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+ (3.3) or higher. Sophomores and juniors only. Lab fee required.

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 completed with a grade of B+ (3.3) or higher. Juniors only. Majors only. Lab fee required.

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.

Practical experience in writing in various comic forms with emphasis on television situation comedy. Prerequisite: SCWR 220 with a minimum grade of B+ . Majors/minors only. University Core fulfilled: Explorations: Creative Experience.

Practical experience in writing one-hour episodic television drama. Prerequisite: SCWR 220 with a minimum grade of B+. Screenwriting majors and minors only.

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/minors 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 320 and 321. Majors/minors only. Lab fee required.

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. University Core fulfilled: Flag: Oral Skills.

Elements of screenwriting as applied to short films intended for production. Corequisites: PROD 500, 565, 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 with a minimum grade of B-.

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.

WPTV majors only. Prerequisites: SCWR 511 and SCWR 550.

Practical experience writing episodic content for the Internet. Juniors, seniors, or graduate students only.

Practical experience in writing for reality television. Juniors, seniors, or graduate students only.

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.

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 540 and SCWR 541. Corequisite: SCWR 650.

Broad survey of the wide range of adaptation concepts, practices, and processes. Prerequisites: SCWR 551 and SCWR 640.

Practical experience writing a feature-length screenplay. 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 9 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.

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 670 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.

Develop new or continue to work on previously written material to raise the quality of portfolio to industry standards; includes preparing marketing materials for projects. 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 650 and 651 or SCWR 670 and 671.

This course focuses on understanding the acting process. Writers learn how actors work in order to collaborate and create dialogue for them. The class also covers elements such as casting and production.

Practical experience writing a feature-length screenplay.

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.