SCR 611 and 612: Advanced Screenwriting Workshop (in conjunction with SCR 690)
FIRST AND SECOND TERMS
6 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL

In this workshop, each Screenwriting Fellow develops a thesis portfolio consisting of two full-length written works. These may be two feature-length screenplays, or one feature-length screenplay and, upon request of the Fellow and at the discretion of faculty, an additional TV pilot (one required TV pilot will be written in SCR 631 and 632). Each Fellow revises and completes drafts of the two works in the context of continual analysis and evaluation by faculty and peers.  All Fellows in the workshop group read each other’s work and come prepared with constructive notes.

SCR 631 and 632: Writing the TV Pilot: The Writers Room, and Rewriting the TV Pilot
FIRST AND SECOND TERMS
2 CREDIT HOURS TOTAL

This two-semester workshop will focus on the skills necessary to become a professional writer in television. The class itself will function as a writers’ room — each Fellow will be working on their own script as well as helping structure and note the work of others. The core skills learned will be applicable for all screenwriting work, including features, one-hour dramas, half-hour comedy, animation or web series. Each Fellow will complete an original pilot and a rewrite of the pilot in the course of the year.

SCR 634: Writing the Adaptation
SECOND TERM
1 CREDIT HOUR
ELECTIVE

An elective practicum for first- and second-year Screenwriters on the essentials and challenges of adapting existing material. Fellows will work from their choice of fiction or nonfiction source material in public domain, seeking the story they want to tell and building it into a movie-sized or television series-sized project that honors the original while not necessarily re-creating it for the screen. Fellows are tasked with giving source material new life in a new form.

SCR 645: Directing for Screenwriters
FIRST Term
2 Credit Hours
Elective

This focused 12-session workshop takes screenwriting Fellows through the directing process in a series of exercises and assignments specifically designed to make them better writers.  Each Fellow will bring in material that they have written – either a simple short, or an excerpt from ongoing work in one of their writing workshops.  Over the first few weeks, all the material will be heard and critiqued in table reads, with notes provided for re-writes. Then scenes will be staged, so that writers can see what happens when a scene gets up on its feet, and the scenes filmed.  Finally, the writers will go into the editing room to “write the last draft.” In the final sessions, the material is screened and critiqued again, with everyone providing notes.

SCR 636: Original Series Development for Global Market
SECOND Term
1 Credit Hour
Elective

An eight-week, application-only elective workshop designed to give screenwriting and producing teams an opportunity to develop original TV drama series for the current global marketplace. Each team is expected to produce a full bible, series document, or pitch outline refined by the class and regular story notes.

SCR 651: Improv for Writers
FIRST TERM
1 CREDIT HOUR
ELECTIVE

This is a ten-week elective workshop, open to first- and second-year Screenwriting Fellows. “Improv for Writers” introduces Fellows to the principles and rules of improv in a positive and supportive environment, with the goal of applying those principles and rules to writing for screen and television. Particular focus is placed on collaboration, on developing a positive and constructive writing process, and on the fundamentals of sketch writing and scene construction.

SCR 658: Running the Show: Writing for TV Week-to-Week
SECOND TERM
2 CREDIT HOURS
ELECTIVE

An application-only elective providing an overview of the broad spectrum of tools needed to be a showrunner in the modern world of television production. Accepted Fellows produce a look book based around their pilots written for SCR 631 & 632 and preside over a table read, tone meeting and production meeting in a workshop environment intended to emulate the writers room experience.

SCR 670: Internship Practicum
ANY TERM
1–3 CREDIT HOUR(S)
ELECTIVE

The objective of this course is to provide working experience in the film/TV industry as it pertains specifically to the Fellow’s degree/certificate requirements. Specific duties and requirements will be outlined and supervised by the faculty mentor. This internship qualifies an international Fellow for Curriculum Practical Training; approval must be obtained by the international advisor, as well as the faculty mentor prior to enrolling in the course.