The Short Screenplay Book Report

This project need to read the whole book. All info can be found in prequarter assignment in the syllabus. Thank you. This is a simple assignment.
THE SHORT SCREENPLAY by Dan Gurskis.

School of Liberal Arts, Department of Dramatic Writing, Savannah FILM 265 - Short Film Screenwriting Section: 01 CRN: 22120 SCAD Mission: SCAD prepares talented students for creative professions through engaged teaching and learning in a positively oriented university environment. Course Description: Through short-form screenwriting, students master the art and craft of cinematic storytelling and expression by creating compelling narratives and believable characters. Based on analysis of successful screenplay mechanics, students develop high-quality short-form, fictional narratives for film that are suitable for submission to short-form screenwriting competitions and for production in collaborative student projects. Prerequisite(s): DWRI 101 or DWRI 106. Course Goals: The following course goals articulate the general objectives and purpose of this course: 1. Students will explore the core elements of screenwriting such as dramatic structure, film language, story and character development for writing effective dialogue for the screen. 2. Students will learn to analyze screenplays and experiment with critical approaches to their own work as well as the works of their peers. 3. Students will improve their basic writing skills through multiple revisions to refine scripts for short form media. 4. Students will gain experience preparing materials for submission to short-form screenwriting competitions. Student Learning Outcomes: The following course outcomes indicate competencies and measurable skills that students develop as a result of completing this course: 1. Students will complete multiple, measurably improving drafts of a narrative screenplay through self and peer critique. 2. Students will create strong characters and dialogue within scenes and short film scripts based on an understanding of the elements of dramatic structure. 3. Students will write screenplays suitable for submission to the Dramatic Writing Script Bank or short-form screenwriting competitions. Schedule of Classes: Key events including assignments, projects due dates/exam dates: Key events including assignments, projects due dates/exam dates: Pre-quarter assignment: Assignment #1: Come to the first class with at least 5 premises for screenplays you would like to write this quarter. Premise should be writtten and put in the dropbox. These premises can be presented in one of two ways. 1.) Three sentences: first sentence is the set-up, second sentence is the complication, third sentence is the resolution. (Interesting partial premises with potential are preferable to uninspired complete premises. 2.) A protagonist has a desire so greaat he she or it must act upon it; this action leas to unexpected consequences which require another action which leads to an unexpected (twist) reversal and resolution. Assignment #2 Read all of your textbook THE SHORT SCREENPLAY by Dan Gurskis) A book report is due CLASS 3. This is a hard deadline unless you get the professor's permission to extend. Class 1: Tue, January 7, 2020 Downloading and handouts/Introduction and overview. Discussion: The role of the protagonist in traditional cinematic narrative. Screen and discuss: Red Balloon; Paris, J'aime (selected) Assignment: Revise, expand or come up with new premises. Reading: Finish reading Gurskis. Begin book report. Class 2: Thu, January 9, 2020 Discussion: Conflict, protagonists and antagonists. “Action is character.” Screen and discuss: Gridlock, I'll Wait for the Next One, Chubb, Chubbs Discussion of premises. Assignment: Begin writing screenplay for approved premises or revise premises WRITE A SUMMARY BOOK REPORT OF THE SHORT SCREENPLAY. (DUE NEXT CLASS.) Class 3: Tue, January 14, 2020 Step Outlines, Beat sheets. Possible discussion of first act of Chinatown. DISCUSS AND CHOOSE: FIELD TRIPS AND OUTSIDE LECTURES Screen and discuss. (possibly first act of Chinatown . TURN IN BOOK REPORT/SUMMARY. Pitch Premises, table read partial screenplays. *****ASSIGNMENT: Continue writing based upon where you are in the process. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP SELF DISSCIPLINE WHICH YOU WILL NEED IF YOU ARE TO BE SUCCESSFUL POST GRADUATION. (THIS COULD BE A FACTOR IN YOUR FINAL GRADE). Class 4: Thu, January 16, 2020 TABLE READS OF YOUR IN PROGRESS SCREENPLAY. ( Continue to pitch premises if you are behind.) Screen and Discuss: Spider and I Love You Sarah Jane ASSSIGNMENT: Begin step outlines, finish premises, write scenes as individually assigned. BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS YOUR WORK NEXT CLASS. READ: Begin to read Felicia Day's EMBRACE YOUR WEIRD (Face your fears and unleash creativity) You may skim and skip around, but you must write some of the suggested exercises. Note: this is an assignment that is easy to blow off. Don't! The exercises will help you. COLLECT YOUR WRITTEN EXERCISES AND PUT IN A FOLDER IN THE DROP BOX BY THE END OF THE QUARTER AS THIS ASSIGNMENT IS 5% OF YOUR FINAL GRADE Class 5: Tue, January 21, 2020 Workshop. Read and discuss work. Screen and Discuss: Mr. Holland's Opus (first act) Assignment: Screenplay concept, step outline synopsis or character analysis as individually assigned. Think of scenes you wish to analyze and start collecting dvds to be brought in to subsequent classes. Class 6: Thu, January 23, 2020 Workshop. Read and discuss work. Discussion: Developing theme (imbedding) Screen: Life Lessons ASSIGNMENT: WRITE. Class 7: Tue, January 28, 2020 Discussion: Dialogue. Revealing characte through conflict Screen and discuss Network (part), The Graduate (part.) Workshop. Screeenplay pages ASSIGNMENT: Continue writing and "Embrace Your Weird" Class 8: Thu, January 30, 2020 "Structural economy, set-ups and pay-offs Screen: A Guy Walks Into A Bar Write: Workshop. Set up individual help meetings as needed. Asssignment: Write and "Embrace Your Weird" Class 9: Tue, February 4, 2020 Read screenplays in class. Last minute problems ASSIGNMEENT: Polish first draft/ turn in next class (must be in the dropbox or your midterm grade will be diminished). Class 10: Thu, February 6, 2020 Read screenplays in class. AT A MINIMUM: A COMPLETED FIRST DRAFT DUE (label and put in dropbox for midterm grading) LEAVE ALL OTHER DRAFTS IN THE DROP BOX Discuss: Scenes from movies we might analyze during second half of quarter. Assignment: ASK ABOUT EXTRA CREDIT for an assignment based on Vogler's THE WRITER'S JOURNEY ASSIGNMENT: CONTINUE WRITING, EMBRACE YOUR WEIRD (and original) Class 11: Tue, February 11, 2020 Catch up on screenings Discuss individual problems. Set-up midterm meetings Class 12: Thu, February 13, 2020 TURN IN VOGLER ASSIGNMENT -- Screen: Scenes/Shorts suggested by students. Write. Class 13: Tue, February 18, 2020 WORKSHOP: Table reads of REVISED WORK Screen: Scenes/Shorts suggested by students. Write. Rewrite. Polish Class 14: Thu, February 20, 2020 WORKSHOP: Table reads of REVISED WORK Screen: Scenes/Shorts suggested by students. Continue Writing, Rewriting, polishing. Class 15: Tue, February 25, 2020 ONE MINUTE STORYTELLING (commercials) SCREEN: MISC. COMMERCIALS KEEP WRITING Class 16: Thu, February 27, 2020 THE LONGER EUROPEAN SHORT FILM SCREEN: EPISODE FROM DEKALOGUE KEEP WRITING Class 17: Tue, March 3, 2020 CATCH UP WORKSHOP: Table reads of REVISED WORK Screen: Scenes/Shorts suggested by students. Continue Writing, Rewriting, polishing. Class 18: Thu, March 5, 2020 Present new work/drafts. WORKSHOP: Table reads of REVISED WORK Continue Writing, Rewriting, polishing. Class 19: Tue, March 10, 2020 NEW WORK: WORKSHOP: Table reads of REVISED WORK Continue Writing, Rewriting, polishing. Class 20: Thu, March 12, 2020 FINAL FEEEDBACK/ DISCUSS FUTURE WORK TURN IN WORK YOU WISH TO HAVE CONSIDERED FOR YOUR FINAL GRADE. (Everything (all drafts) you did this quarter including the book report and the Embrace Your Weird exercises must be in the dropbox in order for you to receive credit. Grading Opportunities: Your overall course grade will be computed according to the following breakdown: Assignment Weight GURSKIS BOOK REPORT/SUMMARY INDIVIDUAL EXERCISES/SCENES, EMBRACE YOUR WEIRD EXERCISES 10.00 percent PROFESSIONALISM AND PARTICIPATION (includes Class attendance and how hard you worked) PARTICIPATION IS TAKING PART IN THE READING OF YOUR CLASSMATES' SCREENPLAYS AND... OFFERING HELPFUL CRITIQUES OF YOUR CLASSMATES' WORK 15.00 percent PROPER FORMATTING, INCLUDING SPELLING AND GRAMMAR 15.00 percent FIRST DRAFT SCREENPLAY DUE CLASS 10 (LATE DELIVERY WILL BE A FACTOR IN DETERMINING YOUR GRADE) 20.00 percent SECOND, THIRD AND SUBSEQUENT DRAFTS OR ADDITIONAL SCREENPLAYS 35.00 percent REPORT ON FIELD TRIPS AND EXTENDED LEARNING EVENTS YOU ATTENDED DURING THE QUARTER. (Due, no later than class 20) 5.00 percent Total Weight 100 percent Grading Standards Range Letter grade: A = excellent 90 —100 % Letter grade: B = good 80 — 89 % Letter grade: C = * 70 — 79 % Letter grade: D = * 60 — 69% Letter grade: F = failing 0 — 59% *Refer to the student handbooks and departmental standards for minimal acceptance for passing grade. Course Information: Field Trip(s): DWRI+ANIM Team Challenge – Date TBA Scripted Readings – TBA aTVFest, SCAD Atlanta campus February 27-29. All events are free with a SCAD ID. https://www.atvfest.com/ The SCAD Cinema Circle will host three screenings of classic films at Trustee’s Theater this quarter. These screenings are free with SCAD ID. https://tickets.savannahboxoffice.com/?category=0 The Lucas Theatre for the Arts presents Art House Cinema. Details about the Winter schedule will be announced. https://www.lucastheatre.com/schedule MountainFIlm Festival: January 23-25, Trustee’s and Lucas Theatre https://www.mountainfilmsav.org SCAD “Friday Night Improv” – 8pm Friday nights, Crites Hall, Room 415 SCAD Performing Arts Department presents MR. BURNS: Feb. 20-23, Mondanaro Theatre SCAD Performing Arts Department presents LITTLE WOMEN: March 5-7, Lucas Theatre Extra Help Session(s): Friday Feb 7th 11 - 4:30 Friday March 6th 11 - 4:30 And by appointment Extended Learning Opportunities: DWRI+ANIM Team Challenge – Date TBA Scripted Readings – TBA aTVFest, SCAD Atlanta campus February 27-29. All events are free with a SCAD ID. https://www.atvfest.com/ The SCAD Cinema Circle will host three screenings of classic films at Trustee’s Theater this quarter. These screenings are free with SCAD ID. https://tickets.savannahboxoffice.com/?category=0 The Lucas Theatre for the Arts presents Art House Cinema. Details about the Winter schedule will be announced. https://www.lucastheatre.com/schedule MountainFIlm Festival: January 23-25, Trustee’s and Lucas Theatre https://www.mountainfilmsav.org SCAD “Friday Night Improv” – 8pm Friday nights, Crites Hall, Room 415 SCAD Performing Arts Department presents MR. BURNS: Feb. 20-23, Mondanaro Theatre SCAD Performing Arts Department presents LITTLE WOMEN: March 5-7, Lucas Theatre Other Course Information: Access to screenwriting software. Course Materials: Required Text(s): Gurskis, Dan THE SHORT SCREEN PLAY (Aspiring Filmmaker Library) ISBN-10: 1598633384 ISBN-13: 978-1598633382 Retail price $10-$12 Day, Felicia EMBRACE YOUR WEIRD (Face your fears and unleash creativity) Retail price $17 ISBN 978-1-9821-1322-3 THE SHORT SCREENPLAY NEEDS TO BE PURCHASED IMMEDIATELY Recommended Text(s): Story by Robert McKee ISBN-10: 0060391685 ISBN-13: 978-0060391683 Creative Filmmaking From The Inside Out by Dannenbaum, Hodge and Mayer ISBN-10: 0743223195 ISBN-13: 978-0743223195 Required Material(s): Screenwriting software University Policies: Academic Integrity: Under all circumstances, students are expected to be honest in their dealings with faculty, administrative staff and other students. In class assignments, students must submit work that fairly and accurately reflects their level of accomplishment. Any work that is not a product of the student's own efforts is considered dishonest. 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