Course Description
The principles and process of dramatic writing.
Athena Title
Basic Dramatic Writing
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in THEA 3020E
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the successful student will have written two short dramatic pieces for the stage, the cinema, or a new media format. These pieces will demonstrate creative control of characterization, story conflict, story structure, dialogue and medium. Rudiments of formatting will be learned but are secondary: the process of commanding one's own creativity.
Topical Outline
Month one: Modes of brainstorming a script. Comic strip. Verbal "pitching" as a creative form. "Exquisite corpse" style exercises for creative juxtaposition of ideas and characters. Collaborative exercises in creating stories with characters from two sources. Getting used to telling the story over and over: actually, on paper, in outline form, purely via dialogue, purely via description as if describing a finished movie or play and in numerous other modes. Absurd text's ideas; evolve two or more ways of "reaching" the story. Learn to tell stories from each character's viewpoint, both as a means of learning how to evolve conflict and as a way of finding whether one's main characters are the most advantageous. Month two: continue writing the story, over at least four "drafts". Turn in the "first acceptable" draft. Month three: rewrite the first story until you are happy with the grade. Each rewrite offers the chance for a better story, hence a better grade. Meanwhile, start (and draft at least twice) the second story. Put the first story into industry format. Month four: finish the second story. Multiple drafts, plus final formatting will be involved. Final exam as scheduled: stories will be read and "pitched" as if for sale.
Syllabus