Students must complete Screenwriting I and Screenwriting II, plus any two additional summer dramatic writing courses to earn this certificate. Summer 2013 costs are reflected below.
Screenwriting I
NCRD-UT 8003
A screenwriting workshop required of all Dramatic Writing majors and also designed for new screenwriters. Students are required to complete 50-70 pages of a full-length screenplay with an outline of the rest. The first third of the course focuses on exercises to help students develop five story ideas with the complexity and depth to sustain a full-length screenplay. One of these ideas will serve as the basis for the required work. The reading and analysis of four to six screenplays is required in conjunction with the student’s original work. Students must come to the first class with three ideas for full-length screenplays. Each idea can be described in one or two paragraphs.
Non-credit tuition: $2,930
Screenwriting II
NCRD-UT 8004
Pre-requisite: Screenwriting I
The course covers the writing and completion of a full-length screenplay. Students must come to the first class with an outline or treatment for a full-length film. Certificate students will come with the outline and the first half of their written movie script. The instructor will ask all students to complete a first draft of a screenplay during the term, with particular emphasis on character and purpose and how this leads to conflict and the construction of plot.
Non-credit tuition: $2,930
Additional Courses To Complete Your Certificate
Please select two of the following courses to complete your certificate.
Playwriting I
NCRD-UT 30
A playwriting workshop required of all Dramatic Writing majors and designed for the beginning playwright. Students are required to complete 50-70 pages of a full-length stage play with an outline of the complete play. The first third of the course focuses on exercises to help students develop a story idea with the complexity and depth to sustain a full-length play. The reading and analysis of four to six dramatic texts is required in conjunction with the student’s original work. Students must come to the first class with two ideas for a full-length play. Each idea should be described in a one page summary.
Non-credit tuition: $2,930
Intro to Writing the Half-Hour Comedy
NCRD-UT 8005
This intensive scriptwriting class answers the question, “What do I need to break into TV writing?” The student will be guided through the step-by-step development of an episode for an ongoing TV sitcom, from premise line to one-page outline, to pages and revisions. The course requires the completion of a polished draft while introducing students to the rigors of professional standards through weekly story goals. The course is taught by a professional television writer.
Non-credit tuition: $2,930
Writing the One-Hour Television Drama
NCRD-UT 8008
Pre-requisite: Intro to Writing the Half-Hour Comedy
A course for starting a one-hour dramatic script, OR for revising/completing a One-Hour script begun last year. (Students will arrive at this class at different levels of expertise.) For those students new to writing a One-Hour, this television workshop course takes the student step by step through writing their own script for an ongoing one-hour television dramatic series. The course will go from premise lines, through the outline, to writing a solid draft of the script. This is a high-level course that prepares students for the professional world.
Non-credit tuition: $2,930
Sketch Comedy Writing
NCRD-UT 8012This is a sketch writing workshop class. A survey of sketch genres and approaches will be integrated with writing assignments and rewriting of one's own sketches: both privately and collaboratively. The goal is for each student to emerge from the class with several polished sketches. For this class, it helps to have a good sense of humor that you want to get even better at putting down on the page. There will be a lot of group critiquing and occasionally group rewriting. So it helps to stop thinking that your first draft is perfect. Because it isn't. This can be a pretty wild class, so it also helps to never think that comedy can go "too far." The course may have a guest lecturer.
Non-credit tuition: $2,930
View course schedule.
