Lecture 1: Course Introduction

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Lecture 1Course Introduction
Class Textbook

• Professor Michael Green

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Professor Michael Green

• Lecturer
• Film and Media Studies, Arizona State University
• MFA, Creative Writing, ASU
• Teaches courses in Film Studies Screenwriting
  Cultural Theory
• Research is in fiction and critical race studies.

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Michaels Favorite Movies

• Jaws
• The Empire Strikes Back
• The Quiet American
• Midnight Run
• Crimes and Misdemeanors
• Back to the Future
• 25th Hour
• Wonder Boys

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In This Lesson

• What kind of distance learning course is this?
• How can you succeed in this course?
• What do we study in this course?
• What are the assignments?
• Why the short film?

No Country for Old Men (2007) Written by Cormac
McCarthy (novel) and Joel and Ethan Coen
(Screenplay)
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What Kind of Distance Learning Course is This?
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) Written
by Roald Dahl (book) and John August (screenplay)

• Lesson 1 Part I

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A Unique Distance Learning Experience

• This is not an automated course.
• This is not a self-paced course.
• This course emphasizes interactivity
• Asynchronous
• Synchronous
• Participation is key to your success!

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The Advantages of this Course

• Flexibility not limited by space
• Study materials available 24/7
• Lectures (streaming audio w/ PowerPoint)
• Websites other resources
• Films linked to site
• Clips
• Structured like a traditional course
• Complements multiple learning styles
• Lots of interactivity

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Potential Disadvantages

• Students that learn best through face-to-face
  debate can struggle in this environment.
• Ways to compensate
• Arrange for real-time meetings with classmates
• Students that are not well organized tend to not
  do well in this environment.
• Meet all deadlines
• Study in advance of assignments

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How to Succeed in This Course
The Great Train Robbery (1903) Written by Scott
Marble and Edwin S. Porter

• Lesson 1 Part II

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How do We Define Success?

• Becoming better, more knowledgeable writers
• Leaving the course with a finished short script
• Getting a high grade A or B
• Becoming more adept at taking constructive
  criticism

The Apartment (1960) Written by Billy Wilder and
I.A.L. Diamond
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Course Organization

• Each lesson contains
• Screening (linked short film)
• Reading
• Website
• Lecture
• eBoard
• Clips (Sometimes)

Juno (2007) Written by Diablo Cody
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Forms of Interactivity

• Threaded discussions onthe eBoard with
  classmates
• and professors
• Office Hours (if possible)
• Online Chats with prof.
• E-mail

Almost Famous (2000) Written by Cameron Crowe
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And Not Just Any Kind of Interactivity!

• To study writing and film we must debate.
• However this does not require being disrespectful
  or insensitive.
• I expect us to discuss writing and film with
  passion and perspective.
• I expect us to challenge each others conceptions
  of writing and film with rigor and respect.

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What do we study in this course?
Rope (1948) Written by Patrick Hamilton (play)
and Hume Cronyn (adaptation) and Arthur Laurents
(screenplay)
Lesson 1 Part III
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The Writing Process

• What does it take to be a successful
  screenwriter?
• Getting Started
• Staying Focused
• The Workshop
• Revision

The Great Dictator (1940) Written by Charles
Chaplin
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The Principles of Drama

• How is storytelling related to screenwriting?
• Plot and story
• Character and emotion
• The three-part structure
• Dialogue
• Meaning

Hamlet by William Shakespeare
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Assignments

• Lesson 1 Part IV

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Participation/Exercises

• Participation and short writing exercises are
  worth 40 of your final grade (200 points)
• Grade is based on
• Contributing one writing exercise and two posts
  per lesson to the forum.
• Keeping up with posts and exercises - meeting
  deadlines.
• Quality of posts exercises.
• See Syllabus

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Treatment

• The treatment is worth 20 of your grade (100
  Points)
• It is a boiled down prose version of your story
  that includes such crucial aspects as an outline
  of the plot and a description of the main
  characters and their function within the plot.
• It should be 2-3 single spaced pages.
• See the website for a sample treatment.

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First Draft of Short Script

• 20 of your grade (100 pts)
• You will complete the first draft of a screenplay
  for a short film. A first draft is by definition
  rough, but it should be about 10 pages long and
  include a beginning, middle and end along with
  other identifiable aspects of story structure
  such as conflict, crisis and resolution. Your
  script should be in a standard screenplay format
  approved by your instructor.

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Final Draft of a Short Script

• 20 of your grade (100 pts)
• The final draft will include many of the elements
  of the first draft but show demonstrable
  improvement over the first draft. The student
  should aim for the final draft to be 10-12 pages.
  It should be as polished as possible in terms of
  both the writing and the format.

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Why the Short Film?
George Lucas in Love (1999) Written by Joe
Nussbaum and Timothy Dowling (story) and Joe
Nussbaum and Daniel Sheere (writer)
Lesson 1 Part V
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Starting Short

• As a beginner, writing a short script before you
  attempt to write a feature-length script allows
  you to
• Work with the principles of fiction and drama at
  a manageable level
• Learn economy
• Revise more easily
• Practice screenplay format

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Advantages for the Student Filmmaker

• Short films are the predominant form in film
  schools
• Far cheaper to make than features
• Easier to get into film festivals
• Can act as a calling card to the film industry

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Short Film about Short Films

• At the conclusion of the lecture watch Live at
  Sundance Short Films, Tall Ideas.
• Then go to the eBoard and answer the questions
  for lesson1.

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Five Things to Remember

• Go through the website, or virtual classroom,
  with care know it well.
• Get to know your classmates.
• Keep up with all Lesson Tasks.
• Turn assignments in on time, written at a college
  level.
• Discuss with rigor respect.

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End of Lecture 1

• Next Lecture How do I get Started Writing and
  how do I Keep Going?