This advanced screenwriting seminar is a pure writers' workshop where students will write their second original, feature-length screenplay. The course is designed to instill a true writer's discipline in all students and to wean them from the classroom as they pursue their writing passion beyond graduation. Students have specific weekly deadlines they must meet no less than 48 hours before class, and all pages will be distributed to the class as a whole at that time. Students must come prepared to discuss their classmates' work and to absorb the feedback they are given. Students are expected to address and implement these notes as they move forward each week. In addition, students will have their work evaluated in masterclasses by special visiting guest artists from the film industry. Students will respect this opportunity by presenting their work in proper format and free of any typos and grammatical errors. Students will be ready to further articulate their stories in these sessions. As part of the course, students will learn ways to move forward in terms of potential writing careers as well as what the life of a professional writer entails.

Course Requirements:

Students will pitch an original idea, develop it into a treatment, three-act step outline and finally a full-length screenplay (minimum 90 pages, maximum 110 pages). Students are graded on their screenplays. Workshop participation is the x-factor.

Intended Audience:

Six students will be selected for this advanced seminar based on their performance in FTVM 410, the rewrite class. Other factors being equal, preference will be given to graduating seniors.

Class Format:

This class will meet one night a week for three hours. There are no lectures in this workshop. Instruction is given organically at each stage of development as a material is workshopped. Students will have their screenplay pages read and acted out by their fellow classmates each and every week.