1. Lecture 1: Course Introduction
Class Textbook
Professor Christopher Bradley

2. Professor Christopher Bradley
Lecturer, Film and Media Studies, Arizona State University
MFA, Screenwriting, UCLA
Teaches courses in Screenwriting and Film History as well as the FMS Capstone.

3. No Country for Old Men (2007)
In This Lesson
What kind of distance learning course is this?
How can you succeed in this course?
What do we study in this course?
What are the assignments?
Why the short film?
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Written by Cormac McCarthy (novel) and Joel and Ethan Coen (Screenplay)

4. What Kind of Distance Learning Course is This?
They Live (1988)
Screenplay by John Carpenter
Based on the short story by Ray Nelson)
Lesson 1: Part I

5. A Unique Distance Learning Experience
This is not an automated course.
This is not a self-paced course.
This course emphasizes interactivity:
Asynchronous
Synchronous
Participation is key to your success!
Threaded Discussions on the eBoard
Interactive Learning Modules
Chat Rooms and Skype

6. The Advantages of this Course
Flexibility… not limited by space
Study materials available 24/7
Lectures (streaming audio w/ PowerPoint)
Websites & other resources
Films linked to site
Clips
Structured like a traditional course
Complements multiple learning styles
Lots of interactivity

7. The Disadvantages
Students that learn best through face-to- face debate can struggle in this environment.
Ways to compensate
Have real-time meetings with classmates
Students that are not well organized tend to not do well in this environment.
Meet all deadlines
Study in advance of assignments

8. Online Evaluation
Pause the lecture and take the Self-Evaluation of Online Students.
It will help you better understand how your learning style meets the demands of this environment.
Juno (2007)
Written by Diablo Cody

9. How to Succeed in This Course
The Great Train Robbery (1903)
Written by Scott Marble and Edwin S. Porter
Lesson 1: Part II

10. How do We Define Success?
Becoming better, more knowledgeable writers
Leaving the course with a finished short script
Getting a high grade: A or B
Becoming more adept at giving and taking constructive criticism in workshop and discussion
The Apartment (1960)
Written by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond

11. Course Organization Each lesson contains:
Screening (linked short film)
Reading
Reading Review
Website
Lecture
Interactivity (Discussion Board)
Clips (Sometimes) 11

12. Forms of Interactivity
Threaded discussions on the eBoard with classmates
and professors
Office Hours (if possible)
Online Chats with prof.
Almost Famous (2000)
Written by Cameron Crowe

13. And Not Just Any Kind of Interactivity!
To study writing and film we must debate.
However this does not require being disrespectful or insensitive.
I expect us to discuss writing and film with passion and perspective.
I expect us to challenge each other’s conceptions of writing and film with rigor and respect.

14. What do we study in this course?
Rope (1948)
Written by Patrick Hamilton (play) and Hume Cronyn (adaptation) and Arthur Laurents (screenplay)
Lesson 1: Part III

15. Written by Charles Chaplin
The Writing Process
What does it take to be a successful screenwriter?
Getting Started
Staying Focused
Revision
The Great Dictator (1940)
Written by Charles Chaplin 15

16. The Principles of Drama
How is storytelling related to screenwriting?
Plot and story
Character and emotion
The three-part structure
Dialogue
Meaning
Hamlet
by William Shakespeare 16

17. The Online Workshop Process
Why do writers workshop?
Sharing your work
Giving and taking constructive criticism
Improving your work in the workshop 17

18. Written by Richard Kelly
Assignments
Donnie Darko (2001)
Written by Richard Kelly
Lesson 1: Part IV

19. Participation/Exercises
Participation and short writing exercises are worth 25% of your final grade (100 points)
Grade is based on:
Contributing one writing exercise and two posts per lesson to the forum.
Keeping up with posts and exercises - meeting deadlines.
Quality of posts & exercises.

20. Treatment The treatment is worth 25% of your grade
It is a boiled down prose version of your story that includes such crucial aspects as an outline of the plot and a description of the main characters and their function within the plot.
It should be 2-3 single spaced pages.
See the website for a sample treatment.

21. First Draft of Short Script
25% of your grade (100 pts)
You will complete the first draft of a screenplay for a short film. A first draft is by definition rough, but it should be about 10 pages long and include a beginning, middle and end along with other identifiable aspects of story structure such as conflict, crisis and resolution. Your script should be in a standard screenplay format approved by your instructor.

22. Final Draft of a Short Script
25% of your grade (100 pts)
The final draft will include many of the elements of the first draft but show demonstrable improvement over the first draft. The student should aim for the final draft to be pages. It should be as polished as possible in terms of both the writing and the format.

23. Why the Short Film? Lesson 1: Part V George Lucas in Love (1999)
Written by Joe Nussbaum and Timothy Dowling (story)
and Joe Nussbaum and Daniel Sheere (writer)
Lesson 1: Part V

24. Starting Short
As a beginner, writing a short script before you attempt to write a feature- length script allows you to:
Work with the principles of fiction and drama at a manageable level
Learn economy
Revise more easily
Practice screenplay format

25. Advantages for the Student Filmmaker
Short films are the predominant form in film schools
Far cheaper to make than features
Easier to get into film festivals
Can act as a calling card to the film industry

26. Short Film about Short Films
At the conclusion of the lecture watch Live at Sundance: Short Films, Tall Ideas.
For your first post on the e-board, summarize some of the attitudes about short films on display in the movie. Why do these filmmakers like working on short films so much? What might be some drawbacks to the form? 26

27. Five Things to Remember
Go through the website, or virtual classroom, with care; know it well.
Get to know your classmates.
Keep up with all Lesson Tasks.
Turn assignments in on time, written at a college level.
Discuss with rigor & respect.

28. How do I get Started Writing and
End of Lecture 1
Next Lecture:
How do I get Started Writing and
how do I Keep Going?