Mission Statement:
Regent University serves as a center of Christian thought and action to provide excellent education through a
Biblical perspective and global context equipping Christian leaders to change the world.
School of Communication & the Arts Mission Statement:
To prepare emerging and established Christian leaders to inspire, enrich and transform the media, the arts, and
the academy through excellence and innovation in scholarship and practice.
SUMMARY
Regent University
School of Communication & the Arts
SSW 612:
Feature Film Screenwriting
Semester: Spring 2016
Dates: Jan 11-April 30
Location (Online)
Instructor: Cheryl McKay Price
Location: Online
Email: cmckayprice@regent.edu
Course Description
This class looks at the elements necessary for great screenwriting, including structure, dialogue and
action. We will pay especial attention to finding strong film ideas with characters and themes that
resonate. We will explore how faith informs the core of screenwriting, as well as how faith permeates
the business of Hollywood. Over the semester, each student will look at the impact film can have on the
audience, explore how to integrate faith into art, write a credo of beliefs that inform their writing, write
loglines, character breakdowns, a beat sheet and pages of a screenplay.
Theme Scripture:
For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared
in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
Description of how faith and learning will be integrated in the course
Throughout the course, we will discuss how faith is integrated into our creative works and writings
through story, theme, and character. The idea that Jesus used stories to reach others is integrated into
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the course. You will also be asked to consider what you are writing and how that may affect your
audience and gain a sense of responsibility in the power of your words.
Film especially is a medium meant to explore the deep and mysterious; images that are simultaneously
literal and symbolic; dialogue that tells yet is ripe with subtext; scenes that reach the mind while also
touching the heart and soul. We can’t study the construction of a screenplay without naturally infusing
every discussion with the ideas of theme and subtext and symbol.
Required and Supplemental Resources
Students are responsible for acquiring the following books and materials for this course before
the first class meeting:
Required



Save the Cat, (Michael Wiese Productions, 2005) Blake Snyder, (ISBN 978-1-932907-00-1)
Creating Unforgettable Characters, (Owl Books, 1990) Linda Seger, (ISBN 978-0-8050-1171-5)
Behind the Screen, (Baker Books, 2005), Barbara Nicolosi, (ISBN 978-0801065477)


Toy Story 3: The Shooting Script (to be supplied on blackboard)
One additional screenplay to be determined by list supplied by Instructor


Final Draft (software), Version 8, (Final Draft) (ASIN B0064562B6) or
Movie Magic Screenwriter (software), Version 6 (ASIN B000V5SRAE)
Recommended


The Hollywood Standard, 2nd Original Edition, (Michael Wiese Productions, 2009), Christopher
Riley, (ISBN 978-1932907636)
Story, (Methuen Publishing), Robert McKee, (ISBN 78-0413715609)
Method of Evaluating Student Performance
Assignments
A. 10 Loglines
B. Movie Impact Presentation
C. Credo
D. Main Characters Worksheet
E. Save the Cat Beat Sheet
F. Script Pages
G. Class Participation / Message Board Assignments
TOTAL
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Points
100
100
100
100
200
200
200
1000
Weight
10%
10%
10%
10%
20%
20%
20%
100%
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