CTWR 413 - ROBINSON WRITING THE SHORT SCRIPT

CTWR 413 (19448D) – WRITING THE SHORT SCRIPT

COURSE SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Peter Gamble Robinson

TIME/LOC.: Wednesdays from 10am-12:50pm in SCA 259.

OFFICE HOURS: After class, or by appointment.

PHONE: 213-925-8880 (Between 9:00am and 9pm)

EMAIL: [email protected]

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSES

Short films are the medium through which Directors first master their craft. They are also the

showpieces that you will use to try to get professional opportunities.

A good short film contains all of the elements of a great feature: plot, character, theme,

beginnings-middles-ends, conflict, twists, turns, great dialogue, etc. Learning the short-form will

teach you the bulding blocks you need to create great features.

The focus of this class is to teach you the fundamentals of screenwriting, but also to help you

create a script for CTPR 310, the Intermediate Production class (which can be produced within a

5 week schedule, with only two weekends of shooting.)

Our goals will be as follows:

1) A PRODUCIBLE SHORT FILM THAT SHOWCASES TALENT.

2) THE FUNDAMENTALS OF STORYTELLING .

3) TO FIND YOUR “VOICE” & CREATE A BRAND.

Our schedule will be as follows:

Weeks 1-8 will focus on basic structure, and exercises.

Weeks 8-15 will focus on creating 2 short scripts.

HOMEWORK AND NOTES:

Homework is due 48 hours before class.

All assignments should be written in final draft, or another screenwriting software that allows for

revisions in red, and with *’s at the edge of the page. This is a standard of the industry, and (if

you’re not already) now is a good a time to become acclimated to it. Each week the new

revisions should be marked with asterisks, and the work from the previous week should no

longer be marked, in this way we can focus only on the most recent changes you have made

Please see me with any questions or problems with this.

GRADING CRITERIA:

The work done through the semester will be applied towards your final grade as follows:

10% participation

90% Weekly Assignments (6% each)

As per Writing Division policy the following is a breakdown of numeric grade to letter grade:

A 100% to 94% C 76% to 73%

A- 93% to 90% C- 72% to 70%

B+ 89% to 87% D+ 69% to 67%

B 86% to 83% D 66% to 63%

B- 82% to 80% D- 62% to 60%

C+ 79% to 77% F 59% to 0%

In general, you should assume the following general guidelines as a way of thinking about what

type of grade you will receive:

-If you show up to class, and do the minimum required work, you will get a C.

-If you show up to class, and demonstrate a significant effort, you will get a B.

-If you show up to class, demonstrate a significant effort and do exceptional work, you will get

an A.

-If you do not show up to class, don’t complete your assignments, or fail to complete your

assignments in a timely manner, you will get a D or an F.

Your performance in class, and your notes will (each) be worth half a letter grade. Two or more

unexcused absences or late assignments will lower your grade a half letter grade. Absences can

be excused in advance with permission. Unexcused late assignments will receive an automatic

Additional notes on how to get an A: From previous experience, people who get A’s apply the

notes they are given in class, integrating them into their work each week. They do the work each

week not because it was assigned, but because they aspire already to be professional writers. As

such, they go beyond the bare minimum of each assignment.

WRITING DIVISION ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Students are expected be on time and prepared for each class. Two unexcused absences will

result in your grade being lowered by one full point (ex: A to a (A-). A third unexcused absence

will result in your grade being lowered another full point (ex: B to a (B-). Your grade will be

lowered by one point for every absence after. Two late arrivals equates to one full absence.

In order for absence to be excused the student must have approval from the professor and

provide documentation at the next attended class session.

Please note that if you are a Writing for Screen and Television major/minor you must receive a

grade of a C or better in order to receive degree credit. If you have any questions about the

minimum grade required for credit please check with your home department.

If you have an emergency and must miss class please contact your professor prior to class or

contact the Writing Division at 213-740-3303.

SICK POLICY

If you are sick and still contagious, please do not come to class. If you are unsure whether you

are contagious, contact the USC Health Center. Any genuine illness will be accommodated for,

and I will make up that class with the student either over the phone, skype, or in person at

another time. I would much rather spend an extra couple of hours with a student when they are

well than lose several days of creative time to illness, and I’m sure most of your fellow

classmates will feel the same way.

SCHEDULE:

Date

Week

Teaching:

8/23

Wk 1

INTRO/GOAL SETTING

Introduction to students; setting goals; reading syllabus.

Lecture(s):

1) Introduction - who I am.

2) Who you are.

3) Goal Setting – what do we want from the class? / Read Syllabus.

4) Synopsis Exercise – Plot Character & Theme / Read Harry the Dirty

Dog / Watch Lin’s films & Others.

Assignment(s):

1) Go onto the internet, find a short film to show the class that showcases

the director, or is the type of film you’d like to create. Research

directors and what shorts helped THEM break in. Send a link to the

films to me.

2) Brainstorm 3 short films. Write one paragraph each.

8/30

Wk 2

SHORTS THAT WORKED

Discussions:

1) Which short films were compelling and interesting, and why?

2) How can we improve the short-ideas you created? What’s missing?

Lecture: Character Establishment.

Assignment(s):

1) Write 2-3 pages of scenes, with at least three behaviors that allow us to

triangulate the character’s “inner character”.

9/6

Wk 3

ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARACTER

Discussion: Assignments.

Lecture: The 4 character arcs and modifiers. / Forced change.

Assignments: 1) Write a short film, 3-4 pages tracking the character’s arc and

each moments of change. Discuss in class.

9/13

Wk 4

CHARACTER ARCS/FORCED CHANGE

Discussion: Homework.

Lecture: Modifiers.

Assignment: Create another moment of forced change for the charcter you’ve

created, this time focusing on a modifier to enable change. (Under 5 pages)

9/20

Wk 5

MODIFIERS AS AN AGENT OF CHANGE

Discussion: Homework.

Lecture: Scene structure – conflict, escalation, high stakes.

Assignment: Write a scene or short film where a character and another

character oppose each other, and the story escalates and twists and turns.

9/27

Wk 6

SCENE STRUCTURE – CONFLICT, ESCALATION, HIGH STAKES

Discussion: Homework.

Lecture: Theme & Third acts. / Silent films.

Assignment: Write a compelling silent film.

10/4

Wk 7

SILENT FILMS

Discussions: Homework. Which ones were the most successful, and why?

Lecture: Commercials.

Assignment: Write a commercial with a story.

10/11

Wk 8

THE 30 SECOND FILM – AKA – THE COMMERCIAL

Discussion: Homework.

Lecture: Dialogue

Assignment: Write 1-3 pages of scenes, with at least three behaviors that allow

10/18

Wk 9

DIALOGUE

Discussion: Homework.

Lecture: More Dialogue. (Non-linear dialogue, subtext, losing empty dialogue.)

Assignment: Again, write a scene between two more characters who speak

with very different voices.

10/25

Wk 10

SHORT FILM #1

Discussion: Homework.

Lecture: Branding and career building.

Assignment: Rewrite first short.

11/1

Wk 11

SHORT FILM #1 – REVISED

Discussion: Homework.

Assignment: Write second short.

11/8

Wk 12

SHORT FILM #2

Discussion: Homework.

Assignment: Rewrite second short.

11/15

Wk 13

SHORT FILM #2 – REVISED

Discussion: Homework.

Assignment: Polish 1 of the 2 films for the cold read next week with actors.

11/22

THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS

11/29

Wk 14

THE COLD READ

Bring in actors, and have them read the work aloud.

Possibly bring in guest writers to give feedback.

Statement on Academic Conduct and Support Systems

Academic Conduct

Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in

your own words – is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Please

familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Section 11,

Behavior Violating University Standards https://scampus.usc.edu/1100-behavior-

violating- university-standards-and-appropriate-sanctions. Other forms of academic

dishonesty are equally unacceptable. See additional information in SCampus and

university policies on scientific misconduct, http://policy.usc.edu/scientific-misconduct.

Discrimination, sexual assault, and harassment are not tolerated by the university. You

are encouraged to report any incidents to the Office of Equity and Diversity http://

equity.usc.edu or to the Department of Public Safety http://capsnet.usc.edu/department/

department-public-safety/online-forms/contact-us. This is important for the safety of the

whole USC community. Another member of the university community – such as a friend,

classmate, advisor, or faculty member – can help initiate the report, or can initiate the

report on behalf of another person. The Center for Women and Men http://www.usc.edu/

student-affairs/cwm/ provides 24/7 confidential support, and the sexual assault resource

center webpage http://sarc.usc.edu describes reporting options and other resources.

Support Systems

A number of USC’s schools provide support for students who need help with scholarly

writing. Check with your advisor or program staff to find out more. Students whose

primary language is not English should check with the American Language Institute

http:// dornsife.usc.edu/ali, which sponsors courses and workshops specifically for

international graduate students. The Office of Disability Services and Programs

http://sait.usc.edu/ academicsupport/centerprograms/dsp/home_index.html provides

certification for students with disabilities and helps arrange the relevant accommodations.

If an officially declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible, USC Emergency

Information http:// emergency.usc.edu will provide safety and other updates, including

ways in which instruction will be continued by means of blackboard, teleconferencing,

and other technology.

Disruptive*Student*Behavior

Behavior)that)persistently)or)grossly)interferes)with)classroom)activities)is)considered)

disruptive)behavior)and)may)be)subject)to)disciplinary)action.)Such)behavior)inhibits)

other)students’)ability)to)learn)and)an)instructor’s)ability)to)teach.)A)student)responsible)

for)disruptive)behavior)may)be)required)to)leave)class)pending)discussion)and)resolution)

of)the)problem)and)may)be)reported)to)the)Office)of)Student)Judicial)Affairs)for)

disciplinary)action.