Course Syllabus

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VF135H Syllabus

Bell Tower

Course Description and Prerequisites

Scriptwriting VF135H 

In-person meeting time: Tuesdays 4PM-5:15PM

Online components: asynchronous 

3 credits

SP 2022

Course Description:

Every great project starts with a concept which needs to be molded into a script. This course will start at the beginning of story development to examine the classical narrative paradigm used in the majority of both independent and Hollywood filmmaking. There is a strong focus on standardized script formatting, story structure, character development, story arcs, and scene analysis. Students will use industry standard software to cultivate an original concept that they design throughout the stages of story development into a finished screenplay that a production team could then schedule, budget, shoot, and edit a completed film.

Prerequisites: none

Instructor Information

Kris Bridges M.Ed., B.S., A.S                
WCC Room 223¬
bridgesk@husson.edu
207-941-7000 ext.7917

Office Hours:  M: 12pm-2pm  W: 9:30am-11:30am / 2pm-4pm  Th: 12pm-2pm
Confirmed by Appointment

Textbook & Required Materials

Syd Field, Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting (revised edition) ISBN 0-385-33903-8

Required Program (s):  Students will need to download and use Adobe Acrobat Reader. This can be done on a lab computer or a personal machine. Students have the option of using Husson the WCC223 computer lab or if they prefer to use their personal machines, they can download the free trial version of Final Draft 12. Please do not do this until asked by your instructor - the trial version has a limitation on the number of weeks it can be used. If you download prematurely your trial will run out before the course ends.  

Course Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
By the end of the semester, you should be better able to assess your own work and make an argument about where you are in your learning. 


1.  Analyze scripts from films and dramatic television to reveal structure and affective style.

2.  Practice techniques that enable content creation and writing discipline.

3.  Develop three-dimensional characters for inclusion in a screenplay by evaluating character archetypes and dialogue.

4.  Identify and analyze scenes, sequences and plot points within a three-act structure with the goal of developing your own script.

5. Demonstrate proper screenplay formatting using industry standard software.

6. Pitch script ideas for development and sale.

Assessment Mapping

 

Week

SLO

Readings / required viewings / tasks completed before class

Topic

Active Learning Activities

 

1

1,2

 

Loglines

Logline Examples

 

2

2

Reading Chapter 1

 

How to overcome writer’s block with random trips to “The Well”

Creativity Exercise 

 

3

1,5

Prepare Loglines

 

Structure and script formatting

Field’s paradigm

 

Read loglines to class

“Script by numbers”

 

4

1,4

Read a provided script

Know: what is character?

 

Premise & Dramatic situation

What is the subject?

 

Read loglines to class

Watch provided script first act

 

5

3

Reading Ch2, Ch3. Pages 31 to 58

 

Creation of Your Characters

Who are characters and what do they do?

Dramatic Need

 

 

6

3

Reading Chapter 4&5

Have answered ½ your character Bio

Building Character / Jungian Archetypes

Character Mashups exercise

 

7

3

Have finished your character Bio

Dialog

Verbal rule/Verbal strategy

Character Mashups exercise

 

8

1,4

Module Reading ‘ Act 1

 

ACT 1 to ACT II  Midpoint (Pinch)

 

 

9

1,2,4

Module Reading    Act 2

ACT II Midpoint through ACT III

Outlining Cards

 

10

2,4

Module Reading    Act 3

Index Cards

Scenes, Sequences and Organization

Outlining Cards

 

11

1,2,4,5

Index Cards

Final Draft

Disciplined Writing

 

Dog Day Afternoon Part 1

 

12

1,4

Act 1

Move your fingers

Disciplined Writing

 

Dog Day Afternoon Part II

 

13

1,4

Act II Part 1

Disciplined Writing

 

Dog Day Afternoon Part III

 

14

2,6

Act II Part 2

The 1 minute pitch

Song title exercise

 

 

15

1,2,4,6

ACT III               Finished Rough Draft

You’ve finished your first draft How to approach draft 2

How to talk about you script exercise

Next Steps. 

Evaluation and Grading

Exercises/Homework: 35%

Quizzes: 25%

Script Benchmarks: 40%

Zoom Proctoring

In the event that faculty utilize remote proctoring as a tool to monitor the use of remote exams, proctoring via Zoom is an option. 

  • A laptop capable of supporting Canvas, Examplify, and Zoom
  • A second device that is capable of supporting both video and audio Zoom meetings for remote proctoring
  • Suitable Internet connection to facilitate and sustain video and audio Zoom meetings

 

Canvas Information

Canvas is where course content, grades, and communication will reside for this course.

Grading Rubrics

Please include all of the rubrics that you plan on using in this course – be sure that all of the rubric dimensions (lines in a rubric) are aligned to your intended outcomes or indicators.Screen Shot 2021-08-15 at 2.40.59 PM.png

Class Policies

Links to University Policies and student protections as well as student services can be found on the left navigation panel under the link "Student Policies and Support Resources." You can also find a link to information about how to navigate Canvas.

Accessibility and Accommodations

You can find student accommodations information here.

Tentative Schedule of Assignments

See "Assessment Mapping" above.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due