Filming the Unfilmable

Subject is not scheduled Not scheduled

Code Completion Credits Range Language Instruction Semester
311FTU credit 3 2 hours (45 min) of instruction per week, 54 to 69 hours of self-study English summer

Subject guarantor

Name of lecturer(s)

Department

The subject provides FAMU International

Contents

This course is focused on exploring and developing the dramatic and creative writing techniques plus the critical thought required to enable screenwriters to adapt a range of source material into a format suitable for screen production. The student will develop a screenplay suitable for production and filming. The first half of the course will focus on creative techniques and in-roads for developing style and content. The second half will focus on script production, subject choices, and structure. Students are expected to view/read the range of material suggested plus bring awareness to the group of material from their own cultures and cinematic heritage.

Learning outcomes

Students will acquire a further in-depth appreciation of the demands and needs of cinematic analysis and creative thinking with respect to film production demands and associated conceptual thought from the viewpoint of the writer/director relationship.

Students will assess a variety of film and cinematic material, with respect to philosophical and social frameworks in their contemporary and historical contexts and the needs of the writer/director/producer to be aware of cinematic language in its entirety (script, performance, art-direction, audio-visual language etc). A student sense of enquiry is expected.

Students will learn to understand the needs of film as a total artistic structure based on their desires to communicate their vision effectively (artistic, personal, commercial, viable).

Students will learn to present their critical insights in clear written language, accompanied by their own written original short scripts adapted from a list of presented writers and authors.

Students will increase their understanding of how adapted and original material changes to meet the expectations, tastes and demands of the audience.

Prerequisites and other requirements

Open only to degree students.

During a check of study plans, the course 311UNF2 can be replaced with the course 311FTU.

Literature

Required reading excerpts will be handed out in class. Recommended reading will be presented to class participants for either suggested hard copy or reading online.

Evaluation methods and criteria

  1. Attendance - Students are allowed to have two absences. Barring unforeseen circumstances, students should notify the instructor in advance. Exceptional circumstances will be considered, but additional work may be required.
  2. Participation - Students will be strongly expected to contribute to in-class discussions.
  3. Completion policy - To complete the course, a student must comply with the attendance and participation requirements and write a screenplay adapted from source material from the expectation that the screenplay will be filmed, produced, and screened. Screenplay duration no less than 15 minutes to a maximum of 40 minutes.

Note

The subject is not taught every year. The subject is taught at least once every three academic years.

Further information

No schedule has been prepared for this course

The subject is a part of the following study plans