Topics in Media Writing (360-0-26)

Topic

Writing Complex Women

Instructors

Shannon Pritchard

Meeting Info

Annie May Swift Hall 219: Mon 3:00PM - 5:50PM

Overview of class

This course is an intensive writing workshop focused on developing complex female characters in a screenplay or television pilot. Through in-class workshops and discussions, students will become familiar with the essential elements of well-written female characters; understand how those elements affect an audience and create the dramatic experience; and use those elements in their own work in order to create stories imbued with honesty and emotional impact. These learning goals will be accomplished through lectures, reading assignments, and writing assignments.

Registration Requirements

RTVF 260 - Foundations of Screenwriting

Learning Objectives

Writing assignments are arranged to mirror a writer's creative process starting with the generation of ideas and culminating in the successful completion of an original screenplay or television pilot logline, synopsis, and the first thirty pages of a chosen script for undergraduate students and a full draft (30 or 60 page television pilot or 90 page screenplay) of a script for MFA candidates.

Class Materials (Required)

Internet access, Canvas registration and an NU email/account are required for accessing course materials. For this class, we have no assigned textbooks, but I do ask you to procure a notebook —not a computer - to use as a writer's journal.

Formatting software:

Scripts must be submitted in an easily readable, industry standard format. Final Draft is the industry standard, however you may use other formatting software.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for RTVF Majors with the RTVF 260-0 prerequisite or students in Writing: MFA or Documentary Media: MFA programs until the end of preregistration, after which time enrollment will be open to everyone with the prerequisite.” Undergraduate students must have completed RTVF 260-0 in order to register for this course (concurrent registration is not allowed). Writing: MFA or Documentary Media: MFA students may register for this course.