CINE 790 Screenplay Thesis – Final Project

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

The Master’s thesis final project will provide the student with a feature-length, polished screenplay ready for industry submission for potential work in the film business.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Peer-Review Discussions (4)

Peer-Review Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each Peer-Review Discussion. Each thread must include an attached copy of the assigned screenplay assignment for the student’s classmates to review and critique. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 250 words. (CLO: A, B, C)

Screenplay Workshop Assignment

The student will examine the screenplay for areas that need to be rewritten. The rewrite will include revisiting the backstories for the protagonist and antagonist, story structure, dialogue and justify thematic elements and character choices within the screenplay. The first and third acts should be approximately 20-25 pages each; second act should be approximately 40-50 pages (the entire screenplay should be a minimum of 80-90 pages). The protagonist must have a clear want that drives the story and an inciting incident within the first fifteen pages. (CLO: A, B, C)

Screenplay Pitch Assignment

The student will construct a written pitch, a logline/synopsis of his or her screenplay, and a film poster for submission to film industry agents, managers, and producers. The pitch should be (1-2 pages) and ought to hook the reader. It should introduce setting, genre, tone, conflict, characters of the student’s screenplay, and convey the emotional core of the story. The logline will include (1-2 sentences) of a compelling summary of your story. The poster art for your movie should be the student’s creation and have a tagline. (CLO: A, C)

Screenplay Film Festivals Assignment

The student will polish the script for potential acceptance into film festivals seeking new talented screenwriters. The student will re-read his or her screenplay for a page-one read-through, looking for any typos, misspelling, and needed changes of any kind. The student will also examine clarity of in setting, genre, tone, conflict, characters, and believability. (CLO: A, C)

Screenplay Final Polish Assignment

The student will submit the final polished draft of his or her full-length feature film script in industry-standard format. The final draft should be a minimum of 80 pages. (CLO: B, C)