UCLA Extension Writers Program Public Syllabus

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Antonia George
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1 Writing the First Screenplay III Syllabus -- Fall UCLA Extensin Writers Prgram Public Syllabus Nte t students: this public syllabus is designed t give yu a glimpse int this curse and instructr. If yu have further questins abut ur curses r curriculum, please cntact the Writers Prgram at (310) r via at writers@uclaextensin.edu. We are happy t answer any questins and t help yu find the best class t achieve yur writing gals. Writing the First Screenplay III a 12 week curse Dates: Tuesdays, 7-10 PM Instructr: Cindy Davis Hewitt Rm #: Schl f Public Affairs Rm Curse Descriptin: The third in a fur-part sequence designed t take yu thrugh the full prcess f writing a feature film screenplay, this curse fcuses n what many regard as the greatest challenge facing screenwriters: writing the secnd act. As yu engage in writing these crucial 60 pages, yu refine yur stry utline; flesh ut main and secndary characters; cntinue t develp the art f the scene as it pertains t type, chice, structure, and placement; and begin t discver each character s unique vice. Yu als learn the habits yu need t sustain the wrk f writing a screenplay. Curse Gal: T cmplete the secnd act f yur script (up t 60 pages). Grading Criteria: Attendance: 20 pints Class Participatin: 20 pints Hmewrk Assignments: 30 pints Final submissin f pages: 30 pints A = pints B = pints C = pints D = pints F = 0 59 pints Critiquing Etiquette: I encurage everyne t give feedback fllwing classmates presentatins. Hwever, the feedback must be cnstructive. It is imperative that the wrkshp envirnment be ne where students feel safe t experiment. Hw t give feedback: Tell the writer which parts f the presentatin were mst intriguing and entertaining. Let the writer knw if anything cnfused yu. Pint ut specific spts that dragged r felt redundant. Remember that what yu are saying is yur pinin, nt fact. Hw t receive feedback:

2 Writing the First Screenplay III Syllabus -- Fall Dn t defend yur wrk. Sme students spend mre time talking during their critique than listening. This wastes everyne s time. Listen t the feedback, write it dwn, and take time t mull it ver. Dn t immediately reject a nte. Yu ll be amazed at hw many times a stupid nte will becme the key t all yur prblems a few days later. When utilizing the ntes, it s up t yu t decide which ntes will help yu and which ntes wn t. Sme students execute every nte given t them and end up with a jumbled mess. Sme students reject every nte given t them and their wrk never imprves. D yur best t find a happy medium. The 8-page rule: Bring up t 8 pages each week, n mre. Otherwise, we wn t have enugh time t critique the pages yu ve written. Suggested Reading: Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder Save the Cat! Ges t the Mvies by Blake Snyder Websites t knw abut: Simplyscripts.cm (fr free scripts) Bxfficemj.cm (fr bx ffice numbers) WEEK 1: Getting up t speed (September 28) Hw t use Blackbard The Meet & Greet Structure basics: cmparing Save the Cat, Dara Marks, Classic Myth, and The Sequence methd Students present lgline and read their treatment (up t 5 pages) t the class; r they can just describe what they knw abut their stries s far. Prepare a five-minute pitch f yur stry t use in a speed-dating type f pitch sessin at next week s class. WEEK 2: The Seed (Octber 5) Craft the The Seed fr yur stry lgline premise ne big prblem Speed-dating pitch sessin. Students present five-minute pitches t each ther. Retl yur treatment using feedback frm pitch sessin.

3 Writing the First Screenplay III Syllabus -- Fall Bring up t 5 pages f treatment next week. OR if yur treatment is slid, cntinue writing pages. Bring up t 8 pages f yur script t next week s class. Bring cpies fr each student. Please bring pages in rder (e.g., 25-33, then 33-41, then 41-49, etc. as ppsed t 60-68, then 51-59, then ) Yu ll get better feedback that way. WEEK 3: Pages (Octber 12) Main character makes a first attempt at gal Establishing relatinships Present treatment r pages t class; receive feedback. Bring up t 8 pages f yur script (and cpies fr each student) t next week s class. WEEK 4: Pages (Octber 19) Main character makes a secnd attempt at gal Develpment f relatinships WEEK 5: Pages (Octber 26) Midpint Antagnist rears head (aka Bad Guys Clse In ) Ptat Chips Grace Prtagnist makes prgress tward gal WEEK 6: Pages (Nvember 2) Unraveling Secnd act break

4 Writing the First Screenplay III Syllabus -- Fall WEEK 7: Mastering Character (Nvember 9) Slidify the fllwing: Define the main character s bradstrke. Find the paradx f the character. Select signature traits fr the character. Get the audience behind the character. Give main character ne big prblem t slve; figure ut what led the main character t having this prblem. Thrughut Act II: Cntinue t remind the reader f the main character s bradstrke Regularly let readers inside the character s head. Shw new sides t the character. Regularly address the character s big prblem. WEEK 8: Mastering Descriptin (Nvember 16) Descriptin basics WEEK 9: Mastering Dialgue (Nvember 23) Dialgue basics

5 Writing the First Screenplay III Syllabus -- Fall WEEK 10: Mastering Scenewrk (Nvember 30) Scene basics Mastering transitin between scenes Advanced scene placement Crss-cutting Juxtapsitin Flashbacks, flashfrwards WEEK 11: Des yur stry develp? (December 7) Checking fr character, stry, and relatinship develpment Milking the gem f yur stry Entire secnd act due next week. Yu may submit up t 60 pages. WEEK 12: Review and What s Next? (December 14) Review, hw t stay n track Living the life f a writer ***Nte: I may alter the syllabus accrding t the students needs, s the specifics may change.

HOMEWORK! First Grade

HOMEWORK! First Grade Sight Wrds This week we are taking a shrt diversin frm ur regular Language Arts prgram. We will be reading the stry, Pumpkin, Pumpkin. Sight Wrds: Please print and cut ut these wrds