Semester.ly

Johns Hopkins University | AS.061.404

Advanced Screenwriting

3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

(4.75)

Intensive workshop course where students will write a first draft of a feature-length screenplay. Classes will focus on the specific challenges of the students’ works-in-progress, with an emphasis on developing a story idea that is suitable for a feature, and the craft to see it through to completion. Particular emphasis will be placed on the feature screenwriter’s central challenge: creating enough of a structure in the early writing stages to keep the screenplay on track, while remaining open to new ideas for scenes and sequences that inevitably arise as the characters, story, and themes come to life. Select produced feature screenplays will be read and analyzed — and clips from select films viewed—to explore what works well on the page, and how it translates to working well onscreen. Throughout the course, Instructor will also devote a portion of class time to discuss the business of screenwriting. Students will be required to purchase a license for Final Draft screenwriting software for $99 by Week 2 (if they have not already done so for a prior screenwriting course).

Fall 2022

(4.49)

Spring 2015

(5.0)

Fall 2022

Professor: Adam Rodgers

(4.49)

Spring 2015

Professor: Roberto Buso-garcia

(5.0)

The best aspects of the course included the opportunity to write an entire screenplay. The professor was extremely helpful and invested in his students’ projects and provided helpful feedback along the way. The worst aspects of the course was the fairly large workload. To improve the course, many students suggested splitting the course into two semesters or increasing the number of credit hours assigned to the course. Prospective students should not take the course if they are not serious about screenwriting or already have a heavy course load that semester.