Screenwriting (SCWR)

The elements of storytelling as applied to the screen includes an examination of ethics and learning screenwriting basics by writing a short film script.

A minimum grade of B is required for all students in the major or minor.

Practicum in the basics of screenwriting; idea, outline, plot, characterization, etc. Analysis of scripts.

Prerequisite: SCWR 120 completed with a grade of B or higher.
Sophomores and juniors only.

Students will learn how to write social issue based, short screenplays.

Prerequisite: SCWR 120.
University Core fulfilled: Flag: Writing.

Practical experience in writing feature film scripts with analysis of plot, character development, and structure.

Prerequisite: SCWR 220
Majors only / Minors only.

Practical experience in completing or rewriting a feature-length screenplay.

Prerequisite: SCWR 320.
Juniors or seniors only.
Majors/minors only.
May be repeated once.

Elements of writing popular film genres.

Prerequisites: SCWR 320.

Prerequisite: SCWR 120
Majors/minors only.
University Core fulfilled: Explorations: Creative Experience.

Practical experience in writing one-hour episodic television drama.

Prerequisite: SCWR 120
Screenwriting majors and minors only.
University Core fulfilled: Explorations: Creative Experience.

Elements of screenwriting as applied to short films intended for production.

Prerequisite: SCWR 120.
University Core fulfilled: Flag: Writing.

Practical experience in writing the original television pilot comedy or drama.

Prerequisite: SCWR 220 with a minimum grade of B+.
Juniors or seniors only.
Majors/minors only.

An in-depth workshop/lecture demonstration on production and post-production processes and aesthetics of film and video.

Prerequisites: SCWR 220.
Majors only.
Lab fee required.

Students will learn about the various challenges that videos game writers face and how the game writing craft diverges from traditional storytelling to create its own dynamic art form. Students will come to understand how to use the medium to create rich, compelling, and ultimately powerful narrative experiences for the player. Further, this class will offer insight to students about the emerging opportunities available in the games industry for writers.

Specially directed projects in writing for film, television, or other media from initial concept through finished form. The student must provide a professional copy of all senior thesis-level projects to the school of film and television in partial fulfillment of degree requirements.

Prerequisites: SCWR 321.
Majors only.

Practical experience revising the senior project draft.

Prerequisite: SCWR 420.
Screenwriting majors only.

Practical experience in writing production-ready short scripts based on or inspired by their existing feature or pilot TV scripts or for a stand-along project.

Prerequisite: SCWR 220 or SCWR 327.
Juniors or seniors only.
School of Film and Television majors only.

Practical experience in translating books (novels and/or non-fiction) into film scripts.

Prerequisite: SCWR 320.

Specially directed projects in writing for film, television, or other media from initial concept through finished form. The student must provide a professional copy of all senior thesis-level projects to the school of film and television in partial fulfillment of degree requirements.

Prerequisites: SCWR 321.
Majors only.

Practical experience revising the senior project draft.

Prerequisite: SCWR 420 or SCWR 440.
Screenwriting majors only.

Specially directed projects in writing for film, television, or other media from initial concept through finished form. The student must provide a professional copy of all senior thesis-level projects to the school of film and television in partial fulfillment of degree requirements.

Prerequisites: SCWR 321 and either SCWR 325 or SCWR 326
Majors only.

Practical experience revising the senior project draft.

Prerequisite: SCWR 420 or SCWR 450.
Screenwriting majors only.

Elements of screenwriting as applied to short films intended for production.

Corequisites: PROD 500, 541, 566.

Practical experience in the television development process; includes taking an idea to script and the directing, producing, and post-producing of a short, in-studio multi-camera video project.

Course centers on understanding the craft of storytelling and character development as probably the most important task at hand when mounting a production and properly servicing the script for the writer, executive producer, and studio. Making wise choices in the areas of camera, lighting, and special effects to non-linear post-production, etc.

Practical experience in writing production-ready short scripts based on or inspired by their existing feature or pilot TV scripts or for a stand-alone project.

Prerequisite: SCWR 501 or SCWR 510 or SCWR 511.
Graduate students only.
School of Film and Television majors only.

Intermediate screenwriting techniques as applied to short films intended for production.

Prerequisite: SCWR 501

Elements of feature film screenwriting related to idea, character, story and structure development, scene and sequence construction, and elements of genres.

Practical experience writing a first draft feature film screenplay; includes analysis of character development, plot, and story structure.

Elements of dramatic writing include emphasis on the television art form and the practical aspects of writing television genres.

Practical experience writing a first draft feature film screenplay; including analysis of character development, plot, and story structure.
WPTV majors only.

Prerequisites: SCWR 511 and SCWR 550.

Students gain practical experience pitching and working in the writers rooms of drama and comedy television series.

Prerequisites: SCWR 511 and SCWR 550.

Practical experience writing a first draft feature length screenplay.

Prerequisite: SCWR 501 with a minimum grade of B-.
Film and Television Production graduate majors only.

Independent studies.

Practical experience as a producer managing the planning, budgeting, and scheduling of the episodic television art form.

Prerequisites: SCWR 511

Writing the thesis narrative project and preparing the script for production.

Prerequisite: SCWR 530.

Analysis of feature films from the screenwriter's point of view and an in-depth study of each story's dramaturgical elements. This study will deepen the understanding of these principles and techniques for the student's own creative work.

Practical experience rewriting the feature film screenplay.

Prerequisites: SCWR 541.
Corequisite: SCWR 650.

Broad survey of the wide range of adaptation concepts, practices, and processes.

Prerequisites: SCWR 640.

Practical experience writing a feature-length screenplay.

Prerequisites: SCWR 541.
Corequisite: SCWR 640.

Practical experience rewriting the feature film screenplay.

Prerequisite: SCWR 650.

Practical experience writing a "spec" episode of a current one-hour drama.

Prerequisites: SCWR 510 or SCWR 511; SCWR 540 or SCWR 550.

Practical experience creating an original one-hour drama series and writing the pilot teleplay.

Prerequisite: SCWR 660 or SCWR 670.
Repeatable for credit up to 6 semester hours.

Practical experience writing a "spec" episode of a current half-hour situation comedy.

Prerequisites: SCWR 510 or SCWR 511; SCWR 540 or SCWR 550.

Practical experience creating an original half-hour situation comedy series and writing the pilot teleplay.

Prerequisite: SCWR 660 or SCWR 670.
Repeatable for credit up to 6 semester hours.

Rewriting original pilot projects so that they are ‘reader ready’ for the industry.

Prerequisite: SCWR 661 or SCWR 671

A "real life" experience writing and producing a television series; includes adapting the original pilot and pre-producing a short presentation.

Prerequisites: SCWR 611; SCWR 661 or 671

A "real life" experience writing and producing a television series; includes producing and post-producing pilot presentation and a final professional presentation to an audience and faculty committee.

Prerequisite: SCWR 680.

Classroom lectures, guest speakers, panel discussions from entertainment industry business affairs professionals in the field of artist management, development, financing, and distribution.

Prerequisites: SCWR 541 or SCWR 670 or 660.

Practical experience writing a feature-length screenplay.

Prerequisite: SCWR 651

Practical experience rewriting a feature film screenplay.

Prerequisite: SCWR 690.

Develop new or continue to work on previously written material to raise the quality of portfolio to industry standard; includes preparing marketing materials for projects.

Prerequisite: SCWR 680 or SCWR 690.

Independent studies.

Special Elective Topics

Students will write and rewrite two short plays, and participate in a structured writer’s room. Examples of monologues and short plays will be analyzed and screened.

This course will teach students how to construct monologue jokes, develop topical pitches and desk piece ideas, and write sketches. By the end of the term, they'll leave with a professional-quality submission packet for applying to late-night shows.

Students will analyze reality TV dating shows “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” create a campus dream date show segment, and develop their own reality TV show concept with a sizzle reel and pitch deck.

This course will equip students with the methods, devices, and techniques necessary to construct compelling worlds for stories and characters. Throughout the course, students will refine their world-building skills across various genres and forms, culminating in the creation of their own unique, fictional world.

This course will equip students with the methods, devices, and techniques necessary to construct compelling worlds for stories and characters. Throughout the course, students will refine their world-building skills across various genres and forms, culminating in the creation of their own unique, fictional world.

This course offers students practical experience in developing and writing short form comedy pilot scripts, focusing on character development, breaking story, emotional throughline, and joke writing. The course will also simulate a TV writer's room, providing students with opportunities to pitch ideas, receive feedback, and collaborate with others to position themselves for success in the evolving entertainment industry.

This course explores the process for choosing and adapting pre-existing source material to the screen. By examining what works and what does not work in various adaptations, students will learn how to approach source material and develop their own unique perspective. Students will complete a final adaptation project of a first act for a feature or a television pilot based on material in the public domain.

Practical experience writing a first draft feature length screenplay.

Prerequisite: SCWR 501
Film and Television Production graduate majors only.

Practical experience in writing production-ready short scripts based on or inspired by their existing feature or pilot TV scripts or for a stand-alone project.

Prerequisite: SCWR 501 or SCWR 510 or SCWR 511.
Graduate students only.
School of Film and Television majors only.

This class uses horror films to explore the concept of humanity. It covers topics like the protagonist's desires, the role of the monster, and the evolution of the genre. Students will analyze films, identify key influences, and examine themes like rites of passage and the female body. The class will culminate in writing an outline and the first act of a screenplay or pilot that reflects on the human condition through the lens of fear.

This course focuses on the later stages of film production, including packaging, finance, sales, and marketing. Students will come to class with their well-developed project and will examine films in the marketplace, the work of marketers and distributors, using case studies and hands-on exercises.

This course teaches students how to analyze and create concepts for TV and film, providing an overview of the entertainment industry and how to sell ideas. Teams will be formed to develop and pitch original comedy and drama TV shows and film concepts. Additionally, students will research and report on the needs of film studios and TV buyers.

This course explores the changing world of television through the development of digital distribution, branded entertainment, and web series. Students will develop their own idea which will then be developed into a pitch. The semester will culminate in showing and pitching their web series or alternate digital content to branded and digital buyers.

Special Elective Topics

Students will write and rewrite two short plays, and participate in a structured writer’s room. Examples of monologues and short plays will be analyzed and screened.

This course will teach students how to construct monologue jokes, develop topical pitches and desk piece ideas, and write sketches. By the end of the term, they'll leave with a professional-quality submission packet for applying to late-night shows.

Students will analyze reality TV dating shows “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” create a campus dream date show segment, and develop their own reality TV show concept with a sizzle reel and pitch deck.

This course will equip students with the methods, devices, and techniques necessary to construct compelling worlds for stories and characters. Throughout the course, students will refine their world-building skills across various genres and forms, culminating in the creation of their own unique, fictional world.

This course will equip students with the methods, devices, and techniques necessary to construct compelling worlds for stories and characters. Throughout the course, students will refine their world-building skills across various genres and forms, culminating in the creation of their own unique, fictional world.

This course offers students practical experience in developing and writing short form comedy pilot scripts, focusing on character development, breaking story, emotional throughline, and joke writing. The course will also simulate a TV writer's room, providing students with opportunities to pitch ideas, receive feedback, and collaborate with others to position themselves for success in the evolving entertainment industry.

This course explores the process for choosing and adapting pre-existing source material to the screen. By examining what works and what does not work in various adaptations, students will learn how to approach source material and develop their own unique perspective. Students will complete a final adaptation project of a first act for a feature or a television pilot based on material in the public domain.

Practical experience writing a first draft feature length screenplay.

Prerequisite: SCWR 501
Film and Television Production graduate majors only.

Practical experience in writing production-ready short scripts based on or inspired by their existing feature or pilot TV scripts or for a stand-alone project.

Prerequisite: SCWR 501 or SCWR 510 or SCWR 511.
Graduate students only.
School of Film and Television majors only.

This class uses horror films to explore the concept of humanity. It covers topics like the protagonist's desires, the role of the monster, and the evolution of the genre. Students will analyze films, identify key influences, and examine themes like rites of passage and the female body. The class will culminate in writing an outline and the first act of a screenplay or pilot that reflects on the human condition through the lens of fear.

This course focuses on the later stages of film production, including packaging, finance, sales, and marketing. Students will come to class with their well-developed project and will examine films in the marketplace, the work of marketers and distributors, using case studies and hands-on exercises.

This course teaches students how to analyze and create concepts for TV and film, providing an overview of the entertainment industry and how to sell ideas. Teams will be formed to develop and pitch original comedy and drama TV shows and film concepts. Additionally, students will research and report on the needs of film studios and TV buyers.

This course explores the changing world of television through the development of digital distribution, branded entertainment, and web series. Students will develop their own idea which will then be developed into a pitch. The semester will culminate in showing and pitching their web series or alternate digital content to branded and digital buyers.