Graduate Drama Lab I

Catalog description

This MFA first year production class will explore what happens to a script after the words are on the page and “send” has been hit. Specifically, what are the elements that a writer can take into consideration so that a script is not simply a string of dialogue, but rather a roadmap for visual, cinematic, theatrical storytelling. Over the course of the semester we will look at the key artistic collaborations involved in translating the written material onto the stage and screen: the work of the director; the influence of the actors; the creations of set designers (theater) and production designers (film & TV); the work of lighting designers (theater) and cinematographers (film & TV); the use of sound and music dramatically; the relevance of locations; and finally, the practical concerns of a producer. The question we’re examining in all of these is: How are these collaborations informed by the script? And conversely, how might one’s writing take advantage of what these collaborators bring to the production of the script?