Screenwriting Classes

Screenwriting I
Nuts and Bolts of Screenwriting

SCN1-A: Mondays, April 21 - June 16, 2008 (no class 5/26)
SCN1-B: Mondays, Oct. 27 - Dec. 15, 2008
Instructor: David Trees
8 Sessions - 7:00-9:30pm
Tuition: $545.00

Nuts and Bolts of Screenwriting lays the groundwork for screenplay writing by providing students with a total immersion in script structure. The class will read and discuss up to six feature-length screenplays. As we examine scripts of vastly different styles, we will explore ways that form as well as content can be used and manipulated in a creative way. This class offers an in-depth study of creating characters for the screen and students will write short descriptive biographies of their own story's characters. Students also begin work on their own feature-length script ideas. Tuition includes access to the scripts used in class.

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Screenwriting II
Structure and Process

SCN2-A: Mondays, June 23 - Aug. 18, 2008 (no class 6/30)
SCN2-B: Mondays, Jan. 5 - Mar. 2, 2009 (no class 2/16)
Instructor: David Trees
8 Sessions - 7:00-9:30pm
Tuition: $545.00

In Structure and Process, students develop the basic story-line for their screenplay while receiving further in-depth instruction in screenwriting and story structure. Topics covered during this class include: creating story, structuring the plot and subplots, plot points, ingredients to construct effective opening pages, and detailed instruction on how to build dramatic scenes. By the end of the 8-week session, students will have completed their story outline and will have finished writing the first act of their screenplay.

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Screenwriting III
Completing the Feature-length Screenplay

SCN3-A: Mondays, Aug. 25 - Oct. 20, 2008 (no class 9/1)
SCN3-B: Mondays, March 9 - April 27, 2009
Instructor: David Trees
8 Sessions - 7:00-9:30pm
Tuition: $545.00

In Completing the Feature Length Screenplay, students finish writing their screenplays. This session deals with the overall structure of screenplays from the individual scene to the rhythms of the complete piece. In addition, several classes will focus on effective dialogue, humor, and adding "twists" to the story. Class time includes reading student work, viewing and analyzing scenes on video, lecture and plenty of discussion and analysis. Students are expected to complete an entire draft of their script by the end of the class.

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Screenwriting IV
Rewriting & the Business of Screenwriting

SCN4-A: Mondays, Nov. 3, 2008 - Dec. 22, 2008
SCN4-B: Mondays, May 11 - July 6, 2009 (no class 5/25)
Instructor: George Tramontanous
8 Sessions - 7:00-9:30pm
Tuition: $545.00

The act of rewriting is an absolutely critical part of the overall writing process. In this class students engage in the rigorous process of creating a second draft of their screenplay as they reach a new plateau in terms of skill and ability. Class time is devoted to detailed analysis of student work and the issues involved in creating and sustaining professional caliber work. This class also deals with the business of screenwriting. Here, students learn what's needed in the real world from registering a script to finding an agent. This portion of the class also focuses on developing an overall marketing strategy for the sale of a screenplay and students work on script treatments, beat sheets, proposal letters, and pitching ideas.