SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
TFM 110 – INTRO TO MEDIA WRITING
CLASS SYLABUS – FALL 2013
Instructor: Lee Marshall
Classroom: COM 105
Class Times: M/W 2 – 3:15PM
Office: COM 103
Hours: MON 3:30-5PM (by appointment)
Off Phone: 310-308-2905
Email: lmarshall@mail.sdsu.edu
COURSE OBJECTIVE The purpose of TFM 110 MEDIA WRITING is to introduce students to a variety of “story writing”
styles, formats and skills used in feature films, documentaries, short films & videos, and
television broadcast news.
Regardless of the medium, students will familiarize themselves with the story-development
process from idea inception… to its transformation into a screen genre or journalistic concept…
through structure-expansion into a story… and onto a completed story pitch. Using video
excerpts from feature films, documentaries and dramatic short films, outtakes from broadcast
news, and interactive internet demos, the course is designed to help develop the writing skills
necessary to create screen stories that can later be expanded into screenplays or short-film
productions, as the student moves through the TFM curriculum.
HOW DO WE GET THERE 1) Through lectures on… ideas, genre concepts, story spines, act and scene breakdowns,
character development and story conflicts. Lectures on the birth, growth and death of your
protagonists and antagonists. On story hooks, plots, climaxes and denouements.
2) Through video excerpts from exceptional films and videos that help illuminate lectures.
3) Through online writing assignments.
4) Through tests.
5) Through active participation (note the word ‘active’).
REQUIRED TEXTS:
1. The Screenwriter’s Bible (5th Edition)… David Trottier
2. Instructor/Online Handouts
SUPPLEMENTAL TEXTS (NOT REQUIRED):
1.
Producing & Directing the Short Film & Video… by Peter Rea & David Irving An insightful look into the problems encountered in the writing, directing and producing
of today’s Short Film, and how those problems were solved. Stills and scripts from three
films, samples of various production forms and appendices pertaining to festivals and
grants are included as well.
2. Directing the Documentary… by Michael Rabiger –
This book guides the reader through the process of making a documentary, spotlighting
the real problems involved in researching and focusing a documentary story idea; leading
us through production; then finally through the unique evolutionary process that
surrounds documentary post-production alone.
3. The Artist’s Way… by Julia Cameron A veritable toolbox of links enabling you to connect with or retrieve your creativity.
While the metaphysical and spiritual references get old, Cameron’s idea that inspiration
can be harnessed any time you need it is a novel one. Her book could help end ‘writer’s
block’ forever.
4. Story… by Robert McKee A terrific little set-up guide for writing and selling in and to Hollywood. Think of it as a
very incisive Cliffs Notes for the Business of Writing. Chapters One through Six are a
must for any screenwriter.
CLASS REQUIREMENTS 1) Attendance. Prompt arrival is a must. Absences must be preceded by a phone call.
Any absence not preceded by a phone call will result in an UNNEXCUSED ABSENCE. Two
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES and your Participation” grade (10% of your total grade) will
plunge dramatically, never to be rescued.
2) Active Participation –
 Willingness to complete all assignments on time.
 Willingness to exchange input during lectures, group sessions and media screenings.
3) Dedication to Completing Morning Pages. In order to retrieve your creativity, you
need to tap into it every day. Put simply, the morning pages consist of one to two pages
of writing per day—7-14 pages per week. Strictly stream-of-consciousness stuff.
Nothing is too petty, silly or weird. So write. Best part is, I won’t read a word. No one
has to know what words you wrote, only that you wrote them. That you primed the
pump as it were for the day’s writing to follow. This portion of the class rewards the
effort, not the content.
4) Completion of All Assignments. On time.
unless agreed to prior to your approved absence.
2
NO
make-up assignments or tests
GRADING WEIGHTS 1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
Attendance
Morning Pages
Online Assignments
Midterm
Participation Day
Short Film Project
Final
10%
10%
15%
15%
10%
25%
15%
COURSE COMPLETION - WHAT WILL WE ACCOMPLISH?
 Creating & Cultivating Ideas
1) Collect Cocktail Napkins – Start War Chest
2) Develop a Story Matrix
 Feature Film & TV Writing
1) Story Construction
2) Act Break Differences
 Short Film Writing
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Write Short Film Treatment
Turn Treatment into a Short Film Script (5 min length)
Breakdown Pages
Shot Sheets
Story Boards
 For Documentary Writing
1) Differences Between Fiction/Non-Fiction Writing
2) How To Write a Documentary Presentation
CRITERIA FOR WRITING ASSIGNMENTS 1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
All work must be hard-copy submitted to instructor on time.
Student/Teacher correspondence should be e-mailed.
All work submitted must be a copy. Save your original for your files.
All work must be word-processed using a COURIER 12 PT FONT. No exceptions!!!
All work must be proofed. No hand corrections. No white-out.
Margins will be one inch from top, bottom and sides—justified left and ragged right. All
but Page One must be numbered. Page One is never numbered.
7) Treatments/Scripts must have a Title Page containing Title, Author’s Name and the Date.
8) Barring extreme hardship (a category that say… the absence of toner does not fall into),
late assignments will be docked ONE LETTER GRADE PER DAY that they are late.
3
CLASS CALENDAR
WEEK
DATE
WEEKLY ITENERARY
ASSIGNMENT
1
8/26
Introduction of Class – Review Syllabus
Lecture: Brainstorming/Genres/Themes
Problems
15 Cocktail Napkins
Online Assignment #1
Trottier – Pgs 3-42
Begin Story Matrix
1
8/28
Lecture: Conflict//Opening Hooks
Video Clips: Sixth Sense / Jaws /
Vertical Limit / Casino Royale
Complete Online
Assignment #1
2
9/2
HOLIDAY - NO CLASS
ROLLED OVER
2
9/4
EXTRA CREDIT!!!
SCREEN: “SHORT TERM 12” @
LOWE’S in HILLCREST
ROLLED OVER
Lecture: Plot/Suspense
Begin Online
Assignment #2
Continue Story Matrix
Check Off Cocktail Napkins
Video Clips: 12 Angry Men
Five Cocktail Napkins
View: The Edge
Trottier – Pgs 54-80 /
Pgs 113-185
Assignment #1
Assignment #1
3
9/9
3
9/11
4
9/16
Check Off Cocktail Napkins
Submit & Discuss Assignment #2
Lecture: Character v Characterization
SCREEN: THE VERDICT
Five Cocktail Napkins
View: The Verdict
Continue Story Matrix
Trottier – Pgs 43-54
4
9/18
Lecture: Matrix Review
Video Clips: History of Violence
Complete Online
Assignment #3
5
9/23
Check Off Cocktail Napkins
Submit & Discuss Assignment #3
Lecture: Hero’s Journey
Five Cocktail Napkins
View: 3 Days of Condor
Complete Story Matrix
Submit Online Assignment #1
Video Clips: The Edge
4
WEEK
DATE
WEEKLY ITENERARY
ASSIGNMENT
5
9/25
SCREEN: 3 DAYS OF CONDOR
Complete Online
Assignment #4
6
9/30
Check Off Cocktail Napkins
Submit & Discuss Assignment #4
Lecture: Writing Treatments For
Features/TV – Four Movements
Video Clips: Once Upon a Time in the West
Five Cocktail Napkins
View: Braveheart
6
10/2
SCREEN: BRAVEHEART
Complete Online
Assignment #5
7
10/7
Check Off Cocktail Napkins
Submit & Discuss Assignment #5
Lecture: Long Form Television
Five Cocktail Napkins
7
10/9
SCREEN: DUEL
Complete Online
Assignment #6
8
10/14
Check Off Cocktail Napkins
Submit & Discuss Assignment #6
Lecture: Short Film Writing
Video Clips: SDSU Student Films
Five Cocktail Napkins
8
10/16
Review For MIDTERM
Video Clips: SDSU Student Films
Study for MIDTERM
9
10/21
Check Off Cocktail Napkins
TAKE MIDTERM
Create Short Film Idea
9
10/23
NO CLASS
Continue with Short Idea
10
10/28
Return & Discuss MIDTERMS
Lecture: Writing/Producing Short Films
Write 1-2 PG Treatment
10
10/30
SCREEN: KITCHEN SINK / BURNING
PASSION / BUS STOP
Groups Assigned
5
WEEK
DATE
WEEKLY ITENERARY
ASSIGNMENT
11
11/4
PARTICIPATION DAY!
Write 5-7 PG Script
11
11/6
Lecture: Script Formatting
Video Clips: Chinatown
Continue Writing Script
12
11/11
HOLIDAY - NO CLASS
ROLLED OVER
12
11/13
SCREEN: SDSU STUDENT DOCS
Continue Writing Script
13
11/18
PARTICIPATION DAY!
Take a Breath.
13
11/20
Lecture: Breaking Down Your Script
Continue Breathing.
14
11/25
Return & Discuss Short Scripts
Lecture: Writing Documentary Chapters
Video Clips: Fog of War
Begin Rewrite
14
11/27
HOLIDAY - NO CLASS
ROLLED OVER
15
12/02
Video Clips: Supersize Me
Continue Script Rewrite
15
12/04
Submit : Rewrite/Breakdowns
Lecture: Broadcast Writing
Video Clips: Broadcast News Excerpts
Prepare for Final Exam
16
12/09
Review for FINAL EXAM
Return: Completed Script Project
Prepare for Final Exam
16
12/11
FINAL EXAM
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Break Into Groups
Submit/Read/Discuss Treatments
Break Into Groups
Submit & Discuss Short Scripts
6
TFM 110
FALL 2013
INTRO
TO
MEDIA
WRITING
LEE MARSHALL
INSTRUCTOR
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