Professor: Tom Lock Office Hours: By Appointment Email: tlock@wesleyan.edu M: 1:20 pm - 4:10 pm, CFS 124 This is a workshop class focused on the narrative short screenplay and how that translates to both film and television. While many class sessions will touch on particular topics of writing such as structure, character development, conflict, etc, the class is primarily a workshop. We will learn by doing, and the focus will be on the development, execution, and revision of your work. By the end of the class, students will be able to: -Understand screenplay format and structure. -Evaluate and successfully communicate ideas about writing. Complete one treatment and three scripts. -Gain a better understanding of their own writing processes. ASSIGNMENTS: The class will be broken into two groups, A and B. When group A presents work, group B will provide written and verbal notes, and vice versa. Every student will complete one short treatment for a script, one silent scene, 1 3-5 page script, one 8-12 page script, and at least two revisions of an 8-12 page script. There will also be an in-class verbal pitch assignment of their idea for the first 8-12 page script. Handwritten work will not be accepted. Also, an excessive amount of spelling and grammatical errors is not acceptable. Students are strongly advised to use industry standard screenwriting software such as Final Draft. You can also download Celtx for free. I also hear that the free version of Writer Duet works well. All assignments must be converted to PDF form and delivered in the following way: 1) Emailed to me at tlock@wesleyan.edu by 12 pm on the Friday before they are presented. READING SCRIPTS AND WRITING RESPONSES: You are required to read ALL scripts that are being presented each week, before class. You also must bring in a brief response (up to one page) of each of those scripts. You should bring two hard copies to class one to be given to your classmate who wrote the script and one for me. These are to be presented at the beginning of class each week. We will discuss the content of these responses more, but they should be creative development thoughts, not reviews.
As class participation is also a significant portion of your grade, your written responses will provide you with the foundation for lively discussion about each script. OTHER READINGS AND SCREENINGS There are no required texts for this class; all reading assignments will be accessible via on our course management system, emailed to you, or handed out in class. A movie, an episode of television, or both are assigned to watch for class each week during your own time. Most movies assigned are on reserve in the Sci Library (there are a couple that are not, and we will discuss options for viewing those) and will be discussed in class. While I do not note that watching these movies is mandatory, I strongly encourage you to do so. Class participation is a significant part of your grade and we will discuss these films at length and in detail. If you cannot discuss them (and you will not be able to discuss them from reading about them online), then you cannot adequately participate. If this happens regularly, your grade will absolutely be adversely affected. Moreover, you are in a screenwriting class watch the assigned screenings with our class discussions in mind. It will make you better. Note: This is a workshop class in which you are required to watch films and tv episodes and read each other s scripts. Therefore, you will have plenty of work to do each week. My goal is not to bombard you with additional readings or ancillary work. Any readings assigned will be light, and the movies are chosen to be diverse, useful to our discussions, and hopefully enjoyable. Throughout the semester we will also watch several short films in class, time permitting. ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken each class. If you arrive after attendance is taken, you will be marked late. Two tardies will equal an unexcused absence. Three or more unexcused absences may result in a class failure. If you must be late for class, please contact me at least 24 hours in advance via email. An excused absence may be granted if the instructor is notified and a legitimate reason, such as a doctor's note, is given. It is my goal to help you succeed. I am always willing to put maximum effort into you, but I expect you to put maximum effort into this class. CLASS PARTICIPATION: Since the class is primarily a workshop, student participation is vital to the learning process. Every student is expected to participate in the constructive critiques of their classmates work as
well as in-class discussions of specific writing topics, readings, and screenings. Failure to contribute to class discussions will be detrimental to your grade. Laptops, phones, tablets, apple watches, etc are not allowed out during class time (unless you notify me of a necessary accommodation documented with the university). This is not for my benefit; this is out of respect for each other and the work that we are discussing. If you provide documentation that you need a laptop or other technology devices during class, we will of course make the appropriate adjustment. ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS: Every student is required to meet one-on-one with the instructor during the midpoint of the semester. If additional office hours are desired, an appointment can be made. GRADING: Grading will be based on attendance, class participation, the timely completion of assignments, and the progress made over the course of the semester. The quality of your written work will also be considered in the grade, but what is most important is the level of effort reflected in the writing. Perseverance to improve is more valuable than good work with little effort to make it better. The grading breakdown is as follows: 40% - silent film, 3-5 assignment, pitching assignment, 8-12 assignments 25% - Final 8-12 revision 10% - Written reading responses 25% - Attendance and participation
CLASS SCHEDULE Date Screenings for Class Assignments Due Topics 9/3 Read The Tools of Screenwriting, David Howard Optional Reading: Introduction by Frank Daniel -Course Overview/Expectations -Guidelines For a Successful Creative Workshop -What makes a good screenplay? What s a good story? How do we come up with them? - Screenplay Formatting - The Protagonist, The Little Red Dot, Antagonist & Morality, Why We Care, Internal vs External, Showing vs. Dramatizing (and why many novels make bad movies) - Feature Film vs TV vs Short Film vs Limited Series - In Class Exercise on Story 9/10 Some Like It Hot Girls Season 1 Ep 7: Welcome to Bushwick AKA The Crackcident 9/17 Jerry Maguire Pilot: Grey s Anatomy 9/24 El Norte Pilot: Alias Groups A & B present 1-3 minute silent scenes (Due 9/7 by 12 pm) Group A Presents 3-5 Page Scripts (Due 9/14 by 12 pm) Group B Presents 3-5 Page Scripts (Due 9/21 by 12 pm) 3-5 Minute Films, Joke Films, Portrait Films, Pay Offs, How A Character s Goals are Articulated Character, The Three Pillars for a Character, How do we learn about a character? Throughlines for your character. External vs Internal Conflict When to Start the Story, Therefore & But, Meanwhile & Back at the Ranch, Pitch Discussion and In Class Pitch Exercise/Treatments/Outlines/ Note Cards 10/1 Argo Treatment & Pitch Day: Group A Pitches Ideas for 8-12 Page Scripts and Turns in Treatments Dramatic Tension, Engaging an Audience, Keep Them Interested, The Imperative
Date Screenings for Class Assignments Due Topics 10/8 Do The Right Thing Friends Season 3, Ep 2: The One Where No One s Ready 10/15 A Few Good Men Pilot: Breaking Bad 10/29 Double Indemnity Pilot: The Americans Treatment & Pitch Day: Group B Pitches Ideas for 8-12 Page Scripts and Turns in Treatments Group A Presents 8-12 Scripts (Due Oct 12 by 12 pm) Group B Presents 8-12 Scripts (Due Oct 25 by 12 pm) Hammerlock/Crucible Unity of Place, Time, Action Plot vs Story You Can t Be Two Things At Once Plot Points & Your Protagonist 11/5 Almost Famous Group A Presents Revised 8-12 Scripts (Due Nov 2 by 12 pm) 11/12 The Departed Group B Presents Revised 8-12 Scripts (Due Nov 9 by 12 pm) 11/19 Jaws Groups A & B Present 8-12 Commissioned Draft (Due Nov 15 by 12 pm) 11/26 Good Will Hunting Group A Presents Crazy Draft (Due Nov 23 by 12 pm) 12/3 Titanic Group B Presents Crazy Draft (Due Nov 30 by 12 pm) GROUPS A & B WILL TURN IN THEIR FINAL BEST DRAFTS NO LATER THAN 12/15 at 12 pm. Students with Disabilities: It is the policy of to provide reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities. Students, however, are responsible for registering with Disabilities Services, in addition to making requests known to me in a timely manner. If you require accommodations in this class, please meet with me Before September 21 so that appropriate arrangements can be made. The procedures for registering with Disabilities Services can be found at http://www.wesleyan.edu/deans/disability-students.html.
Flexibility in due dates is EXTREMELY difficult. If you cannot meet your deadline, and your pages cannot be workshopped on your scheduled day, it pushes everyone else s pages back when yours is ready. If you feel the deadlines are going to be difficult or problematic for you, please meet with me immediately.