Overview
Aims
to introduce students in the screenwriting domain
to familiarize students with film analysis
to familiarize students with writing film openings and endings
Course contents
In this course, which is intended as an introduction, students will be presented with an Eastern Orthodox perspective on art in general, and on the art of film in particular. We will then explain what a screenplay is and what role it plays (or can play) in the filmmaking process. We will also introduce and define fundamental terms such as logline, synopsis, theme, subject, and characters (the protagonist and the antagonist). Furthermore, we will discuss Syd Field’s perspective on the three-act structure, the "two incidents," and the "beginnings and endings" of films.
We will focus specifically on short films.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- explain the role of the screenplay in the creation of a film;
- define and correctly use terms such as logline, synopsis, theme, subject, and characters (the protagonist and the antagonist);
- identify the "two incidents" in various films;
- create beginnings and endings for cinematic stories.
Assessment
Students will be able to use the terminology they have learned and present the synopsis of a short film of their own.