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ENG 445
Writer's Check In
How do we feel about our final screen story?
Successes?
Failures?
Realizations?
Questions?
Schedule and Deadlines
November 20 - Workshop
December 4 - Workshop
December 11 - Final Due 9:00 pm
Schedule and Deadlines
Final
course reflection + revised screenplay
- Overall Course Reflection,
- Reflection on Individual Writing Projects,
- One Revised Screenplay,
- Reflection on the Process of Revising this Story
Film Studies
marshall.edu/filmstudies
Students must complete at least 15 credits in approved Film Studies courses with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Other requirements include:
- English 344: Introduction to Film Studies.
- 12 additional credits, other than ENG 344, in courses that focus primarily upon film or related art forms.
- Students must complete coursework in at least 3 academic departments or schools.
- No more than 9 credits in any one department or school may count toward the minor.
- At least 9 credits must have been completed at Marshall University. Students may utilize up to six credits in Film Studies coursework completed at other accredited institutions with the approval of the Director of Film Studies.
- No more than 3 credits in independent study are allowed.
- 6 of the 15 credits toward the minor must be in courses numbered 300 and above.
- No courses that count toward the minor may be taken on a credit/no credit basis.
What can you do with your screenplay?
What can you do with a screenplay?
American Movie Trailer
Film Freeway Commercial
festivals and contests
University Publications
@litmag_etcetera
Stutterer (2016)
The Phone Call (2015)
Boogaloo and Graham (2015)
Viewings
What work in these movies? What lessons can we take from them as story tellers?
What have we learned?
- Short film as a literary genre,
- Screenplay as story genre,
- Screenstory structure,
- Workshop collaboration,
- Yourself as a storyteller,
- Writing as critical thinking,
- The labor and practice of creativity
Revisions
Revision
Each share:
- What stories do we want to revise?
- What changes do we want to make to them?
- What work is involved in making those changes?
- What questions do we have?
What makes a good title?
The Babysitter Murders/Halloween
Star Beasts/Alien
Wimpy/Psycho
East Great Falls High/American Pie
Coma Guy/While You Were Sleeping
Movie Titles Game
"How to Write Screenplay Titles That Don’t Suck"
By Ken Miyamoto
Screencraft.org
What makes a good title?
"There is no exact science for creating masterful screenplay titles. No magic formula. No “fill in the blank” Mad Lib sheet. It’s all trial and error. The true key is to put a lot of thought into it because it truly is a key factor to your screenplay in that first phase. A strong title can be the difference maker, no matter how ludicrous that may seem to some. These nine directives are there to help you through the journey of finding that one title. And maybe you’ll luck out and find one that proves to be lightning in a bottle."
Advice
1. Avoid Click Bait - Deliver on the title.
2. Focus on the Core Concept - Define the story and genre as much as possible in a few words (Snakes on a Plane).
3. Unique Character - Name the film after a core character (There's Something About Mary).
4. Unique Character Type - Capture a certain power, position, or occupation important to the story (The Hollow Man).
5. Avoid Steven Segal Syndrome - Avoid generic terminology (Hard to Kill, Marked for Death, Driven to Kill, Contract to Kill).
6. Capture the Genre - Match the title to the genre (Friday the 13th).
7. Explore Titles with Dual Meanings - Allow your title to work before and after reading (Good Will Hunting).
8. Ensure That the Title Makes Sense to the Story - Connect the story and the title.
9. Google Any and All Titles
Title
Game
- Write a title,
- Pass a title,
- Provide exposition, plot point 1, plot point 2, resolution