Screenwriting
Fall 2010
Joe Gillis, screenwriter.
Sunset Boulevard (Billy Wilder, 1950)
A screenplay is a story told with pictures.
---Syd Field
Dr. Maria Pramaggiore
Office: Tompkins 233
Email: maria_p@ncsu.edu
Office Hours: Wednesday 3-5 pm, and by appt.
Description: In this writing workshop, students will develop
skills in narrative structure, screenplay format, and story
elements (character, dialogue, scene construction). In the
first portion of the course, we focus on three act structure,
character and dialogue. The remainder of the course is devoted
to the writing and critique of full-length, original
screenplays.
Screenwriting, Fall 10, p. 1
Screenwriting, Fall 2010
Learning Outcomes: During this course, students will
1. comply with the conventions and format of the spec
screenplay
2. employ the methods screenwriters use to create rounded
characters, convincing dialogue, and dramatically valid scenes
3. master the art of constructive critique
4. complete one draft of an original feature-length screenplay
(90-120 pages).
Texts:
I am not asking you to read any “how to” books for this course.
The best way to make use of your time is to read screenplays.
Read screenplays for films that you love and even those that you
don’t. You will learn a great deal about writing for a visual
medium this way.
There is an assortment of screenwriting books and screenplays in
the Film Studies Lab that you may borrow for the semester (or
part of it). The Lab is located in Tompkins G116 (lowest level
of the building) and Lab Hours are: 10-2 – Monday; 1-5 –
Tuesday; 12-4 – Wednesday.
Published screenplays are easy to find in libraries and on line
(search by title, director, or screenwriter). You may find these
links to on-line sources helpful as well:
http://www.screenplays-online.de/
over 100 (mostly contemporary) screenplays
http://www.script-o-rama.com/table.shtml
Script-O-Rama, 1000 screenplays available; also has a
section where new, as-yet-unproduced works are posted
You may wish to purchase screenwriting software OR to download
macros from the web that will allow you to format an MS Word
file properly. Two popular programs are Movie Magic
Screenwriter and Final Draft. Both offer Mac and PC versions;
they also both offer discounts for students for about $100 and
offer a few licenses per download).
Celtx is free, open source pre-production software available at
http://www.celtx.com/
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Screenwriting Fall 10
Readings(E-Reserve at DH Hill Library)
“Killings,” short story by Andre Dubus
Character Handout/Assignment
Narrative structure handout
Dialogue assignment
Pitch/Treatment assignment
Checklist for critique
Submitting your work to the course list:
Students will submit assignments via the course list, screen10.
Each student is responsible for timely submission of material
and thorough critique of other students’ work during class
meetings.
**If you are using a screenwriting software program, save your
work as a PDF file before submitting it.**
Evaluation
-Homework assignments (4 at 10 points each): 40 points
character, dialogue, scene, and pitch/treatment.
-Class Participation: 20 points
Based on thoughtful contributions to discussion throughout
the semester and constructive evaluation during critique
sessions. Absences will adversely affect this portion of
your grade: you must be in class to participate.
-Screenplay: 40 points
Evaluation criteria include narrative coherence,
development of character, integration of Prague setting,
and evidence of revisions based on workshop feedback.
Grades are determined as follows:
A
92-100
A90-91
B+
87-89
B
82-86
B80-81
C+
77-79
C
72-26
C70-71
D+
67-69
D
62-66
Screenwriting, Fall 10, p. 3
DF
60-61
below 60
Screenwriting, Fall 10
Class Meeting Schedule
This schedule is subject to change. Students are responsible
for coming to class to keep up with any revisions.
Week One (August 25)
Introduction to Course
Visual Writing exercise
What is a screenplay?
Spec vs. shooting script; length and format
The Basics: Structure, Character, Conflict
Homework
1. read the short story “Killings” by Andre Dubus (E-RES)
Week Two (September 1)
Screen In the Bedroom (Field 2001; 130 min)
Introduce character and character biography
Homework
1. read character bio assignment
2. write character biography (10 points)
Week Three (September 8)
Discussion of ITB: adaptation, dramatic structure, and
character development
Discuss character biographies
Select a group for critique sessions
Week Four (September 15)
Screen Sunset Boulevard (Billy Wilder 1950; 110 min)
Homework
1. read narrative structure handout
Week Five (September 22)
Discuss narrative structure in Sunset Boulevard
Introduce dialogue
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Homework:
Dialogue assignment (10 points)
Screenwriting, Fall 10
Week Six (September 29)
Discuss/share dialogue assignments
Scene construction/scene assignment/screen scenes
Homework:
Scene assignment (10 points)
Read Screenplay Format handout
Week Seven (October 6)
Share and discuss scene assignments
Screenplay Format discussion
Discuss Treatment and Pitch
Homework:
1. read rubric for treatment and pitch
2. prepare your pitch and write your treatment
Week Eight (October 13)
Pitch Night: all students will
--present a 5 minute pitch to the class
--turn in a 3-5 page treatment (10 pts total for both)
Homework:
Group One posts first 10 pages of Act I to the list by noon
on Sunday, October 17.
**Everyone: read the “checklist for critique” (on E-RES)
and use it as a guide to your commentary. Bring written
comments to class: I will collect these at the end of each
critique session.
Week Nine (October 20)
Critique of Group One, Act I
Homework:
Group Two posts first 10 pages of Act I by noon on Sunday,
October 24
Week Ten (October 27)
Critique of Group Two, Act I
Screenwriting, Fall 10, p. 5
Homework:
Group One posts 10 pages of Act II by noon on Sunday,
October 31
Screenwriting, Fall 10
Week Eleven (November 3)
Critique of Group One, Act II
Homework:
Group Two posts 10 pages of Act II by noon on Sunday,
November 7
Week Twelve (November 10)
Critique of Group Two, Act II
Homework: Group One posts 10 pages by noon on Sunday
November 14
Week Thirteen (November 17)
Critique of Group One, Act III
Homework: Group Two posts 10 pages by noon on November 28
*note: this is Thanksgiving weekend**
Week Fourteen (November 24)—no class
Week Fifteen (December 1)
Critique of Group Two, Act III
Completed screenplays are due Tuesday, December 8 by noon.
Submit one hard copy to me in proper screenplay format. You are
encouraged to share your screenplay electronically on the course
list as well.
Resources:
Screenplays on line
http://www.screenplays-online.de/
over 100 (mostly contemporary) screenplays
http://www.script-o-rama.com/table.shtml
Script-O-Rama, 1000 screenplays available; also has a
section where new, as-yet-unproduced works are posted
Magazines
Screenwriting, Fall 10, p. 6
http://www.hollywoodscriptwriter.com/
Hollywood Scriptwriter (electronic subscription).
Interviews and articles; where to sell your work.
http://www.creativescreenwriting.com/
Creative Screenwriting (subscription).
Interviews, articles, and news for writers.
Copyright and Registration
http://www.loc.gov/copyright/
U.S. copyright office
http://www.wgaeast.org/
Writer’s Guild of America, East.
This writer’s union offers script registration for members
for $10 (for ten years), for students for $17. In order to
become a member, you have to have sold literary material
to, or be employed as a writer by a company that signs a
Writers Guild contract in movies, television and radio.
Course Policies
Arrive on time, ready to work. Treat your own work and the work
of your peers with respect. Get your assignments in on time; not
because late work inconveniences your professor, but because
this will throw the entire class off track.
Have fun! This course offers a rare opportunity to work on your
writing with a group of people who are just as interested as you
are in seeing your work succeed on your terms.
Attendance
Students are required to attend all screenings and discussions.
Failure to do so will adversely affect your performance and your
grade.
Screenwriting, Fall 10
Academic Honesty
Plagiarism and cheating are attacks on the very foundation of
academic life, and cannot be tolerated within universities.
Plagiarism in this course will result in an F for the course and
all incidents are reported to the NCSU Office of Student
Conduct.
Students with Disabilities
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Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with
verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available
accommodations, students must register with Disability Services
for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509,
515-7653. For more information on NC State's policy on working
with students with disabilities, please see the Academic
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Regulation.
Online class evaluations will be available for students to
complete during the last 2 weeks of the fall semester:
8 a.m. November 22 through 8 a.m. December 8
Students will receive an email message directing them to a
website where they can login using their Unity ID and complete
evaluations. All evaluations are confidential; instructors will
not know how any one student responded to any question, and
students will not know the ratings for any instructors.
Evaluation website: https://classeval.ncsu.edu/
Student help desk: classeval@ncsu.edu
More information about ClassEval:
http://www.ncsu.edu/UPA/classeval/
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