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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
F/TVD006A
Course Title (CB02)
Screenwriting Fundamentals for Film/Video I
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
This course is an introduction to screenwriting for film and electronic media. Students will learn to prepare scripts in proper formats, including fundamental technical, conceptual, and stylistic issues related to writing fiction and non-fiction scripts in film and electronic media. This course includes a significant writing evaluation component.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is transferable to UC and belongs on the Film/TV: Screenwriting certificate/degree program. This class provides students with basic introductory screenwriting fundamentals of writing, character development, and 3-act story structure.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
FTVEFilm, Television and Electronic MediaPendingC-ID FTVE 115

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class essay prompts

Homework and extended projects

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Other: Page-to-screen exercises that include media screenings and facilitated group discussions

Oral presentations (pitches, e.g.)

Oral critiques by peers and instructor

Assignments

  1. Weekly readings
    1. Required textbook
    2. Periodicals, journals, and professional screenwriting articles on Internet sites
    3. Screenplays
  2. Screenwriting assignments
    1. Non-fiction: public service announcement or commercial
    2. Non-fiction: objective news or subjective documentary
    3. Short film pitching
    4. Fiction: logline
    5. Fiction: treatment
    6. Fiction: beat sheets
    7. Fiction: First 10-26 pages of Act I
  3. Viewing films and other forms of the moving image to illustrate screenwriting principles

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Workshops, writing exercises, quizzes, and final examination will demonstrate the student's comprehension of the reading through their ability to create a viable logline, beat sheet with clear story structure and developed characters, and professional-quality screenplay pages
  2. Oral and written critiques and evaluation of screenwriting assignments by instructor in terms of correct screenplay formatting, proper writing techniques, clear story structure, character development and oral pitches
  3. Participation in discussions and collaborative work, including oral presentations and critiques by peers, to demonstrate the student's ability of analyzing in-class screenings and peer screenplays

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials
  • Access to computer with screenplay-formatting software
Essential College Facilities
  • Computers installed with professional screenwriting software 

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Field, SydScreenplay: The Foundations of ScreenwritingDelta2005/Revised edition9780385339032
Trottier, DavidThe Screenwriter’s Bible: A complete Guide to Writing, Formatting and Selling Your Script‎ Silman-James Press2019/7th edition1935247212
Howard, DavidHow to Build a Great Screenplay: A Master Class in Storytelling for FilmSt. Martin's Press2010/Reprint edition
Friedmann, AnthonyWriting for Visual MediaRoutledge2021/5th edition
Walter, RichardEssentials of Screenwriting: The Art, Craft, and Business of Writing for Film and TelevisionPlume2010/1st edition

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

None.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the technical and aesthetic issues relating to writing for film and electronic media.
  • Interpret and apply the various functions of the script in the process of film, video, and electronic media production
  • Interpret and apply a variety of programs and script formats for non-fiction film, television, and electronic media
  • Analyze and apply the basic structure, character development, conflict, and theme in professional films and screenplays
  • Create short scripts for film, television, and electronic media in non-fiction and fiction formats
  • Analyze works-in-progress with the class and participate in the collaborative evolution of student script projects

CSLOs

  • Develop a command of story structure, and the construction of dynamic, original characters.

  • Create short and feature-length scripts for fiction and non-fiction films.

Outline

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the technical and aesthetic issues relating to writing for film and electronic media.
    1. Conceptual role of the screenwriting process
      1. Process of screenplay composition or design
      2. Other arts with composition or design phases
    2. Units in scripting film and electronic media
      1. Shot: continuous footage that runs for an uninterrupted period of time
      2. Scene: assemblies of shots
      3. Sequence: assemblies of shots and scenes that form a distinct narrative unit
      4. Transitions: markers for time and place
      5. Structure: completed form as a type, variety, or genre
  2. Interpret and apply the various functions of the script in the process of film, video, and electronic media production
    1. Practical or organizational role of the script
    2. Three organizational phases in film, video, and electronic media
      1. Pre-production: design and organization
      2. Production: performance, recording principal images/sounds
      3. Post-production: editing, sound mixing, special effects and color grading, distribution
    3. Script as the center of pre-production
    4. Script as language of communication in collaborative media
    5. Logline, treatment, beat sheet, scene list, screenplay pages and oral pitches
  3. Interpret and apply a variety of programs and script formats for non-fiction film, television, and electronic media
    1. Public service announcements and commercials
    2. Talk shows: interview, panel, discussion
    3. Documentary
    4. Instructional and corporate productions
    5. Fictional narrative: film, half-hour TV comedy, one-hour TV drama, gaming
  4. Analyze and apply the basic structure, character development, conflict, and theme in professional films and screenplays
    1. Appeals to spectator: emotional, logical, and physiological
    2. Operations and structure of dramatic narrative
      1. Dramatic logic
      2. Story development, character creation, conflict and rising tension, theme and resolution
      3. Aristotelian three-act story structure
      4. Fundamentals of dialogue writing
  5. Create short scripts for film, television, and electronic media in non-fiction and fiction formats
    1. Radio script
    2. Two-column television or video format
    3. Sitcom script
    4. Treatment format in dramatic narrative
    5. Short film or first 10-30 pages of a feature screenplay
    6. Mechanics of clear and concise writing
    7. Promote content creation in relation to social justice, race/ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation, and ability
  6. Analyze works-in-progress with the class and participate in the collaborative evolution of student script projects
    1. Role in collaborative media
    2. Promotion of scripts to collaborators and producers
    3. Techniques and aids in pitching
    4. Overview of the business of screenwriting, copywriting, and marketing a script
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