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MAKING A GOOD SCRIPT GREAT, by Linda Seger HOW TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY IN 21 DAYS, by Viki King ADVENTURES IN THE SCREEN TRADE, by William Goldman Any produced screenplays If you cannot find a screenplay, the following are websites to go to that will enable you to read screenplays that are recommended in class.

LECTURE:
Midpoint: looks like our hero will achieve his goal -- NOT!

ASSIGNMENT:
Write 10 more pages of your screenplay to complete first half of Act II. (You should reach the middle of your screenplay for the first time at the end of this assignment.)

Week 9: "Make Me A Screenplay I Can't Refuse"

Read assignments

LECTURE:
The words-on-paper draft and what to do about it. Cuts, couplets, and curses revising begins. Is there enough story? Evaluate the purpose of each scene. Eliminate any unnecessary scenes that dont push the story forward. Add scenes that are needed. Get into every characters head.

ASSIGNMENT:
Look over the first half of you screenplay Rewrite the most problematic section.

Week 10: "And That's That"

Open forum

LECTURE:
Agents. Writers Guild of America - contracts. Networking Spec screenplays and television scripts. Studio and Network development deals. Promoting your movie/The art of pitching. Other classes. Writers write!

ASSIGNMENT: Have fun! RECOMMENDED READING:

THE WRITER'S WORKSHOP, by Syd Field

Read assignments Evaluations

LECTURE:
Making the action plausible. Making the world consistent. Creating surprise yet still making sense. Do we care what happens? Maintaining conflict, building subplots, handling minor but memorable characters, setups and pay-offs. Examining your story for time. Obstacles, twists and emotions.

ASSIGNMENT:
Write 10 more pages of your screenplay to complete Act 1.

Week 6: "You Asked For It"

Read assignments.

LECTURE:
Placing your protagonist into a new direction. Subplots and supporting characters

ASSIGNMENT:
Write 10 more pages of your screenplay for first 10 pages of Act II.

Week 7: "Ever Since I Can Remember I Always wanted To Be A Screenwriter"

Read assignments.

LECTURE:
Raising the stakes or conflict for your main character Pushing the story forward. How is your main character evolving from original concept?

ASSIGNMENT:
Write 10 more pages of your screenplay for second 10 pages of Act II.

Week 8: "Fagheddaboutit"
Read assignments

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Format for writing your screenplay: Format Dialogue Descriptions The use of camera directions

ASSIGNMENT:
Write first 3 pages of your screenplay. Bring in enough copies to distribute to classmates.

WEEK 3: "This Is So Inciting!"

Reading Opening scenes

LECTURE:
What is a scene? Scene construction: Entering late and leaving early. What you must know about every character at the beginning of each scene. What is the subject and purpose of the scene? Importance of the Inciting Incident Elements of an Inciting Incident How to develop an Inciting Incident for your screenplay

ASSIGNMENT:
Write 7 more pages of your screenplay including the "Inciting Incident."

WEEK 4: "You Talkin' To Me?"

Read assignments Dialogue: The Next Frontier

LECTURE:
What is good dialogue? How do you get it? Visual storytelling versus dialogue. What kind of dialogue to avoid. The "Pinch"

ASSIGNMENT:
Write 10 more pages of your screenplay to your next turning point; "Pinch".

Week 5: "I'm Dyin' Over Here!"

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This is an interactive class -- without you, I am nothing. Each class is worth 3 points. Miss a class, lose 3 points. Punctuality counts as well, miss half a class; you will lose half your points. Assignments (50 points) Each week (other than the last week) there will be a written assignment; if you hand it in, ON TIME, it's worth 5 points. Half of your screenplay = 20 Points The first half of your completed screenplay will earn you 20 points once you give it to me. The point system is as follows: 100-90 = A; 89-80=B; 79-70=C; 69-60=D; 60-0 =F

WEEK 1: "Whaddaya Got?"

Instructor & students introductions Review course syllabus and assignments Review course expectation; instructor and students Classroom critiques: how to give and take criticisms Evaluations handout

LECTURE:
The theme of your movie/the message that you want to tell. Whos your audience? Genre, style and tone. Main story told through protagonists POV/What do they want? The three-act structure/ how and why most screenplays are divided into acts. The story outline/beat sheet/ treatment. Elevator pitch.

ASSIGNMENT:
If necessary, revise premise, bio, and outline Bring the premise, the character bio, and your existing outline to class. Prepare the "Elevator" pitch

WEEK 2: "Let's Write The Damn Thing!"

Handout: screenplay format Things to know about your story before you begin

LECTURE:
Where you want to go before you begin your journey. The opening inciting The inciting incident; page 10 First question to answer/setup to page 3

1 Department of The Arts UCLA Extension Writer's Program Fall, 2009 Reg#: V2785 Course: X 430B INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING II: Works In Progress Wednesday 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM 10/7/2009 - 12/16/2009 Instructor: Tony Vitale Writer's Program: 310-206-2612 COURSE:
This screenwriting course will concentrate on turning the students already completed outline into the first 50-60 pages of a screenplay. Students will have the opportunity to exercise all the aspects of screenwriting during the 10-week course, including solidifying your idea, creating clear Act breaks, proper formatting, definitive turning points, enhanced conflicts, and to arrive at appropriate mid-point of your screenplay. Students will bring in their writing assignments and receive feedback from their classmates as well as the instructor. Weekly discussions will include past and present films as well as the business of screenwriting.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:

To polish your treatment To familiarize students with the process of creating a screenplay To write enough scenes for the first half of your screenplay

ASSIGNMENTS:
All assignments must be typed in professional WGA format: Courier-font, 12 point, appropriate margins. You may find it helpful to use a screenwriting program such as Final Draft. The WGA lists various screenwriting programs: If you dont have a screenwriting program, get one. Youll be glad you did.

GRADING:
Attendance and Participation = 30 Points Weekly Writing Assignments = 50 Points First half of screenplay = 20 Points = 100 Points Attendance (30 points)