Writing the Short Screenplay

Catalog description

This course will guide students through the complete process of developing and writing an original short screenplay of up to 12 pages. Through lectures, exercises, enrichment, and workshop sessions, students will move from idea to story map to first draft to polished script, gaining practical skills for both the creative and structural demands of the short form. The course will explore the foundations of screenwriting—premise, character, conflict, plot, dramatic structure, pacing, action, dialogue, and visual storytelling—with attention to the unique narrative strategies that short films require. The course will also introduce students to screenplay formatting and industry-standard scriptwriting tools. Alongside writing, students will develop a pre-page process useful for projects of any size: conceptual development; story feasibility; and assessing the needs, scope, and thematic focus of a narrative idea. Workshops will provide regular opportunities to receive critique and to refine projects in a collaborative environment. The semester will culminate in a completed, production-ready short screenplay. For conference work, students may choose between developing a second short script or exploring a long-form screenplay idea. Your Own Cinematic Vocabulary