Mission Statement:
Regent University serves as a center of Christian thought and action to provide excellent education through a Biblical perspective and global context equipping Christian leaders to change the world.

School of Communication & the Arts Mission Statement:

To prepare emerging and established Christian leaders to inspire, enrich and transform the media, the arts, and the academy through excellence and innovation in scholarship and practice.

SUMMARY

Regent University

School of Communication & the Arts

SSW 612: Feature Film Screenwriting

Spring 2016

January 11 – April 30

Wednesday, 6-9pm

Location TBD (Campus)

Instructor: Sean Gaffney

Location: Com 260

Office hours: Tuesday, 2pm-4pm; Wednesdays, 1pm-5pm

Phone: (757) 352-4134

Email:

Course Description

This class looks at the elements necessary for great screenwriting, including structure, dialogue and action. We will pay especial attention to finding strong film ideas with characters and themes that resonate. We will explore how faith informs the core of screenwriting, as well as how faith permeates the business of Hollywood. Over the semester, each student will write several short films, as well as develop a feature from idea through outline into the first pages.

Theme Scripture:

Daniel 2:22 “He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light.”

Description of how faith and learning will be integrated in the course

Story is an odd thing – it can enlighten while at the same time bring mystery. Film especially is a medium meant to explore the deep and mysterious; images that are simultaneously literal and symbolic; dialogue that tells yet is ripe with subtext; scenes that reach the mind while also touching the heart and soul. We can’t study the construction of a screenplay without naturally infusing every discussion with the ideas of theme and subtext and symbol. It is my belief that all of creation points to the Creator; good movies do the same. In this class, each step of the process will be framed with the question – where are we pointing?

Required and Supplemental Resources

Students are responsible for acquiring the following books and materials for this course before the first class meeting:

·  The Screenwriter’s Bible, 5 Exp Upd Edition, (Silman-James Pr., 2010), David Trottier, (ISBN 978-1935247029)

·  Backwards and Forwards, 1st Ed, (Southern Illinois University Press, 1983), David Ball, (ISBN 978-0809311101)

·  Shawshank Redemption: The Shooting Script, 1st Ed, (Newmarket Press, 2004), Frank Darabont, (ISBN 978-1557042460)

·  Behind the Screen, (Baker Books, 2005), Barbara Nicolosi, (ISBN 978-0801065477)

Recommended

·  The Hollywood Standard, 2nd Original Edition, (Michael Wiese Productions, 2009), Christopher Riley, (ISBN 978-1932907636)

·  The Writer’s Journey, 3rd Edition, (Michael Wiese Productions, 2007), Christopher Vogler, (ISBN 978-1932907360)

·  Story, (Methuen Publishing), Robert McKee, (ISBN 78-0413715609)

·  Final Draft (software), Version 8, (Final Draft) (ASIN B0064562B6) or

·  Movie Magic Screenwriter (software), Version 6 (ASIN B000V5SRAE)

Method of Evaluating Student Performance

Assignments / Points / Weight
Class Participation / 100 / 10%
Script Analysis Exercises / 100 / 10%
Faith & Hollywood Exercises / 200 / 20%
Short Film Exercises / 150 / 15%
Quizzes / 50 / 5%
Feature (premise line, 7pt & Arcs, Synopsis, Beatsheet, Character, Theme, Outline, Pages, etc) / 400 / 40%
TOTAL / 1000 / 100%

Last updated: 10/20/15 1 | Page