PW: December 14-18

Monday    12/14  — Introduction to course–hand out syllabus, course overview, and Writer’s Notebooks.  What makes writing for the theater different from other types of writing?  In other words, what makes a play a play?
HW: Write Etude #1: Six-Line Play, due Wednesday.  A “six-line” consists of six lines of dialogue (three per character) and must include some sort of negotiation and/or resolution. (See handout for more detail and a sample six-line).

Tuesday    12/15 NO CLASS

Wednesday    12/16 —  Etude #1 due.  Warm ups: written (freewrite), physical (stretch), and mental (ball toss).  Staging and critique of Six-Lines.
HW: Etude #2 Film Reversal, due Thursday.

Thursday    12/17 — Etude #2 due.  Discussion: What is the difference between writing for film and writing for the stage?  What are the advantages and limitations of each medium?   Staging and critique of “”film reversal”” scenes, time permitting.
HW: There is no required homework over the break.  But if you are looking for things to do, consider the following optional activities: see a play, read a play, observe human interactions in public spaces, or transcribe real dialogue in preparation for writing your first short script in January.

Have a safe and restful winter vacation!  See you in 2010!