The Craft of Screenwriting: Scenes, Shorts, and Series

In this combined media studies course and screenwriting workshop, you'll learn dramatic narrative while developing your own creative project--short film(s), feature film, half-hour comedy, one-hour drama, or web series. You'll exchange feedback on classmates' scripts and analyze professional screenplays, films and television shows from a craft perspective: What works? What doesn't? What can you make your own?

Our program will revolve around synchronous workshops and seminars. We'll minimize Zoom time and maximize time for writing and analysis, with assignments submitted asynchronously via Canvas. Our final schedule will depend on class size, but expect 4 hrs/week on Zoom during weeks 1-2 and 2.5 hrs/week thereafter, with 2-4 feedback opportunities in workshops and one-on-one sessions. Media selections will be drawn primarily from the Netflix catalog, so make sure you have reliable access.