop: ideas from fairytales and other triggers
[migrant mother photo--or others:
http://www.masters-of-photography.com/L/lange/lange_migrant_mother.html]
HW: decide upon 2 or 3 leading film story ideas
May 18: Traditional Structure
Reading: p. 39-50
Workshop: hypothetical structure (p. 45 as model)
Film reading: Thelma and Louise [map out its structure] Thelma and Louise script
HW: continue with hypothetical structure for your story idea
May 19: Setup
Reading: p. 51-55
Workshop: develop story sentence; begin to sketch treatment
Film reading: continue Thelma
Due at end of class: your story sentence
Evening: see film downtown ?
Week Two: Setup and Structure
May 22: Action and Relationship Lines
Reading: p. 56-60
Workshop: develop action/relationship lines; focus on the set-up of Act 1
HW: your treatment in progress; experiment with a scene from opening sequence
May 23: Character: Protagonist/Antagonist
Reading: p. 60-71
Workshop: character chart/biography
HW: work on characters
May 24: Turning Points
Reading: 74-80
Workshop: 1st and 2nd act turning points; notecards for Act 1
HW: work on turning points
May 25: 3 Act Structure
Reading: 81-88
Workshop: 4 page treament/3 act structure; notecards for Act 2?
Film reading:
HW: post your 9 point plan/treatment
May 26: Structure: 9 point plan
Reading: 100-104
Workshop: 9 point plan/treatment
Film reading:
HW: clarify/revise structure as needed; work on opening sequence
Week Three: Presentation
May 29: Memorial Day; no class meeting: workshop with peer
May 30: Flashback Narrative
Reading: chapter 7
Workshop: experiment with flashback; work in progress: workshop your opening sequence (1st 10 pages)
Film reading: The Usual Suspects
May 31: Tandem Narrative
Reading: chapter 11, focusing on Pulp Fiction
Workshop: experiment with tandem; work in progress
Film reading: cont. Usual Suspects and/or Pulp Fiction
June 1
Workshop: final workshop
Film: Usual Suspects or Pulp
June 2
Final presentation: pitch