FLM 103: Screenwriting I
Storytelling for Film and Digital Media
Do you have what it takes to write for the screen? In this class, you will analyze and write screenplays, developing your ability to work with dialogue, character development, and plot structure. During the class you will learn how to interpret and correctly format a script. By the end of the class, you will have created a compelling short dialogue scene between two or more characters.
About This Course
Project-Based Learning
Analyze the difference between what is on the page and appears on screen. Create and polish a script for a character monologue. Examine the 3-Act story structure to produce a script exploring a dramatic dialogue driven exchange between two characters.
What Skills Will I Develop?
Students in this course can expect to learn to:
- Identify and discuss how screenwriters utilize scripts to plan dialogue and action for movies.
- Develop and refine scripts that incorporate the elements of dialogue, character dynamics, and conflict resolution.
- Analyze and author scripts consistent with industry standard scripting conventions and formatting, using the .function scripting software.
- Author dialogue-driven scenes that express the unique aspects of characters in a story.
- Develop a polished script in multiple drafts, using feedback to enhance the quality of the script and effectiveness of the story.
What Software and Supplies Do I Need?
To take this course, you'll need:
- A computer with Internet connection (56 Kbps modem or faster).
- Access to .Fountain software used to write scripts.
Are There Course Prerequisites?
FLM 101 Cinematography is the prerequisite for this course or the courses can be taken concurrently.
If you have any questions about this course, please contact Admissions@sessions.edu.
Course Instructor(s)
The course is taught by the following instructor(s):
Tim Kirkman
Tim Kirkman is an Emmy award winning filmmaker who has directed five feature films and is a recipient of an Alfred P. Sloan Grant.
Course Outline
Introduction to Screenwriting
Movies begin on the page, just like any other project—notes, then outlines, then the screenplay, all of it created with the purpose of making something else: your movie. In this first lecture, we will talk about the first foundational step in the process of making movies: screenwriting.
Screenplay Formatting
The screenplay is a special kind of writing—not a finished object intended to be read, but a map for another artwork, still to come. Like all maps, a screenplay must follow formal conventions in order to be clear, and every screenwriter knows the basics of how a film story is laid out on the page, so everyone who reads it will see the same movie the writer sees. Within those common formatting standards, there are no limits.
Character, Dialogue, and Voice
Screenplays are about building story, but they're also about people—walking, talking humans. Entire stories could be hidden inside chitchatting dialogue, while you as the writer have the opportunity to devise a movie world where people talk exactly and only they way you think they should, whether or not it's realistic.
Plot, Set-Up, and Conflict
There are several key things that separate a story from a mere series of events—a story has shape, purpose, and momentum. It originates from, or is complicated by, character. Things go wrong, in ways that resonate for us emotionally or morally, but then decisions must be made. What should your characters do? A story gives a sequence of events the feeling of being inevitable, not arbitrary—and that's why they feel meaningful to us.
Story and Structure
Movies use time, so as viewing experiences they need modulation, form, peaks and valleys, and a sense of progression—of going somewhere. The middle should not be the same as the beginning or the end, so how will you make them different, and why? What's motivating the story, what's its fuel? Whether you're writing a short film or an epic feature, it's important to be aware of the rules of story structure, even if in the end you want to break them
Final Project: Let’s Talk
In the final two-part project, you will be writing a short script that hinges on a verbal interaction between two characters. This project will strengthen your understanding of how to construct engaging dialogue that drives a compelling narrative. Your script should incorporate dialogue, character dynamics, and conflict resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Do The Courses Work?
Our courses are project-based and instructor-led. In each course you’ll complete a series of lectures, projects, discussions, and critiques designed to stretch your creative skills. Weekly assignment deadlines keep you on track, and with no set-logins or Zoom meetings, you can build your studies around your schedule.
Who Are The Instructors?
Our courses are developed and taught by our industry-leading faculty of creative professionals. This means that you’ll learn in-demand skills, get feedback on your work, and build a portfolio of creative work. View our Student Gallery for featured student projects.
When Can I Start?
Classes start January, April, and August, and this course is completed in a 15-week term. College credit from this course can be applied to a range of Degree and Certificate programs at Sessions College. You can enroll in this course on an individual basis or as part of a program.
Explore our Programs: Bachelor's Degree | Associate Degree | Undergraduate Certificate
How Do I Register?
To register for a program, complete our program application. To register for this course on an individual basis, please contact our admissions team at admissions@sessions.edu. An Admissions Advisor will contact you to setup your enrollment.
| Course Tuition and Fees | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $300/credit |
| Registration Fee* | $200 |
| Total Course Price | $1100 |
Registration fees are nonrefundable after 5 days from enrollment.
Is Sessions College Accredited?
Yes. Since 2001, Sessions College has been accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).