VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
FACULTY/ DEPARTMENT LITERATURE AND LINGUISTICS
Course Syllabus
- General information of the course:
- Course Name: Writing film scripts
- Course Code: VAN011
- Course Type
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- Course Credit: 2
- Level: second-year student, third-year student, final-year student
- Time allocation: 30 periods
- Lectures/Theories: 15 periods
- Seminars/Students’ presentation/Practice: 10 periods
- Other activities: 5 periods
- Course Prerequisites: Students are expected to have completed
Foundation course(s): Introduction to film studies Knowledge: general courses Skills: not required
- Course Overview
- Introducing to the general knowledge of movie scripts and skills for students to analysis to film structure to learn how to write film scripts from the cinema and television celebrities.
- Guiding students to discuss the script, the script ideas and give the most importantly skills which could help them to write a filmed script.
7. Course Aim
The Aim of this Course is to provide the theory and practice of film screenwriting. This course will help the students to explore the basic theory and formal aspects of story structure, character development, use of conflict, scene writing and dialogue. And then they could apply these basic dramatic principles to the development of their own original material. Since much of the work of screenwriting is done before the actual drafting, this class will focus on the process of screenwriting: from the initial premise, through character exploration, to treatments and step-outlines, then writing their first draft. With the help of their peers in workshop, they will leave this course with a solid understanding of the fundamentals of screenwriting.
- Course Learning Outcomes: On completion of the course, students will be able to
- Understand the skills to write a script
- Analyze the structure of the script
- Apply the knowledge to write a short film script, sitcom, TV drama, screen play and so on
- Have a good attitude with this course.
- Linking between course learning outcomes, teaching & learning strategies, course assessment and program learning outcomes
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STT (No.) |
Course learning outcomes | Teaching & learning activities | Course assessment | Program learning outcomes | ||
| Knowledge | Abilities/Skills | Attitude | ||||
| 1 | Have the basic knowledge of cinema, screenplay |
Lecturing in class; Reading reference work at home; Screening films or video clips related with the topics of the lecture; Q&A |
Quizz Group assignment and presentation; Individual final essay/test Class attendance |
PLO1 - 3 PLO4 - 4 PLO5 - 4 |
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| 2 | Memorize and understand the basic techniques to write a script |
Lecturing in class; Reading reference work at home |
PLO6 - 4 PLO7 - 4 PLO8 - 4 |
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| 3 | Analyze the structure of a screenplay |
Lecturing in class; Guiding students in reading and analyzing works; Discussion/presentation in class; Screening films or video clips related with the topics of the lecture; Q&A |
Quizz Group assignment and presentation; Individual final essay/test Class attendance |
ELO9 - 3 ELO7 - 4 ELO10- 4 ELO13-4 |
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| 4 | Learn the way of individual and group working; be confident, responsible to the course |
Roll-call; Regular contact between teacher and students in and off class. |
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- Texts and Materials
Key Reading /Required texts and materials
Screenplay: the foundations of screenwriting by Syd Field
Reference /Supplementary texts and materials
The Screenwriters Roadmap: 21 Ways to Jumpstart Your Story by Neil Landau
The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters by Karl Iglesias
Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Web pages /CDs
www.filmcrithulk.wordpress.com
- Learning Assessment
| Assessment criteria | Percent | Score | Percent of final grade |
|
Class Participation: 20% Other Assignments: 20% Growth: 10% |
50% |
Midterm score |
50% |
|
Screenplay: 50% |
50%
100% |
Final score |
50% |
|
100% (10/10) |
Passing grade: 5/10
Guidelines for format and grading criteria/scoring scheme
- Exercises: three exercises, every exercise is 30 minutes.
- Mid-term test/Final test: Mid term (attendance + exercises + homework), Final test (script or short film)
- Script: about over 5 pages
- Short film: about over 5 minutes.
Example: Screen writing
| content | 30% | |
| structure/organization | 30% | |
| grammar | 20% | |
| Spelling, punctuation | 20% | |
| Style, quality of expression | 10% |
100%
- Course policies
Be on time and prepared for class every day. Being prepared means having a pen/pencil, notebook with folder, and any other necessary materials with them every day. Unprepared students will lose class participation points.
Absolutely NO food or drink allowed. (Water bottles are permitted)
Respect the classroom environment.
Follow all school rules as outlined in the Student Handbook
They must ACTIVELY watch each film. This class (and their grades) relies heavily on discussion of viewed films and exercises; therefore, all students must ardently participate in the viewing and discussing of films.
Read and abide by the school’s academic integrity policy (in your handbook.) All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported.
View and discuss with an open mind. The purpose of the course is to introduce the students to different film genres and the skills to write a scripts.
All students must do is think, talk and write critically about the films watched as well as practice to write a script. Insensitive remarks about the films or one’s classmates, teachers, or oneself will not be tolerated in this classroom.
They will also be asked to leave the class if you decide to ruin the viewing experience of the class with inappropriate remarks during the movie. Save those ideas for their response journals.
Students will be able to bring in registered technology to use in class for academic purposes. Instructor will notify students when it is a “technology day.” Any technology found being used in an inappropriate manner will be confiscated.
Turn off and store away all electronic devices on all “non-technology days.”
- Course detail
| Chapter | Main content/topic |
Supplement topics Reading materials |
| 1 |
The Principles of Dramatic Wring Introduction to Screenwriting The Basics: Character, Story, Structure The Premise: Story Spine Finding the Story How to Format a Script How to Write a Short Outline
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Workshop: Premises Due: 3-5 Premises Reading: Seger chp. 1, 7 Howard p. 1-39 |
| 2 |
Three Act Structure: Putting It All Together “The Godfather”: Beginnings, Middles, and Ends Treatment: 5 Key Moments
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Workshop: Short Outlines Due: Short Outlines *Bring notes for classmates to every workshop. Reading: “The Godfather” Seger Chp. 2 |
| 3 |
Exploring Character Dramatizing Character Proper Script Formatting
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Reading: “Schindler’s List” Seger chp. 9-12 Howard p. 41-76 Due: Treatments |
| 4 |
Scenes: Form and Function The Role of Conflict Dialogue & Descriptives Option “C” Film Analysis Character & Plot
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Reading: “The 6th Sense” Seger Chp. 5 Howard p. 76-94 Workshop: Step Outline – Divide into groups for peer feedback Due: Filmography, 2 Character Interviews |
| 5 |
Structure and Meaning Idea vs. Counter Idea How to write a Step Outline
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Workshop: Group A: Pgs. 1-15, submitted to Blackboard Reading: McKee Chp. 6 Due: Group A: Pgs. 1-15 submits to eLearning Group B: Film Analysis |
| 6 |
Act I & The First Draft
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Workshop: Group A: Pgs. 15-45 Due: Group A: Film Analysis Group B: Pgs. 30-45 |
Lecturer in charge
| Name: Dao Le Na | Degree/Academic Qualification: PhD |
| Institution Address: 10-12 Dinh Tien Hoang | Telephone No: |
| Email: | Website: |
Assistant lecturer
| Name: | Degree/Academic Qualification: |
| Institution Address: | Telephone No: |
| Email: | Website: |
| Contact information: | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
| Classroom: | |
| Course timetable: |
Ho Chi Minh city, , , 2016
DEAN OF FACULTY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT THE LECTURER