MACS 372

Credit: 3 hours.

This course examines the practice of writing for the screen. Students will better understand the fundamentals of visual storytelling and learn standard formats of screenwriting. In a classroom environment that combines lecture, screening, film analysis, and workshop discussion of students' work, the student will be exposed to a wide variety of concepts related to the preparation and writing of the screenplay. Special emphasis will be given to the ideas of plot structure and character development, the two pillars on which the screenplay is built. This intensive scriptwriting class is intended to 1.) help students create a variety of writing tools and short scenes that will serve as the building blocks for 2.) constructing, writing and revising a short narrative screenplay. Issues of industry professionalization with regard to screenwriting will also be covered.

Prerequisite: MACS 260: Film Production.