DC 101 Screenwriting for Majors
Summary
This course introduces digital cinema majors to dramatic writing for motion pictures. The topics covered include theme, plot, story structure, character, and dialogue. Emphasis is placed on telling a story in visual terms. Students are expected to develop and write a short screenplay.
Texts
Screenplay by Syd Field
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Grading
- Logline assignment 10%
- Character Development 10%
- Midterm 20%
- Critical Analysis 10%
- Step Outline and Screenplay Draft 1 20%
- Screenplay Draft 2 10%
- Screenplay Draft 3 20%
Prerequisites
None
Participation and Reading Assignments
We will engage in in-class discussions, screenplay read-throughs and other such activities throughout the term. Students are expected to read assigned readings before the class period and complete writing assignments in a timely fashion so they can be ready to discuss the work in class.
Course I:
- COURSE INTRODUCTION
Assignments: Read SYD FIELD Ch. 1,2. Read BLAKE SNYDER Ch. 1
Course II:
- TITLE, PREMISE AND LOGLINE
Assignment: Logline Assignment, Read BLAKE SNYDER Ch. 3
Course I:
CHARACTER
Assigment: Read SYD FIELD Ch. 4, 5
Course II:
- CHARACTER ARC, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
- CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
Assignments: Character Development Assignment, Read SYD FIELD Ch. 6,7
Course I:
- THREE ACT STRUCTURE
Assignment: Read SYD FIELD Ch. 8,9
Course II:
- SCREENPLAY FORMAT
- STEP OUTLINES
Assignment: Step Outline and First Draft (Due Week 5), Read BLAKE SNYDER Ch. 4
Course I:
- PLOT POINTS AND BEATS
Assignment: Read SYD FIELD Ch. 9, 10
Course II:
- SCENE, SEQUENCE AND ACT - SCREENPLAY CONSTRUCTION
- CREATING TENSION
Assignment: Read SYD FIELD Ch. 11 - 13, Midterm Review
Course I:
- AVOIDING CLICHE
Assignment: Review for Mid-term, First Draft of Screenplay due at Midterm
Course II:
- MIDTERM
Assignment: Sign up for screenplay meeting
SCREENPLAY MEETINGS
Assignment: Begin 2nd Draft after meeting, Read BLAKE SNYDER Ch. 2
Course I:
- WRITING DIALOGUE
Course II:
- GENRE WRITING
Assignment: Critical Analysis
Course I:
INTRODUCTION TO MYTHIC STRUCTURE
Assignment: Read BLAKE SNYDER Ch. 7, 2nd Draft due next class
Course II:
- REVISION
Assignment: Draft 2 DUE, Sign up for individual meetings
SCREENPLAY MEETINGS
TABLE READS
Assignment: Final screenplay due day of final exam
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296