Aug. 30:

Screening: Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Aug. 31:

David Trottier, The Screenwriter's Bible, pp. 1-69.
Screenplay: Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Film: Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Sept. 5:

David Trottier, The Screenwriter's Bible, pp.103-158.

Writing assignment: Watch Chinatown and create a timeline for it, breaking down the pertinent plot points and act breaks. Bring this to class on Thursday.

Sept. 6:

Screening: Chinatown.

Sept. 7:

Screenplay: Chinatown.

Writing assignment: Develop a 2-3 minute pitch for your screenplay. Come to class on Tuesday prepared to deliver this pitch to the class.

Sept. 12:

William Goldman, Adventures in the Screen Trade, pp. 1-158.
Script pitches.

Sept. 13:

Screening: Alien.

Sept. 14:

Screenplay: Alien.
Film: Alien.
Script pitches.

Writing assignment: Develop a 3 page treatment for your screenplay. Sign up for a workshop slot. Post your treatment in our class filespace no later than 24 hours before your workshop date.

Sept. 19:

Goldman, pp. 159-279.
Workshop: treatments.

Sept. 20:

Screening: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Sept. 21:

Screenplay: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Film: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Workshop: treatments.

Writing assignment: Write a 3 to 5 minute scene that reveals a pivotal moment in your screenplay. Sign up for a workshop slot. Post your treatment in our class filespace no later than 24 hours before your workshop date.

Sept. 26:

Goldman, pp. 473-585.
Workshop: scenes.

Sept. 27:

Screening: Joe Versus the Volcano.

Sept. 28:

Film: Joe Versus the Volcano.
Workshop: scenes.

Oct. 3:

Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence.
Workshop: scenes.

Writing assignment: Write a 10 minute sequence from any part of your screenplay. Sign up for a workshop slot. Post your treatment in our class filespace no later than 24 hours before your workshop date.

Oct. 4:

Screening: The Age of Innocence.

Oct. 5:

Film: The Age of Innocence.
Workshop: sequences.

Oct. 10:

Jane Austen, Emma.
Workshop: sequences.

Oct. 11:

Oct. 12:

Films: Emma, Clueless.
Workshop: sequences.

Oct. 17:

No class – fall break.

Oct. 18:

Screening: Double Indemnity.

Oct. 19:

James M. Cain, Double Indemnity.
Film: Double Indemnity.
Workshop: sequences.

Oct. 24:

Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient.
Workshop: sequences.

Oct. 25:

Screening: The English Patient.

Oct. 26:

No class – Prof. Fitzpatrick out of town.

Oct. 31:

Film: The English Patient.
Workshop: sequences.

Nov. 1:

Screening: Rope.

Nov. 2:

Workshop: finished student scripts.

Nov. 7:

Workshop: finished student scripts.

Nov. 8:

Screening: The Godfather.

Nov. 9:

Workshop: finished student scripts.

Nov. 14:

Workshop: finished student scripts.

Nov. 15:

Screening: Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Nov. 16:

Workshop: finished student scripts.

Nov. 21:

Workshop: finished student scripts.

Nov. 23:

No class – Thanksgiving.

Nov. 28:

Workshop: finished student scripts.

Nov. 29:

Screening: The Hudsucker Proxy.

Nov. 30:

Workshop: finished student scripts.

Dec. 5:

Concluding thoughts.
Final scripts due: 5:00 pm