Course Syllabus

Media 22/Media 123

Instructor: Contact: Eric J. Adams

Contact: eadams@santarosa.edu

Office Hours: Thursdays 10-12, please send advance email to reserve a time.

Course Description

WELCOME!

SCREENWRITING is a foundational course for beginning and intermediate writers interested in crafting an original feature screenplay, episodic series, and/or streamed programming.

We’ll begin the class with the fundamentals of storytelling, story structure, and screenplay formatting. We’ll learn and practice proper script formatting. We’ll continue by exploring the essential elements of story, including theme, plot, character, and conflict. We’ll learn the dramatic units of a script, such as beat, scene, sequence and act, and polish the fine art of writing dialogue. And we’ll put all these together throughout the course with a series of scriptwriting exercises, a full story “treatment," and the beginning pages of a full screenplay.

Throughout the semester, we will read scripts, watch films, and practice how to analyze scripts and films, much like professional readers do in the industry.

Just as in a Hollywood writers’ room, you'll share your work (both written and verbally) with your fellow writers and be expected to provide feedback. You’ll pitch your ideas and listen as we “table read” your pages.

This is an interactive, non-judgmental, collaborative class. The more you participate the more you will learn.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, you'll be able to:

Understand the fundamentals of storytelling
Compose a well-developed and properly formatted screenplay
Evaluate a theatrically-produced film script

OTHER GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

If you participate fully, you will:

Understand the fundamentals and building blocks of a screenplay
Learn to develop and improve commercial story ideas
Write compelling log lines and treatments
Create, revise and complete a properly-formatted screenplay
Understand the elements of commercial screenplays
Learn how to market yourself as writers and your scripts to Hollywood producers and studios
Have a new appreciation of the films you watch

Required Texts

Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting That You'll Ever Need, by Blake Snyder

Screenplay Software

Be prepared to deliver scenes and scripts typed and proofread in proper screenplay format. Suggested programs:

Kit Scenarist (free, unlimited projects; download) - this is what we'll be using in class.
Celtx (free, for one project only; online)
Final Draft (cost, industry standard, download)
WriterDuet (cost, great for online collaboration, online)

ASSIGNMENTS PERCENTAGE OF GRADE

Writing Assignments (script analysis/coverage) 60%
Collaboration and group participation 40%

THE FILM LIST

Please be prepared to rent or download several films throughout the semester (some of which may be viewed at the library).

All films either read or screened in class have been carefully selected for their artistic value and because they provide fitting examples of form, style, and narrative.

Every student, with no exception, will be required to watch or read every movie, it is important that you understand that some of the movies in class may be rated R or unrated. If you can't, or choose not to, tolerate scenes involving adult content, such as nudity, sexuality, violence, or coarse language, please consider enrolling in a different class.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

This in an in-person class (no Zoom access) Attendance in person is required. You can miss one class period without penalty. For each class additional period missed without consent, your grade may be lowered by one letter grade. You are responsible for all lecture material presented in class regardless of attendance.

I love communication. If you're going to miss a class or are having a problem, let me know and we'll see what we can work out. If you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row, please contact me to avoid being dropped from the class.

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, for several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student.

Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum

In this class, Canvas is king. All assignments and announcements will be posted in Canvas, so please check it often.

I'll regularly post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester.

Late Policy

Important: All assignments are due at midnight PSTon the due date. A late submission will receive a 20% penalty. As many assignments include peer review, please get assignments in on time so as not to penalize your fellow students for your lateness.

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's policy on Academic Integrity

Other Important Policies and Practices

Avoid Plagiarism and AI

Yes, you can ask AI to write something for you, but why? You're in this class to learn the magical craft of screenwriting, so please use your own brilliance -- it will always be better.

Special Needs

Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

That's it, looking forward to meeting you!