MC 339 / ENG 339

SCRIPTWRITING

                                                                                   

Instructor: Prof. Fred Berger                                                           Office:  Chapel B108

866-6118                                                                      Hours: MWF 9-9:50, M-TH 2-2:50

 

REQUIRED TEXT:  THE WRITER’S JOURNEY:  Mythic Structure for Writers (2nd edition) by Christopher Vogler.

 

This is a non-performance course designed to give practical experience in writing for television and film.  The student will learn how to develop scripts for directors and actors.  Practical projects in the course include finished scripts in television and film.  Opportunity for self-expression will be provided in the final project.  Students will prepare scripts using the computer-generated screenplay script software ScreenStyle.  (This software is available to the class on computers in the SJC computer labs.)  Printed copies of each assignment must be turned in to complete the project.

 

Students will pitch a story idea to the producers of the SJC campus situation comedy, OUT OF CLASS.  One story idea will be selected and developed into a half-hour episode to be shot during the following semester.  However, ideas not selected may be developed into the final project.

 

 The final project may be one of the following:

 

1)an original "high concept" television series and a pilot script (24-28 or 46-48 pp.)

 

2)a "spec" script for an existing television series (24-28 pp).

 

3)a treatment and first act of an original screenplay  (25 pp)

 

NOTE: ANY USE OF PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN SCRIPTS, SCREENPLAYS, TELEPLAYS, OR PLOTS TAKEN FROM PREVIOUS OR EXISTING TELEVISION OR FILM PRODUCTIONS WILL BE INTERPRETED AS PLAGIARISM WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE PROJECT AND MAY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE.

 

EVALUATION WILL BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:

 

Computer tutorial                             10 points

Hollywood pitch                                50

Midterm                                             50

Quizzes                                             40

Film Writing Scenes:

           “Call to Adventure”               50

           “Meeting the Mentor”           50

           “The Ordeal”                         50

Teleplay Assignment                       50

Final Project:

Draft                                       50

Finished                                100

                                                           -----

TOTAL:                    500


2005 Roadmap