CINEMA 435 - WRITING THE PRIMETIME DRAMA



CTWR 421 - WRITING THE PRIMETIME DRAMA

SPRING SEMESTER 2010

Mondays, 7-10pm

SCA 310

Prof: Lance Gentile

lagmd@

Available before or after class for individual meetings. Email any time.

TERM DATES: January 11, 2010 – May 12, 2010

THE POINT (course objective/course goals): To write a spec one hour DRAMA/ To get an idea what it’s like to do it for a living.

You’ll choose a show, figure out how it’s written, pitch an idea for an episode to class, then write a beat sheet, story outline, writers draft and first draft.

THE CLASS: A writing staff whose job is to produce the same number of quality episodic television scripts as there are class members. Collaborative script development and analysis are ESSENTIAL TV writer/producer skills.

** Verbal and written notes on your fellow writers scripts will be as important as the writing itself.

You’ll be responsible for getting e-mail copies of your written material to each member of class by MIDNIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT, three days in advance of workshop session. Hard copies of WRITERS DRAFTS will be due in class one week before they're workshopped.

There will be a schedule of whose work is to be discussed in class each week. You’ll be expected to DOWNLOAD A HARD COPY of your fellow writer's material, then provide written notes on it to class and to participate in table discussion of material.

GRADES:

Attendance: Mandatory, due to workshop element of class.

Beat sheets and bios: 5%

Beat sheet: 5%

Story outline: 15%

Script and revision: 24%

Class participation (verbal and written analysis of fellow writer’s pitches/beat sheets/outlines/scripts): 51%

MIDTERM GRADES sent out via email.

CNTV POLICY: Two unexcused absences lowers grade a point; three, two points; four, failure in the course (F).

Deadlines: Mandatory. Just like TV.

**Unexcused missed deadlines lose workshop time**

Script: A completed FIRST DRAFT teleplay is mandatory in order to pass. No exceptions.

Story/script analysis: Verbal/written notes, participation in table discussions, active contribution to others work PLUS ability/willingness to listen to and apply notes to your material. Writing talent is not a factor in grades.

GUESTS: As time permits.

SCHEDULE:

JAN 11 - Overview of YOUR course/Teacher’s background/Student introductions and character bios/e-mail and class “bible”/Discuss the primetime landscape/writers journal.

View and analyze drama #1 (running beat sheet)/Choosing a series/what’s a pitch?/character bio?/beat sheet? Sample handout.

Assignment: Watch TV!/Choose a show, watch two episodes, write beat sheets/character bios. Prepare a short pitch of a series episode you want to write to bring to class.

JAN 18 – MLK DAY – NO CLASS

JAN 25 - View/analyze drama #2. Show choices due/Review beat sheets/character bios/Discussion: episodic structure, “premise/theme,” conflict, character. Preliminary pitches.

Assignment: Read/view two episodes of your show, two episodes of other shows and do beat sheets, character bios for each. Work on pitches.

FEB 1 - View/analyze drama #3. Discussion: story source -- theme vs. character/from pitch to beat sheet. VERBAL PITCHES I. Sample beat sheet handout. Assignment: Read/view/analyze more episodes. Work on pitches/beat sheets.

FEB 8 - View/analyze drama #4. VERBAL PITCHES II. ALL PITCHES APPROVED.

Assignment: Read/view/analyze more episodes. Work on beat sheets.

FEB 15 – NO CLASS – PRESIDENTS DAY

FEB 22 - View/analyze drama #5. Workshop beat sheets I. Discussion: Beat sheet to story outline. Sample story outline hand out.

Assignment: Beat sheets/story outlines.

MAR 1 - Workshop beat sheets II. ALL BEAT SHEETS APPROVED

** ALL BEAT SHEETS/CHARACTER BIOS DUE **

Assignment: Story outlines.

MAR 8 - Workshop story outlines I. Discussion: story outline to writers draft.

Assignment: Story outlines/writers drafts.

MAR 15 – NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

MAR 22 - Workshop story outlines II.

Assignment: Story outlines/writers drafts.

MAR 29 - Workshop story outlines III. ALL STORY OUTLINES APPROVED. THREE WRITERS DRAFTS (A) DUE

Assignment: Writers drafts.

APRIL 5 - Workshop WRITERS DRAFTS A

Assignment: Writers drafts. THREE WRITERS DRAFTS (B) DUE

APRIL 12 - Workshop WRITERS DRAFTS B.

Assignment: Writers drafts/first drafts. THREE WRITERS DRAFTS C DUE

APRIL 19 - Workshop WRITERS DRAFTS C.

Assignment: First drafts. THREE WRITERS DRAFTS (D) DUE.

APRIL 26 - Workshop WRITERS DRAFTS D.

Assignment: First drafts.

MAY 3 - Finals. No class. ALL FIRST DRAFTS DUE FRIDAY MAY 7, 2010. THIS IS YOUR FINAL EXAM.

RECOMMENDED READING: (non-required)

Theory: The Art of Dramatic Writing (Egri), The Tools of Screenwriting (Howard/Mabley), How to Write a Movie in 21 Days (V. King), Writing the TV Drama Series (Douglas)

The writing experience: On Writing (S. King), The Writing Life (Dillard), Bird by Bird (Lamott)

DISABILITIES STATEMENT:

Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs(DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure this letter is delivered to me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301. Hours: 8:30am-5:00pm, Mon-Fri. Phone: (213) 740-0776. Any questions, contact your Writing Advisor in the Writing Division office.

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