| Course Title: Advanced Creative Writing Topics: 'Screenwriting' |
| Start Date: 01/27/2026 End Date: 05/12/2026 |
| Term: Spring Semester 2026 |
| Description: The screenplay is a unique and ephemeral form that exists as a blueprint for something else: a finished film. How do you convey on the page a story that will take shape within an audio-visual medium? The screenwriter must have an understanding of both the language of narrative film as well as the general shape and mechanics of film stories. This advanced course will cover dialogue, characterization, plot, story arc, genre, and cinematic structure. We will analyze scenes from fictional narrative films -- both short and feature length -- and read the scripts that accompany these films. By the end of this course, each student will have written two original short films. In workshop style, the class will serve as practice audience for table readings of drafts and writing exercises. |
| Distribution(s): I - Humanities , WI - Writing-Intensive , TP - Topics Course |
| Academic Level Of Course: Undergraduate | Credits:4.00 |
| Faculty | Phone | Email address |
| Dien Vo | dienvo@mtholyoke.edu |
| Meeting Dates | Method | Meeting days | Meeting times | Building name | Room | Frequency |
| 01/27/2026 - 05/12/2026 | Lecture | Wednesday | 01:30PM - 04:20PM | TBA | TBA | Weekly |
| Requisite Courses | ||
| Prereq: 8 credits in Film Media Theater. | Take previously | Required |
| Comments |
| Additional Comments |
| Course Tags | ||
| NOPRI0001 | Used to identify non-primary sides of crosslisted courses for Workday conversion |
| Cross-listed Sections |
| FMT-340SW-01 Screenwriting |
| ENGL-361SW-01 Screenwriting |
| Course Availability | ||||
| Section status: Waitlisted | Capacity: 12 | Enrollment: 12 | Available: 0 | Waitlist: 3 |
BOOK INFORMATION
| Book List | Required | Publisher Full Price |
| To be determined. |
| Additional Book Comments |
| This is NOT the complete book list for this class. |