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Course name
Advanced Fiction Writing: Screenwriting, Part Two (HS X-12)
Recorded course taught by Doug Hughes for High School Advanced Fiction Writing & Literary Form (11 and X Series)
Summary

In this hands-on writing course, practice your advanced writing skills and learn how to design stories for film! Write dynamic loglines, craft powerful story outlines in beat sheets, create dynamic scenes that grab the reader, and know what it takes to write for film. Especially if you want to explore writing as a part or full-time career, this course is for you....

 

Instructor Access (optional grading support) is available for Unlimited Access or Single Access
See the sidebar to the left for signup information! 

  screenwriting 2 photo

NOTICE: This is an older course recorded with Adobe Connect and/or Vimeo recordings.
We are currently working to replace the recordings with new Zoom recordings. 
Please don't hesitate to email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com with any questions.

For students who want to excel in fiction writing skills and jumpstart college literature courses; this is both a college and career preparatory course.

Sign up for Screenwriting Parts One and Two together, to complete the requisite book; the course is complete with both semesters.

How to Get the Most Out of Fiction Writing: Screenwriting, Part Two with Erin M. Brown (AKA Erin Brown Conroy/E.B. Conroy):
    1. Read: Read all of the information here, and skim the first week’s course materials.

    2. Notetaking: Prepare a notebook and take complete notes during the Class.

    3. Students, begin the course by:

      • LIVE CLASS Students - Coming to the first live Class session on the scheduled date and time.

      • Unlimited Access / Recorded Students - Clicking on the "Recording" and watching Professor Brown’s lecture for Class One.

    4. Weekly Readings: After class, check for any readings (documents/downloads or online readings). Always read the week's materials before starting the assignments.

    5. Watch the movies: Please note that some of the movies have a PG-13 rating for language or behavior. You may print the screenplays and have your parent go through and cross off profanity or scenes not accepted. If you'd like another screenplay to use, you can also google a preferred movie to find alternatives. (Try: "[movie title] script PDF")

    6. Assignments: Complete the homework in the order that it is listed on the page and submit before the next week’s class.

    7. Grading: Submit to a parent for grading if taking the course in Unlimited Access. If taking the course Live or with Instructor Access, submit to the Instructor for grading.

    8. Review: If you are confused at any time,review the recording and PowerPoint for each week.

    9. Continue: Repeat each week until the class is completed.

    10. Finishing: Once the course is completed, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course. Fill in the document for your records. You may also copy and paste the descriptive content of the course (located at the top section of the page). Make sure to record your grades; HSC does not provide record keeping.

Total classes: 8

Duration: 55 minutes

Prerequisite: Screenwriting I or instructor permission, a thirst to create, and a love of story in movies! Your student will also need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-compatible document.

Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade

Suggested credit: 2/3 Screenwriting, Creative Writing, or English. For a full credit keep writing daily and working your craft.

Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA

Course description: In your Advanced Fiction Writing Introduction to Screenwriting Part 2 course, you’ll continue to learn all of the key foundations of screenwriting and creating scripts for movies — including the business of film in Hollywood. Find out more about what goes into designing stories for film — including how to craft excellent character development and create a powerful storyline. While learning and practicing the special skills of writing for film, you will continue to read through screenplays; watch and analyze classic and current films; watch additional videos related to learning the craft; discuss the conventions of good movies; learn how to craft masterful dialogue; and craft your own scenes and screenplay.

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING SCRIPTS USED IN THIS COURSE: Some of the famous movie scripts that are used in this course as examples contain profanity. The course offers alternate scripts -- and a way to get to those scripts, via links to websites, to choose your own script. Please be informed and make decisions on readings based on this knowledge. Thank you.

Course outline:

  • Class 1: The Beat Sheet, Film Analysis, and Shorts (Chapter Four)

  • Class 2: Putting Ideas into Loglines and Beat Sheets

  • Class 3: The Beat Sheet as a Business Plan (Chapter Five) and More on Script Dialogue

  • Class 4: Crafting Scenes and The Hollywood Rules of Screenplays 1 (Chapter Six)

  • Class 5: Crafting Scenes and The Hollywood Rules of Screenplays 2 (Chapter Six)

  • Class 6: “Script Repair” (Chapter Seven)

  • Class 7: The Business of Screenwriting (Chapter Eight)

  • Class 8: Final Short Screenplay Discussions

Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. BOOK 1: The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structures for Writers, 3rd Edition, by Christopher Vogler and Michele Montez. Get the book here: http://amzn.to/2DzkE1W. NOTE: The same book is used in both of the Advanced Fiction (Parts One and Two) courses.
AND, BOOK 2: Save the Cat, by Blake Snyder. Get the book here: http://amzn.to/2GwDM3n.

Homework: Students will read from the text, read posted articles, complete pre-scene exercises, and write loglines, outlines (beat sheets), and scenes. The final project is in the second semester is a short script (12 to 15 pages). Time spent working on homework varies between individuals and their writing skills and speed. Students can expect to spend an average of two and four hours a week on homework. For the final project, students may spend more time.

©2017-2024 Homeschool Connections and Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author Erin Brown Conroy/E. B. Conroy). All rights reserved.

This course is designed by Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author Erin Brown Conroy/E. B. Conroy).

  • This material is only to be used for its intended purpose by active subscribers of Homeschool Connections. Any other use without explicit permission is in violation of the seventh commandment (yes, the 7th commandment) and in violation of US and International copyright laws.

  • You may print or download to local hard disk extracts for your personal homeschool and non-commercial use only. This is not to be used for homeschool co-ops without express written permission from Homeschool Connections.

7c58a8b46f5c8fbf928eea74a532cf40074507d7.pngTechnical Help: If you experience technical difficulty with watching the recorded classes or have a question about course content, please email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.

Course name
Advanced Fiction Writing: Screenwriting, Part Two (HS X-12)
Instructor
Doug Hughes
Editors
Aubrey Heki, Bonnie Donlon, Sharon Hamric-Weis, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA
Semester
Recorded
Category
Writing ➤ Advanced Fiction Writing & Literary Form (11 and X Series)
Grade level
High School
Course type
Recorded, free with subscription
Start time
January 13th, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET
Relative due dates
Relative due dates are disabled for this course.

Doug Hughes, M.Ed., has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication (with courses in Radio, TV, and Film) and a Master of Education degree from Bowling Green State University. He has worked professionally in video production in both Ohio and Los Angeles and has taught three different filmmaking courses with several different homeschool co-ops in the Columbus, Ohio, area. In 2014, Mr. Hughes' homeschool class won Best Student Film at the International 168 Film Festival in Los Angeles. Two years later, the students won a Student Production award for Best Short Film at the Ohio Valley Regional Emmy Awards. Currently, Mr. Hughes works as a multimedia instructor at Marysville Early College High School as well as teaching the Screenwriting I and II courses with Aquinas Writing Advantage here at Homeschool Connections. Mr. Hughes lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife, Amy, and twin daughters, Hannah and Emily, who are both attending college in Florida.