Department of Visual & Media Arts

EMERSON COLLEGE

Courses

Filter the courses by subject area

SW611 - Residency I - Storytelling and Writing Short Scripts (2 Credits)

The initial residency is comprised of an orientation and welcome, master classes,

seminars, intensive workshops, one-on-one advisory meetings, screenings and
lectures on various craft, history and theory topics related to creating story and
writing short scripts and webisodes. During the residency, students meet daily with
their assigned peer groups and their advisors to form the work plan for the semester
following the residency.

SW621 - Film and Television Genres (4 Credits)

SW622 - The Showrunner (4 Credits)

SW631 - Writiing for Short-Form Media (4 Credits)

SW632 - Writing Series Television (4 Credits)

VM220 - Writing the Short Subject (4 Credits)

Studies the writing of the short subject within the genres of fiction, nonfiction, and
experimental concepts and scripts (including animation). Scripts range from 3 to 15
minutes and are suitable for production within the budget and time constraints of an
Emerson College class. Students complete comprehensive revisions of their work.

VM221 - Writing the Feature Film (4 Credits)

Examines the fundamentals of writing for narrative feature-length film. Investigates

structure, character, conflict, scene writing, and dialogue, taking students from
ideation through to the development of a detailed outline. Students write the first
25-30 pages of a screenplay.

VM222 - Writing for Television (4 Credits)

 Examines writing for television in a variety of formats, with a predominant
emphasis on situation comedies and drama. The elements of each genre are
analyzed, challenging students to find their own unique "voice," and new and
innovative ways to write stories within established formats. Also covered are reality
television and children's television, story outlining, and script formatting. Each
student writes a first-draft script of an existing sitcom or drama.

VM243 - Introduction to Narrative Drama (4 Credits)

Introduces students to the personnel and techniques involved in the broad category
of narrative fiction production. Emphasis is placed on organization and the
translation of the script into a visual narrative. Students have the opportunity to
hone their production skills on a variety of creative projects. The course also
prepare students for advanced-level course work and BFAs in narrative fiction.

VM263 - Drawing For Time-Based Media (4 Credits)

Imparts key drawing skills required in pre-visualization, concept art creation, set
design, storyboarding, two-dimensional media production, and post-production.
Develops students' abilities to think spatially, whether constructing a plan for a set
or depicting a character in action. Also focuses on anatomy, locomotion, and
communication possibilities of the human form.

VM322 - Comedy Writing for Television (4 Credits)

Examines writing television comedy with an emphasis on sitcoms. Areas of study

also include sketch writing and writing for late-night TV. Students learn how to
writie physical comedy, how to write for existing shows and characters, sitcom
structure, format, and joke writing. Each student writes a script for an existing
sitcom that will be workshopped.

VM324 - Topics in Screenplay Genres: Writing the Comedy Feature (4 Credits)

Studies a given genre from the perspective of the screenwriter. Working in a specific
genre, students write a treatment, an original outline for a feature film, and up to the
first half of a script in the specific genre. Honing critical skills, students engage in
analytical and aesthetic discourse about their own work, as well as material written
by others. May be repeated for credit if topics differ.

VM324 - Topics in Screenplay Genres: Thriller! Mystery! Suspense! (4 Credits)

The thriller, mystery and suspense genres are among the most popular movies.
Students will learn to write high stake, maximum tension scripts that surprise
audiences and take viewers to the emotional and psychological edge. This class will
move beneath the surface of technique, studying theory, form and content as well as
narrative strategies. An original outline for a feature-length movie (theatrical, cable,
 streaming platforms), antagonist/protagonist bios and a minimum of fifty pages of
the screenplay will be written.

VM324 - Topics in Screenplay Genres: Sci-Fi Screenwriting (4 Credits)

In this course, students will trek into the infinite storytelling galaxy of sci-fi as a
catalyst for exploring the complex moral, social, and ethical questions of our world
by imagining a unique alternative story universe. Strengthening their story structure,
scene writing and character development skills, students will develop loglines, story
breakdowns, beat sheets, and complete scripts for stories where anything can
happen ? if the writer makes it plausible. With a focus on building a strong thesis as
the basis of their speculative fiction, students will also explore writing special
effects, research, and the science of sci-fi

VM325 - Writing the Adaptation (4 Credits)

Focuses on the process of analyzing material from another medium (e.g., novels,
plays, comic books) and translating into a screenplay. Students write one original
first act of a public domain property, as well as one analytical paper.

VM328 - Topics in Film Writing: Writing for Animation (4 Credits)

Students explore techniques and approaches unique to writing animation and will
examine a variety of animation formats, methods, and genres in order to understand
the demands, opportunities, challenges, and styles of this storytelling form. Students
will write an outline, treatment, and either a television pilot or the first half of a
screenplay.

VM329 - Topics in Television Writing: Life on Display (4 Credits)

In this course, students will study reality television series, and in groups create
original ?unscripted? series for broadcast, from concept development, to show pitch
writing, to preparation for pre-production, production, and post-production. In
groups, students will research, develop, and create a number of original series with
emphasis on innovative ways to expand and contribute to the reality genre in docu-
soap, lifestyle, competition, or investigative formats. Each student group will write
an industry standard Pilot Pitch, with Show Descriptions for 4 to 6 episodes. In
addition, they will produce a 5- to 7-minute video Trailer for their original reality
series.

VM329 - Topics in Television Writing: Comedy Writing for Late Night (4

Credits)

This course examines how to write comedy for late night television, with a heavy
emphasis on joke writing, monologue writing, sketch writing, current events and
satire. In addition to working on individual assignments, students with also learn
 how to write effectively as a team. The final project will require students to
collectively create and write an innovative show designed for late night television.

VM329 - Top: Writing for Tweens (4 Credits)

Remember those 'tween shows you grew up on? Ever think about writing for them?
Now's your chance. Will discuss and analyze `tween story elements, formats,
genres, platforms/networks, and expectations. Examine how to balance the unique
challenges facing a writer for ?tweens in exploring differences and worlds and
keeping the shows entertaining. Students choose to write a spec script for an
existing series or a pilot.

VM329 - Topics in Television Writing: Comedy Writing for Late Night (4

Credits)

This course examines how to write comedy for late night television, with a heavy
emphasis on joke writing, monologue writing, sketch writing, current events and
satire. In addition to working on individual assignments, students with also learn
how to write effectively as a team. The final project will require students to
collectively create and write an innovative show designed for late night television.

VM423 - Writing Television Pilots (4 Credits)

Examines how to create a television series, including developing an original

premise, and writing convincing, multi-dimensional characters, and intriguing,
character-specific dialogue. Students write an entire television pilot script to be
workshopped in class, along with a pilot package that includes a logline, series
synopsis and a 13-week episode guide with character and story arcs.

VM428 - Feature Writing Workshop (4 Credits)

Working from detailed outlines developed in VM 221 or 320 Writing the Feature
Film, students complete a first draft of a feature-length screenplay. Students read
each other's work, write a critical analysis of each segment, and engage in
discussion of aesthetics, craft, and form.

VM429 - Comedy Writer's Room (4 Credits)

Emulates a Hollywood comedy writing room. Students collectively create and write
an original pilot script for a TV comedy. Students write character sketches, a
comprehensive story outline, the first draft of the script and all subsequent drafts,
and participate in an extensive punch-up. Participants gain a keen understanding of
how a Hollywood comedy writers' room works, how to write under deadline, how to
pitch jokes, and how to write comedy as a team.

VM604 - Topics in Media Production: Writing the Screen Play (4 Credits)

 This class begins with creating a story concept and developing that idea into a
feature-length screenplay with an emphasis on developing the artistic voice.
Storytelling methods and techniques for both classic three-act structure and non-
linear structure will be examined. Students will learn script analysis, pacing,
momentum, character development, conflict and dialogue. Coursework includes
completion of a treatment, a detailed outline and a minimum of 60 pages (students
will be encouraged to finish the screenplay). All scripts will be suitable for theatrical
release, or cable, or streaming platforms.

VM604 - Topics in Media Production: Graduate Writing for TV (4 Credits)

The course examines how to create a television series. This includes developing an
original premise and writing convincing, multi-dimensional characters and
intriguing, character-specific dialogue. Students will write a television pilot script to
be work-shopped in class, along with a pilot package that includes a logline, a series
synopsis and a six-week episode guide with character descriptions and story arcs.
Students will also be introduced to writing scripts for existing TV sitcoms and
dramas.

VM605 - Graduate Writing Short Subject (4 Credits)

Introduces the three genres of short form--nonfiction, experimental, and fiction.

Students learn the differences and components of each genre and acquire an
understanding of the art, craft, and discipline of each process from a writer's point
of view. Emphasis is on developing the writer-s individual personal vision.

VM606 - Writing for Interactive Media (4 Credits)

Explores the fundamentals of writing for the interactive screen. Examines narrative,
non-text, web, and multi-user game contexts as the student works from the ideation
phase through completed works made ready for production.

Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting

Welcome!

UTs nationally ranked MFA Screenwriting program is surrounded by a city in love with
storytelling Austin, TX, home to great film festivals, some of todays hottest feature
filmmakers, and many of todays top TV show runners. Its where you can write the next
Hollywood blockbuster, original television pilot, or small indie gem.
Program Achievements

Were winning major awards. Our screenwriting students have won the 2010 and 2014
Academy Nicholls Fellowship and have also placed highly in other prestigious
screenwriting competitions, including the Austin Film Festival.

Our faculty are not only topflight instructors, but are also working screenwriters, having
sold and optioned screenplays to HBO, Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema, Walt Disney
Studios, Dimension Entertainment, MGM, National Geographic, Paramount Pictures, Sony
Entertainment, The Disney Channel, Lionsgate, Happy Madison Productions, Gary
Sanchez, and many other studios and networks.

Our former students and faculty have written for television programs such as iZombie,
Hemlock Grove, Greek, Archer, Generation Kill, Chasing Life, Haven, Being Human,
Everwood, Brothers & Sisters, Jericho, and Livin Loud.

Program Details

The Master in Fine Arts (M.F.A.) program in Screenwriting is a two-year (including one
summer) 45-hour program designed for creative individuals with a strong commitment to
storytelling for the screen. The program provides a foundation of narrative skills that
enables writers to succeed in both film and television, in either the Hollywood or
independent arenas. Only seven students are admitted each year, a number that optimizes
the workshop environment and makes it possible to provide maximum guidance.

Upon entering the program, students are introduced to the principles of writing for the
screen, focusing on characterization, story development and narrative structure. Students
leave the program with three original feature-length screenplays that have undergone
significant revision. Students also do extensive work in television, writing specs of existing
TV shows as well as original pilots. In addition to their core writing workshops, students
enroll in required courses in Film History, Production for Writers, and Adaptation. During
their final semester, M.F.A. candidates work one-on-one with a senior faculty member on
their thesis project, leaving the program with polished work suitable for submission to
agents, producers, studios and other financing entities. Degree requirements include a
written report describing and analyzing the creative development of the thesis script.