12/21/2024 10:56:59 AM	MEDIA 78 Course Outline as of Fall 2005	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  MEDIA 78	Title:  WRITING FOR FILM/TV
Full Title:  Writing for Film & Television
Last Reviewed:1/24/2000

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Writing for the visual media is one of the most important modern communication skills.  This course covers theory and practice of writing drama and comedy scripts for film and television.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Completion of ENGL 357, MEDIA 41, MEDIA 42, MEDIA 77, MEDIA 79A.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Analysis of the theory, form & practice of writing for film & television.  Emphasis on writing original scripts.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Completion of ENGL 357, MEDIA 41, MEDIA 42, MEDIA 77, MEDIA 79A.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:	Summer 2012
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

The students will:

1.  Utilize dramatic theory in writing for film and television.

2.  Identify and select material appropriate to a particular medium.

3.  Evaluate character motivation and psychology.

4.  Assess and employ methods of non-verbal communication in writing.

5.  Plan and organize story and character elements into dramatic

   plotting.

6.  Describe how conflict and goals are translated into action by

   characters.

7.  Describe the function of the script in relation to the entire

   production process.

8.  Identify industry requirements for writing in film and television.

Topics and Scope

1.  Aristotlean, Elizabethan and contemporary dramatic theory as

   applied to writing for film and television.

2.  The definition, function, and creation of characters. How character

   functions in relation to plot.

3.  The interaction of main and subplots. Theme and plot. How to plot

   a story. Multi-level plotting.

4.  Dialogue as a function of character. Verbal versus non-verbal

   communication in drama. Attributes of good dialogue.

5.  Film grammar and its place in writing. Manipulation of time and

   space. Camera angle and story telling logic.

6.  Economic and industury factors bearing on the creative process.

7.  Learning to write in the proper format.

8.  How to select and evaluate story. The importance of tone and setting.

Assignments:

1.  Readings:

     A. Reading and analysis of representative screenplays, novels,

        and short stories.

     B. Style handbook for proper writing formats.

     C. Periodical literature pertinent to screenwriting topics and

        to the film and television industry which applies to the

        writer and the writing process.

2.  Screenings and discussions of representative feature films and

   television programming. Analysis of the changes which occur between

   the written word and its visual image.

3.  Writing:

     A. Weekly creative assignments dealing with various topics such

        as format, dialogue, characterization.

     B. A major course project consisting of an original comedic or

        or dramatic script for film or television 60 pages in

        length.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 60 - 75%
Written homework, Term papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 20 - 30%
Homework problems
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 0 - 0%
None
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 15 - 30%
ATTENDANCE AND CLASS PARTICIPATION

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

WRITING THE SCREENPLAY, Alan A. Archer, Wadsworth, 2nd ed., 1993

ON THE WATERFRONT, Budd Schulberg, Samuel French Publishing, 1988

FIVE SCREENPLAYS BY PRESTON STURGES, University of California, 1985

THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE, John Huston, University of Wisconsin

Press, 1979

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