SCRIPTWRITING WORKSHOP

Objective: To draft a feature-length dramatic film script (either original or adaptation of a novel).

Required Text (available at Campus Bookstore): Syd Field. The Screenwriter's Workbook.

Evaluation:

	
	Synopsis					5%
	Treatment					10%
	Film Discussion					15%
	Script						50%
	Attendance, Participation, Deadlines		10%
	Final Quiz					10%

Grading:

All work submitted in fulfillment of the course requirements will be assumed to be yours alone. Instances of academic dishonesty will be handled according to College regulations, and with the utmost seriousness. You must complete all of the above assignments to pass this course.

1/14, 1/16	INTRODUCTION:  ON WRITING
		The Premise; The Synopsis; The Pitch; The Process; The Product

		For Next Week:
		Read Vonnegut handout for Thursday
		Read Syd Field book for next Tuesday
		
		Viewing Assignment (for Thursday):  Tootsie (Pollack,1982, US)
		Script by Larry Gelbart, Don McGuire, and Murray Schisgal. 

Unit I: Aspects of Dominant Narrative Form (Hollywood Scripting)

1/21, 1/23	STORY & PLOT
		The Treatment	  
															
		Viewing assignment (for next Tuesday):	The Misfits  (Huston, 1961, US);
		Script by Arthur Miller.


1/28, 1/30	CHARACTER
		***Synopsis Due 1/28***
		
		Viewing assignment (for next Tues): Bitter Moon (Polanski, 1992, France/UK); 
		Script by Gerard Brach, John Brownjohn, Pascal Bruckner, and Roman Polanski.


2/4, 2/6	ELEMENTS OF THE SCENE #1: VISUALITY
		Screenplay Formats
		***In-Class Pitch Sessions***

		Viewing assignment (for next Tues): Kiss Me, Stupid (Wilder, 1964, US); 
		Script by Anna Bonaci, I.A.L. Diamond, and Billy Wilder. 


2/18, 2/20	ELEMENTS OF THE SCENE #2:  DIALOGUE & SOUND 
		***Treatment Due 2/18***
			
		Viewing assignment (for next Tues): Coming Home  (Ashby,1978, US); 
		Script by Nancy Dowd, Robert Jones, and Waldo Salt.


2/25, 2/27	TONE & THEME

		Viewing assignment (for next Tues): Chinatown (Polanski, 1973, US); 
		Script by Robert Towne.		


3/4, 3/6	MODES OF FICTION #1:  DETECTION

		Viewing assignment (for Tues, 3/18): Terms of Endearment (Brooks, 1983, US); 
		Script by James L. Brooks and Larry McMurtry.		


3/11, 3/13	SPRING BREAK
		 	

3/18, 3/20	MODES OF FICTION #2:  MELODRAMA
		***In-Class Scene Readings***
		
		Viewing assignment (for next Tues):  Funny Bones (Chelsom, 1995, US/UK); 
		Script by Peter Chelsom and Peter Flannery.		


3/25, 3/27	MODES OF FICTION #3:  COMEDY
		***1st 1/2 Script Due***

		Viewing assignment (for next Tues): Fanny and Alexander (Bergman, 1982, Sweden/France/W. Germany); 
		Script by Ingmar Bergman.

Unit II. Alternative Narrative Forms

4/1, 4/3 	THE VISUAL SUBLIME; THE EUROPEAN ART CINEMA

		Viewing assignment: Killer of Sheep  (Burnett, 1977, US); 
		Script by Charles Burnett.
		Claudine  (Berry, 1974, US);
		Script by Lester Pine and Tina Pine.


4/8, 4/10	SOCIAL REALISM; THE AMERICAN INDEPENDENT TRADITION
		
		Viewing assignment : The Double Life of Veronique (Kieslowski, 1991, Poland/France);
		Script by Krysztof Kieslowski and Krysztof Piesiewicz.


4/15, 4/17	THE NARRATOLOGICAL ENIGMA
		***In-Class Scene Readings***

		Viewing assignment (for next Tues):  Safe  (Haynes, 1995, US);  
		Script by Todd Haynes.	


4/22, 4/24	THE CHARACTEROLOGICAL ENIGMA

		Viewing Assignment (for next Tues):  Super 8-1/2 (LaBruce, 1993, US); 
		Script by Bruce LaBruce.	


4/29, 5/1	THE AESTHETIC CHAMELEON

		Viewing assignment (for next Tues): Dazed and Confused (Linklater, 1993, Linklater);
		Script by Richard Linklater.			


5/6		MULTI-CHARACTER FORM 
		***Final Quiz***

		***FINAL SCRIPT DUE***