Course Syllabus Scriptwriting RTVB 1429

Semester with 32253 Course Reference Number (CRN)

Instructor contact Instructor: Russ Armstrong information: Telephone: Email: [email protected]

Office Location and Hours:

Course https://hccs1.mrooms3.net/login/index.php (ONLINE CLASS) Location/Times:

Course Semester Credit Hours: 4 Credit Hours (SCH) Lecture Hours: 3 (lecture, lab) If applicable Laboratory Hours: 2 External Hours:

Total Course 80.00 Contact Hours

Course Length 12 Weeks (number of weeks)

Type of Instruction Online

Course Description: Writing scripts for film and electronic media. Emphasizes format and style for commercials, public service announcements, promos, news, documentaries and films.

Course PREREQUISITE: Prerequisite(s) • ENGL 1301

FREQUENT REQUISITES

• Departmental approval • College Level Reading • MATH 0308 (Introductory Algebra) • College Level Writing

Academic 1. Apply cinematographic concepts to film/video projects including camera Discipline/CTE setup, lighting, and scene design. Program Learning 2. Compose effective treatments and scripts for use in common video and Outcomes film genres including documentaries, dramas, commercials, news, and public service announcements. 3. Demonstrate the preparation needed for film and video production, management (including budgeting, supervision of personnel, permitting, scheduling and guild/union relations) and post-production supervision. 4. Describe accepted film industry distribution processes including promotions, advertising, and publicity. 5. Demonstrate industry standard film/video editing and post-production processes used in the completion of shorts, trailers, documentaries, and features. 6. Develop professionally acceptable resumes, demo reels and interview techniques needed for employment within the film industry.

Course Student 1. Write commercials and public service announcements. Learning Outcomes 2. Produce documentary and/or narrative scripts for long-form productions.

Learning Objectives Write commercials and public service announcements. 1. Apply various two-column television script formats. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of screen positioning for television. 3. Demonstrate proper use of terminology associated with each format style. Produce documentary and/or narrative scripts for long-form productions. 1. Demonstrate dialogue-writing techniques. 2. Describe the difference between a spec script and a shooting script. 3. Describe the elements of a documentary and theatrical script format. 4. Utilize industry-standard terminology to illustrate camera movement directions in a script.

SCANS and/or Core SCANS Curriculum Write commercials and public service announcements. Competencies: If Produce documentary and/or narrative scripts for long-form applicable productions.

Instructional Online. Methods

Student Write commercials and public service announcements. Assignments Compare and contrast difference between, commercials, PSA’s, News stories, and other media. Produce documentary and/or narrative scripts for long-form productions. Identify various film genres and then develop into a pitch. Pitch idea for a screenplay. Develop a basic idea and concept into a film treatment. Turn film treatment into scene list for feature film. Create and development of characters for screenplay. Finish first Act of script.

Student Forum Discussions = 33.33% Assessment(s) Tests, and Writing Assignments = 33.33% First Act Of Screenplay. = 33.33%

Instructor's Requirements

Course Outline WEEK ONE: Introductions, Lecture, Forum Discussion, and Chapter 1.

WEEK TWO: Lecture, Forum Discussion, Chapters 2 & 3.

WEEK THREE: Lecture, Forum Discussion, Format Test, and Chapter 4.

WEEK FOUR: Lecture, Forum Discussion, Beat Sheet, and Chapter 5.

WEEK FIVE: Lecture, Forum Discussion, Scene List, and Chapter 6.

WEEK SIX: Lecture, Forum Discussion, Work on Act I.

WEEK SEVEN: Lecture, Forum Discussion, Group 1 Project.

WEEK EIGHT: Lecture, Forum Discussion, Group 2 Projects.

WEEK NINE: Lecture, Forum Discussion, Group 3 Projects.

WEEK TEN: Lecture, Forum Discussion, Group 4 Projects.

WEEK ELEVEN: Lecture, Forum Discussion, and Chapter 8.

WEEK TWELVE: Lecture, Forum Discussion, Chapters 7, and Final Exam.

HCC Grading Scale: A = 100- 90 4 points per semester hour B = 89 - 80: 3 points per semester hour C = 79 - 70: 2 points per semester hour D = 69 - 60: 1 point per semester hour

59 and below = F 0 points per semester hour

FX (Failure due to non-attendance) 0 points per semester hour

IP (In Progress) 0 points per semester hour

W (Withdrawn) 0 points per semester hour

I (Incomplete) 0 points per semester hour

AUD (Audit) 0 points per semester hour

IP (In Progress) is given only in certain developmental courses. The student must re-enroll to receive credit. COM (Completed) is given in non-credit and continuing education courses.

FINAL GRADE OF FX: Students who stop attending class and do not withdraw themselves prior to the withdrawal deadline may either be dropped by their professor for excessive absences or be assigned the final grade of "FX" at the end of the semester. Students who stop attending classes will receive a grade of "FX", compared to an earned grade of "F" which is due to poor performance. Logging into a DE course without active participation is seen as non-attending. Please note that HCC will not disperse financial aid funding for students who have never attended class.

Students who receive financial aid but fail to attend class will be reported to the Department of Education and may have to pay back their aid. A grade of "FX" is treated exactly the same as a grade of "F" in terms of GPA, probation, suspension, and satisfactory academic progress.

To compute grade point average (GPA), divide the total grade points by the total number of semester hours attempted. The grades "IP," "COM" and "I" do not affect GPA.

Health Sciences Programs Grading Scales may differ from the approved HCC Grading Scale. For Health Sciences Programs Grading Scales, see the "Program Discipline Requirements" section of the Program's syllabi.

Instructor Grading Forum Discussions = 33.33% of final grade. Criteria Tests, and Writing Assignments = 33.33% of final grade. First Act Of Screenplay. = 33.33% of final grade.

Instructional Required Textbook: Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Materials Ever Need, by Blake Snyder. ISBN: 1932907009

Required Software: Screenwriting software is needed to properly format your screenplays for this class. You can either download Celtx (a free open source screenwriting software) at: https://www.celtx.com/ or purchase Final Draft at www.finaldraft.com . Final Draft is the industry leading screenwriting program and even though it’s expensive program, they do offer educational discounts so the price will be around $100.00.

HCC Policy Statement:

Access Student http://hccs.edu/student-rights Services Policies on their Web site:

EGLS3 -- Evaluation At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is for Greater necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time near the end of Learning Student the term, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of research-based questions Survey System related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and department chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term.

Distance Education and/or Continuing Education Policies

Access DE Policies http://de.hccs.edu/Distance_Ed/DE_Home/faculty_resources/PDFs/DE_Syllabus.pdf on their Web site:

Access CE Policies http://hccs.edu/CE-student-guidelines on their Web site: