Screenwriting Writing the Adapted Feature Screenplay

Catalog description

Prerequisite: a prior screenwriting course Picture this: Your favorite novel has never been made into a movie, a little-known historical figure is your personal role model, or a relative’s journey of survival fascinates you. These are some of the preexisting sources that inspire creatives to write movies. Students will develop feature- length screenplays working from preexisting materials, including novels, biographies, historical incident, and true crime. From pitching ideas, detailed outlining, and creating mood boards in order to develop cinematic storytelling skills, this course will take students through the process of distilling the preexisting material into a three-act narrative structure. We will explore elements of screenwriting—including story structure, character development, visual storytelling, and point of view—in order to expand and deepen the writer’s craft. Students will develop their screenplays in an intimate workshop, where work will be shared and critiqued in a safe and constructive atmosphere. Conference work will include customized instruction, such as preparatory writing assignments, watching films, and assigned readings. Writing the Feature-Length Screenplay