Advanced Screenwriting

Due Wednesday, September 15:
Part A: Character Bios
Write a 1-3 page background description of your main character(s). What is their “problem”? Where are they from? What do they look like? What’s eating them? What is their secret? What is their emotional history? Medical history? Social history? Romantic history? Who are their heroes? Who would they vote for? What causes would move them? What scares them? How do they feel about themselves and other people? What do they want in life? Include all the detail you can possibly imagine, whether or not you think you’ll use it in the actual script.
Part B. Story
Write a paragraph on each act of your script that describes the major plot points and action as you now visualize it. Emphasize action rather than explanation. Just tell what happens.

Screenplay and film: Chinatown
McKee, ch. 2-6
Writing assignment 2 due Wednesday

Due Monday, September 6:
First, read the script for Raiders of the Lost Ark, and then watch the film. Make notes for yourself as you read and watch.
Bring to class a timeline listing the key plot points in the script, noting the pages they occur in the script and the times they occur in the film.

Screenplay and film: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Trottier, pp. 1-69, 103-158
Writing assignment 1 due Monday

The usual getting-started information: who are you, who am I, what are we going to do, and why.

I hope that we’ll use this space for two purposes: to continue discussions that are left incomplete in class, and to begin discussions that you intend to continue as part of your in-class presentations. Any time you’d like me to post a discussion question for you, simply email it to me; to respond to a discussion in progress, click on “comments” below the entry.

The first day of class will be Wednesday, September 1.