Syllabus ZUR 393M Films - Writing the Screen Outline (Screen Outline Writing for Fiction Films with Review of American Film) Lecturer: Richard P

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Syllabus ZUR 393m Films - writing the screen outline (Screen Outline Writing for Fiction films with Review of American Film) Lecturer: Richard P. Milner Assistant: Pavel Sedláček, [email protected] Timetable (13 sessions): Thursday, 12th Nov 2015, 8am-9.30am, room U34 + 5pm-8.15pm, room U34, Joštova 10, Faculty of Social Studies Friday, 13th Nov 2015, from 8am-1pm, room U34, Joštova 10, Faculty of Social Studies Thursday, 19th Nov 2015, 8am-9.30am, room U34 + 5pm - 8.15pm, room P22, Joštova 10, Faculty of Social Studies Friday, 20th Nov 2015, from 8am to 1pm, room U33, Joštova 10, Faculty of Social Studies Assignments: three outlines and viewing of all films, one before each class. Texts: Story by Robert McKee. Film list: The Kid Stays In The Picture – Brett Morgen from memoir by Robert Evans. The Graduate – Calder Willingham. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – William Goldman. Point Break – W. Peter Iliff. Annie Hall – Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman. Chinatown – Robert Towne. Jackie Brown – Quentin Tarantino – adapted from Elmore Leonard’s novel Rum Punch. Breaking Bad (Episodes 12, 12 and 13) – Vince Gilligan and team. Classroom: Using examples from the film list, Milner will give lectures on the following with remaining class time dedicated to student participation and mutual assistance under Milner’s guidance. Genres - overview, viewer expectation and the importance of writing within genres. Theme - deciding what the film should be about. Culture in America - at the time. Characters – understanding the difference between a character and a person, character description and the importance of contrast. Plot – three-act compared to other forms with and without subplots, the turning point, act climaxes, and the power of withholding information. Outline – Describing the scenes and the action in a card file stack first. Dialogue – beats. Scene Troubleshooting – scene imperatives. Screenwriters Guild – why it exists. Project registration. Discussion of Copyright, Agents, Producers, Directors, Production Package, Attorneys, and Career Routes. .

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