1 Our Textbook Lecture 1a: Taking an Online Course & Course Introduction Professor Christopher Bradley

2 Christopher Bradley Instructor, Film and Media Studies, Arizona State University I Teach Courses in Screenwriting and Story Analysis MFA in Screenwriting (UCLA), BFA in Theatre (Texas Christian University) I have also been a professional actor for many yearsprofessional actor I am currently at work on both a short film and a screenplay

3 In This Lesson What kind of distance learning course is this? How can you succeed? Assignments What do we study in this course? The Exorcist (1973) Donnie Darko (2001)

What Kind of Distance Learning Course Is This? Lesson 1a: Part I 4

5 For Starters… It’s Not an Automated Course It’s Not a Self-Paced Course This Course Emphasizes Interactivity –Asynchronous Participation is Fundamental to the Success of Our Course – Discussion Board Hint: Take the Self-Evaluation of Online Students. It will help you better understand how your learning style meets the demand of this environment.Self-Evaluation of Online Students

6 The Advantages of this Course Flexibility… Not Limited by Space Study Materials Available 24/7 – Lectures (streaming audio w/ PowerPoint) – Websites & Other Resources – Media Clips – Interactive discussion board Structured Like a Traditional Course Complements Multiple Learning Styles Lots of Interactivity

7 The Disadvantages Students that learn best through face-to- face debate can struggle in this environment. – Ways to Compensate – Arrange for Real-Time Meetings with Classmates and Your Professor Students that are not well organized tend to not do well in this environment. – Meet all Deadlines – Study in Advance of Assignments

8 How to Succeed (get an “A”) in This Course Lesson 1a: Part II

9 Course Organization Lessons Contain: –Screenings –Readings –Reading Reviews –Websites –Lectures –Interactivity (Discussion Board) –Media Clips 9

10 Forms of Interactivity Threaded Discussions on the eBoard Office Hours (if possible) Online Chats or Phone Conversations with Your Professor

Guidelines for the Class To Study Art We Must Debate Discussing Art Doesn’t Require Being Disrespectful or Insensitive I expect us to discuss art with passion and perspective I expect us to challenge each other’s perception of art with rigor and respect 11

12Assignments Lesson 1a: Part III

13Assignments There are three major assignments for the course which total 75% of your grade. What you turn in will: –Demonstrate an understanding of the text –Demonstrate an understanding of both story and structure –Demonstrate proper screenwriting format –Be due to me via –No late assignments!

14 Assignment (Continued) You will do well on the assignments if you take good notes during the lectures, keep up with the readings, take the reading reviews, watch the media clips and participate rigorously on the eBoard. It will be very difficult for you to do well if you get behind!

15 Assignment #1 You will write a 5-page (at least) treatment Single Spaced Structure guide and diagram should be followed The form of these assignments will be made clear in the syllabus and the Learning Tasks section.

Assignment #2 The first 10 pages of your screenplay posted on the eboard Give your fellow students feedback on their screenplays 16

Assignment #3 The first 30 pages of your screenplay Includes the first 10 pages you have already written, although those need to be re-written based on feedback A one-page report on what feedback you incorporated into your screenplay and why; and why you didn’t use other feedback. 17

18Participation Participation is about 25% of Your Final Grade Your Participation Grade is Based On: – Keeping Up with Discussion Board Posts – Quality of Posts – Being on time with your posts You will do well in this class if you participate consistently, and with rigor and respect!

19 What Do We Study in This Class? Lesson1a: Part IV What’s Up, Doc? (1972) directed by Peter Bogdanovich

20 Two Aspects to Every Great Screenplay Strong Story Solid Structure The two are inextricable – you can’t have one without the other. 20

21 Screenplay Structure Opening Hook Ordinary World Inciting Incident New World/New Rules Mid-Point Big Pit Climax Resolution (Not all films have all aspects, in this order, but these are the basics of most film stories.) 21

22 Film Content Genre Representation –Race and Ethnicity –Class –Gender and Sexuality All films are created by people and are therefore historical, subjective & political. 22

Other Course Topics Theme Exposition Composition Re-Writing Citizen Kane (1941) Directed by Orson Welles

24 Seven Things to Remember Go through the Website, or Virtual Classroom, with Care; Know it Well Study the Syllabus Well Get to Know Your Classmates Keep up with all Lesson Tasks Turn Assignments in on Time, Written at a College Level Discuss with Rigor & Respect Enjoy yourself! It’s film, after all!

25 End of Lecture 1a Next Lecture: Getting Started: Storytelling