The Language of Screenwriting - Nancy Ellen Dodd

Screenwriting requires telling a story through images and dialogue that imply what will be seen. To convince someone to read your screenplay requires creating a dynamic logline that is a microcosm of your whole story. The logline is what you say to get your 30-second elevator pitch. It should also serve as the basic one-to-three sentence outline of your story. Story-mapping is a tool for developing a stronger story and finding its holes. By comparing the Aristotle/Freytag approach with "the hero's journey," we will see which process is a better guideline for developing your screenplay.

In this class we will work on: logline, formatting, imagery/action, dialogue, pacing, and storytelling.