2007_319_calendar

Sophocles

Jefferson Hendricks
and
Jeffrey Kallenberg
Centenary College of Louisiana
Fall 2007

Texts/Calendar
Policies and Requirements
General Links for Writers
Screen/Play Writing Links
Film Links
Contact Info

Mark Norman
and
Tom Stoppard

Texts

1. Louis E. Catron, The Elements of Playwriting.   Waveland Pr Inc.  ISBN: 157766227X ISBN-13: 978-1577662273

2. Linda J. Cowgill, Writing Short Films: Structure and Content For Screenwriters. Lone Eagle Publishing Company.
     2^nd edition. ISBN: 1580650635 -- ISBN-13: 978-1580650632

3. Eric Lane and Nina Shengold, eds. Take Ten: New 10-Minute Plays. Vintage. ISBN: 0679772820 ISBN-13: 978-0679772828

4. Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, Shakespeare in Love: A Screenplay. Miramax Books -- ISBN-13: 978-0786884858

5. Sophocles, Antigone -- Dover Publications -- ISBN-13: 978-0486278049

6. David Trottier, The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script. Silman-James Press, 4^th edition.
     ISBN: 1879505843 ISBN-13: 978-1879505841

Calendar

Wk 1:
Mon Aug 27

Introduction to Class
What is a story?
What is drama?
What is a film?

Required Readings:

Storytelling -- Wikipedia
Drama -- Wikipedia
Playwright -- Wikipedia
Film -- Wikipedia
Narrative film -- Wikipedia
Classical Hollywood cinema -- Wikipedia
Screenwriting -- Wikipedia
Screenplay -- Wikipedia

Spec script
Shooting script

Writing Workshop: in-class writing: 5 minute, 2-character scene

Th Aug 30: Once -- Robinson Film Center @ The Regal Boardwalk, Bossier City
Th Aug 30: Romeo and Juliet @ Marjorie Lyons Playhouse -- 8:00 pm
Fr Aug 31: Taming of the Shrew @ Marjorie Lyons Playhouse -- 8:00 pm
Sat: Sept 1: Romeo and Juliet @ Marjorie Lyons Playhouse -- 8:00 pm

Wk 2: Labor Day Holiday
Mon Sept 3:

No class

Required Readings:

Catron, Chapter 1: "Being a Playwright"; Chapter 2: "What Makes a Play?"; Chapter 3: "The Size of Your Canvas: Monodramas, One-Acts, and Full-Length Plays"; Chapter 4: "Where Do You Start? Turning Your Ideas Into Plays"
Cowgill, Chapter 1: "Before We Start -- The Principles of Drama"; Chapter 2: "Starting Out -- What's It About?"

Background Readings:

Developing an Artistic Sensibility for Screenwriting -- Laura Schellhardt and John Logan, Screenwriting for Dummies

Wk 3:
Mon Sept 10:

Required Readings:

Catron, Chapter 5: "Creating Characters: People in Action to Achieve Their Goals"
Cowgill, Chapter 3: "Character & Emotion -- Who Does What and Why"
Lane and Shengold: "Anything for You" by Cathy Celesia; "Brother" by Mary Gallagher

Writing Workshop: 3-5 page script

Background Readings:

Creating the Backstory for Your Screenplay -- Laura Schellhardt and John Logan, Screenwriting for Dummies

Wk 4:
Mon Sept 17:

Required Readings:

Catron, Chapter 6: "Building Plot: Shaping Your Play's Action"
Cowgill, Chapter 4: "The Three-Part Nature of Film Structure"; Chapter 5: "Plotting -- The Twists and Turns"
Lane and Shengold: "The Philadelphia" by David Ives; "The Man Who Couldn't Dance" by Jason Katims

Writing Workshop: 3-5 page script

Background Readings:

Writing Act 1 of Your Screenplay -- Laura Schellhardt and John Logan, Screenwriting for Dummies
Screenplay Structure -- Michael Hauge, Screenplay Mastery

Wk 5:
Mon Sept 24:

Required Readings:

Catron, Chapter 7: "Constructing Dialogue: Action Through Words"
Cowgill, Chapter 10: "Dialogue: The Search for the Perfect Line"

Writing Workshop: 3-5 page script

Background Readings:

Crafting Your Character's Dialogue in Your Screenplay -- Laura Schellhardt and John Logan, Screenwriting for Dummies

***** On The Verge @ Marjorie Lyons Playhouse: Thursday, Sept 27: Friday, Sept 28; Saturday, Sept 29 @ 8:00 pm

Wk 6:
Mon Oct 1:

Required Readings:

Cowgill, Chapter 6: "Fade In: Openings & The Main Exposition"; Chapter 7: "The Middle -- Keeping the Story Alive"; Chapter 8: "Fade Out: Revelation, Climax & Resolution"
Lane and Shengold: "Hold for Three" by Sherry Kramer; "A Bowl of Soup" by Eric Lane

Writing Workshop: 3-5 page script

***** On The Verge @ Marjorie Lyons Playhouse: Thursday, Oct 4: Friday, Oct 5; Saturday, Oct 6 @ 8:00 pm; Sunday, Oct 7 @ 2:00 pm

Wk 7:
Mon Oct 8:

Required Readings:

Catron, Chapter 8: "Evaluating and Revising Your Play"
Cowgill, Chapter 9: "Constructing the Scene"
Lane and Shengold: "Railing It Uptown" by Shirley Lauro; "Stars" by Romulus Linney

Writing Workshop: 3-5 page script

Wk 8:
Mon Oct 15:

Required Readings:

Cowgill, Chapter 11: "The Subtext of Meaning"
Lane and Shengold: "Mrs. Sorkin" by Christopher Durang; "A Sermon" by David Mamet; "Shasta Rue" by Jane Martin

Writing Workshop: 3-5 page script

Wk 9:
Mon Oct 22:

Required Readings:

Cowgill, Chapter 12: "Keeping Focused: What Does My Protagonist Really Want?"
Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, Shakespeare in Love: A Screenplay

Writing Workshop: TBA

Wk 10:
Mon Oct 29:

Required Readings:

Trottier, Book I: "How to Write a Screenplay -- A Primer"

Lane and Shengold: "Ferris Wheel" by Mary Miller; "Yesterday's Window" by Chiori Miyagawa

Writing Workshop: TBA

Wk 11:
Mon Nov 5:

Required Readings:

Trottier, Book II: "7 Steps to a Stunning Script"
Sophocles, Antigone

Writing Workshop: TBA

**** Antigone @ Marjorie Lyons Playhouse: Thursday, Nov. 8; Friday, Nov. 9; Saturday, Nov. 10 @ 8:00 pm; Sunday, Nov. 11 @ 2:00 pm

Wk 12:
Mon Nov 12:

Required Readings:

Catron, Chapter 9: "Script Format: Typing Your Script for Producers and Directors"
Cowgill, Appendices: A -- "Fade In to Fade Out: Proper Screenplay Format"
Trottier, Book III: "Proper Formatting Technique -- A Style Guide"
Lane and Shengold: "New York Actor" by John Guare; "Reverse Transcription" by Tony Kushner

Writing Workshop: TBA

Wk 13:
Mon Nov 19: No Class -- Thanksgiving Break

Wk 14:
Mon Nov 26:

Required Readings:

Trottier, Book IV: "Writing and Revising Your Breakthrough Script -- A Script Consultant's View"

Lane and Shengold: "Judgement Call" by Frederick Stroppel; "Love Poem #98" by Regina Taylor

Writing Workshop: TBA

Wk 15:
Mon Dec 3:

Required Readings:

Catron, Chapter 10: "Resources for the Playwright"
Cowgill, Appendices: D -- "The Writer's Reference Shelf"
Trottier, Book V: "How to Sell Your Script -- A Marketing Plan"
Trottier, Book VI: "Resources"
Lane and Shengold: "Welcome to the Moon" by John Patrick Shanley; "The Janitor" by August Wilson

Writing Workshop: TBA

Background Readings:

Pitching Made Purrfect -- Devorah Cutler-Rubenstein, Ink Tip
Good in a Room: A Guide to Pitching Your Script -- Stephanie Palmer, Scriptologist.com
Pitch a Screenplay -- Pitching to a Producer? -- Nick Dunning, Filmmakers.com
I Wrote a 120 Page Script But Can't Tell You What It's About: The Construction of a Pitch -- Christopher Lockhart, TwoAdverbs.com
Making a Short Pitch Better -- Leon Kaye, Absolute Write
Preparing to Pitch Your Screenplay to a Studio -- Laura Schellhardt and John Logan, Screenwriting for Dummies

Wk 16:
Mon Dec 10:

***** Wed Dec 12: Writing Portfolio due by 2:00 pm to Ms. Palmer in Jackson Hall 307