Script to Screen Program Offers Comprehensive Look at Development and Production
17/07/2014 10:44
Having knowledge of every aspect of the film and television industry is beneficial for a number of reasons. However, the top reason is that professionals who have it possess the know-how to work on any aspect of a production - making them in demand.
Each course in this script writing Toronto-based offering is presented in two parts. Here is a look at some of the classes that prepare students with the skills and knowledge they need to enter the film and television industry with an enhanced ability to find an appropriate place for themselves and succeed on productions, at production companies, broadcast networks and other industry-related organizations.
Screenwriting 1 (Short Film Development): This, the first of two courses, encompasses all aspects of screenwriting, including the essential elements and technical language of screenwriting, developing viable show ideas, pitching those ideas and write the outlines, drafts and polishes necessary to complete a production-ready screenplay, correct screenplay formatting and the computer programs in use by professional screenwriters. Employed in this course are lectures, screenings, readings, in-class discussions and take-home assignments. As a hands-on aspect, students develop a short film script of 10 minutes or less in length.
Directing 1: Script and script development, character, scene analysis, casting, rehearsal, performance, design, visual style and assembling the final product are all covered in this course. Through lectures, screenings, exercises and assignments, students learn to get what they want from actors, talk to cinematographers, production designers and costume designers; and editing. Every student gets to direct a range of scenes of approximately three to five minutes in length.
Production 1: Students receive practical instruction in the step-by-step realization of a television show or a feature film and learn how to identify budgetary and logistical requirements in all areas of production, from developing a “production-ready” screenplay through to final delivery.
Post-Production 1: Good editing is crucial to the success of every film and this courses looks at: what editors do, how they do it and why, delving into the methods, objectives, and technical aspects of post-production. Students learn that post-production starts with reading a script and reaching an understanding of how the director plans to execute that script, moves onto how the actors interpret the script and, finally, examines what choices need to be made to extract the best structure, the best performances, and the best pacing and rhythm for the film of TV show itself. The hands-on aspect of this course sees students screen edit sequences of successful films and TV shows.
This partial script writing program and overall industry overview program also involves actors. This means scripts can be tailored to an actor's specific talents and allows students to better collaborate, improvise, problem-solve and empathize with their fellow cast and crew members down the line.