Precapstone: Building the World of the Script: Film and Television

In this course, students begin developing a screenplay or teleplay they continue in the capstone semester. Through writing exercises, close reading of film and television scripts, and writing workshops, students explore the world of their project—its characters, conflicts, and the central dramatic problem that drives the story forward. We also consider the film and television industry—who are the players? Where does the writer fit? Working in the medium of their choice, students write and revise a screen treatment for a feature film or an outline for a television series that maps the arc of the work—its structure, key characters, and intended audience—and draft the opening 15-20 pages of the screenplay or pilot episode. Workshops, craft discussion, and individual conferences support students as they find the structure and tone of their projects.