TULANE'S UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST CAMPUS

PHONE NUMBER 228-388-5769

INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING

SPRING 2004 COURSE # UMAR-320-85

INSTRUCTOR E. NELSON

OFFICE HOURS: BY APPOINTMENT. E-MAIL edpaedpactor@aol.com, Tel: 985-781-2029.

Class Meeting time: 5:30-8:10, Tuesdays.

REQUIRED TEXT, "THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO SCREENWRITING" (Skip Press)

Course Objectives:

This course is a primarily to service those students who's need is to start their knowledge of writing for the screen.

It will cover full length motion pictures, motion pictures for television, television series, and daytime dramas. Other students who have some experience and are advanced will also be served and their education in the field will be enlarged.

Instructional Information

This course will be heavy in the workshop format and class discussion as well as student participation. Discussion of your assigned written work will be part of the class. We will also view some films for analysis and note taking will be important.

Assignments:

Assignments will be given in the various screenwriting stages and the end of the semester students will be well along in providing 40 to 60 pages of their own work. This will be a minimum requirement for passing the course. Other assignments will be in developing the script outline, treatments, character development, and scene construction.

Course policies:

Since this class meets only once a week, it is imperative that all classes be attended. If notes are missed, they may be obtained from other classmates. Unexcused absences will be reflected in your grades.

Deadlines

Students will be expected to meet all assignment deadlines without exception.

Out of class assignment

All out of class assignments will be typed or computer generated. No hand written work will be accepted. They will be on standard letter size white paper, one sided black copy, double spaced and in 12 point Courier preferred. Screenwriting assignments will, of course, be in the proper formats.

Plagiarism

All work must be your own. Plagiarism in any from sill not be tolerated.

Discussion

Participation in classroom discussion is extremely important in the workshop class environment. Courtesy and constructive criticism along with a respect for other opinions must be observed at all times. All students are expected to participate.

Grading

In this type course grading is completely subjective! If you turn in your assignments on time and show some interest in class and have good attendance, with some class discussion you will generally receive a "C." Evidence of growth in understanding the elements of screenwriteing basics and their application will be in the grade area of a "B." The grade "A" will be given for excellence in all phases of the class as well as tests.

Grading Scale: A=91-100, B=81-90 C=71-80 D-61-70 F- under 61.

Outline: 10%

Treatments: 10%

Screenplay 50%

Class participation 10%

Minor assignments & Tests 20%

Office Hours: I will be available for conferences before class, with prior arrangement, or briefly after class. First try e-mail or telephone.

Course Outline: Because of the nature of this course, this schedule must be somewhat flexible. From time to time films will be shown to illustrate various subjects that need special attention. You will be notified before hand on most changes. Deadlines for assignments will be strictly adhered to, however.

Week #1- Jan. 20th. Course introduction. Fill out student I.D. Go over Syllabus. First Assignment: Read Text Chapters 1 through 3. (take notes) Write three ideas for possible scripts. ( Only a few paragraphs each.) Lecture

Week #2 Jan. 27th. Turn in script ideas. Second Assignment: Read text Chapters . 4 &5. Go over first assignment. Go over script ideas. Lecture on Paradigm.. (Don't write yet.)

Week #3 .Feb. 3 Short test #1 Go over Chapters 4 & 5. Third Assignment: Continue reading Text, Chapters 6 through 8.

Show "Casablanca. "Lecture.

Week #4 Feb. 10...Go over all of text so far. Fourth Assignment. Continue text, Chap. 9 through 11. (Don't forget to take notes.) Talk about Casablanca. Settle on Script idea. Lecture. Show "Shawshank."

Week #5 Feb. 17th. Talk about "Shawshank." Fifth Assignment, Read chapters 12 through 14.

Sixth Assignment. Develop "Log Line. "Lecture on Screenwriting."

Week #6 Feb 24th. Have a great Mardi Gras. Don't drink and drive, I need you.

Week #7 March 2nd. Short test #2 Turn in log lines Now we start to write! Assignment #6 Write outline and develop 3x5 cards. Go over entire Text. Discussion on any and all questions. and go over them.. Lecture.

Week #8 March 9th. Assignment #7 Write first ten pages. ( Make it Sockco) Turn in and

Go over outlines and 3x5 cards. Give out Professional Screenplays. Lecture." Show Ox Bow Incident."

Week #9 March 16. Turn in 10 pages.(in folder) Discuss "OX BOW" Assignment #8 write second ten pages. Go over first ten pages. Lecture on Character development.

Week #10 March 23 Turn in first 20 pages (Don't Re-Write yet.) Assignment #9 Write third 10 pages.

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Week 11 March 30th .Turn in next ten pages. (FORTY IN ALL) Go over first 30 pages for form.

Lecture on Personal, Professional, Private.

Week #12 April 6th Turn in next ten pages (50 in all) Lecture

Week #13 April 13th Turn in next ten pages. (first half of script) Develop new outline for rest of script.

Week #14 April 20th Turn in new outline. Rewrite first half (60 pages) Work on Character and Paradigm, PPP. FORM. lecture.

Week #15 April 27 Last class Turn in Re-writes and new outlines. Go over entire class. Review for finals..

Week 16...Finals