FTV2940 ScreenwritingBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs FILM AND TELEVISIONGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
FILM AND TELEVISION
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
FTV2940 Screenwriting Spring 2 2 3 7

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Must Course
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Dr. Öğr. Üyesi DENİZ GÜRGEN
Course Lecturer(s): Dr. Öğr. Üyesi TUNA TETİK
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi DENİZ GÜRGEN
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives: The main objective of the course is to introduce a general knowledge on narrative structure. The course aims to help students put their ideas into action and experience the writing of a script; as well as develop necessary skills to analyze a film in terms of its methods of storytelling.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
1. Will be able to use the essential elements of cinematic storytelling,
2. Will be able to distinguish the central characteristics that all good screenplays share,
3. Will be able to see how the tools of screenwriting work in feature films,
4. Experience the writing of a script,
5. Will be able to analyse a feature film and put his/her ideas together in an article

Course Content

In this course students will acquire knowledge and experience about the screenplay, which is the founding text of the filmmaking process. Writing a script in different forms and formats, importance of a good screenplay and its utilization in different stages of filmmaking will also be emphasized. Students will attend to various kinds of exercises and will acquire experience on various subjects, such as, the structure of a screenplay, rhythm, form and format in scriptwriting; finding and developing ideas for script; receiving feedback and preparing different drafts for the re-writing process; and last, pitching and selling the script idea.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction to course and its requirements Ideas into Action: Where to look for ideas and how to develop them
2) Storytelling Writing the logline of the feature lenght film project.
3) Basics of Writing Writing the "synopsis" of the feature length film script project.
4) The Three Act Structure Reading: Mckee, Robert (1995). Story. pp. 135-303
5) First Act Characteristics Reading: Field, Syd (2005) Screenplay pp: 106-160
6) Second Act Characteristics Reading: Egri, Lajos (1960). The Art of Dramatic Writing. pp.162-182
7) Third Act Characteristics Reading: Egri, Lajos (1960). The Art of Dramatic Writing. pp. 182-229
8) Treatment first draft presentations Submission of the first treatment draft.
9) Sahne Reading: Field, Syd (2005) pp: 160-183
11) Character Reading: Egri, Lajos (1960). The Art of Dramatic Writing. pp.32-58 Assignment: Character Analysis
12) Dialogue Assignment: A Scene with dialogues from the first act.
13) Atmosphere and narrational elements Gattaca (Andrew Niccol, 1997)
14) Different genres, different formats Final Project: Complete 1st Act of the feature length film script project

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks:
References: 1. The Poetics of Aristotle (free on-line book, download from Project Gutenberg) (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1974)
2. Egri, Lajos (1960). The Art of Dramatic Writing. Touchstone
3. Horton, Andrew (2000). Writing the Character Centered Screenplay. University of California
4. Vogler, Christopher (1988). The Writer’s Journey.
5. Seger, Linda (1987). Making a Good Script Great. Hollywood: Samuel French

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Homework Assignments 4 % 20
Project 1 % 35
Final 1 % 45
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 20
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 80
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 14 56
Study Hours Out of Class 8 64
Project 1 8
Homework Assignments 4 40
Final 1 4
Total Workload 172

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) Being familiar to the main concepts and methods of the social sciences and the fine arts devoted to understanding the world and the society 4
2) Having comprehensive knowledge regarding different media and branches of art 2
3) Knowing the historical background of audio-visual moving images in the world and in Turkey and keeping pace with the new developments in the area 2
4) Having a good command of the language and the aesthetics of audio-visual moving images in the world and in Turkey 5
5) Being able to create a narrative that could be used in a fiction or a non-fiction audio-visual moving image product 5
6) Being able to write a script ready to be shot 5
7) Having the skills to produce the photoboard of a script in hand and to shoot the film using the camera, the lights and other necessary equipment 1
8) Being able to transfer the footage of a film to the digital medium, to edit and do other post-production operations
9) Being able to create a documentary audio visual moving image from the preliminary sketch stage to shooting, editing and post-production stages 1
10) Being able to produce an audio visual moving image for television and audio products for radio from preliminary stages through shooting and editing to the post-production stage
11) Being culturally and theoretically equipped to make sense of an audio-visual moving image, to approach it critically with regard to its language and narration and being able to express his/her approach in black and white 3
12) Having ethical values and a sense of social responsibility 2