Catalogue 2011-12

• The Schools
• USC School of Cinematic Arts
  • Degree Programs
  • General Requirements
  • Critical Studies
  • Film and Television Production
  • Animation and Digital Arts
  • Writing for Screen and Television
  • The Peter Stark Producing Program
  • Interactive Media
  • Institute for Multimedia Literacy
  • Interdivisional Program in Media Arts and Practice
  • Graduate Certificate in the Business of Entertainment
  • Minor and International Programs
  • Courses of Instruction
    • Cinema-Television
    • Animation
    • Critical Studies
    • Interactive Media
    • Production
    • Writing
    • Motion Picture Producing
    • Multimedia Scholarship
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Writing for Screen and Television

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Writing for Screen and Television is a unique, four-year program for students who seek intensive professional preparation for a career in screen and television writing. This rigorous program emphasizes small, workshop-style classes, and attracts students from all over the world. Students attend a variety of guest speaker presentations, take high level industry internships, are provided with mentors and taught by world-class professors.

Each fall, a class of 26 undergraduate writing students is selected to begin the program. A total of 128 units is required for completion of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree; 66 of these units are taken in a prescribed sequential order. There are no spring admissions.

Applicants must submit supplemental application and materials to the program office. For specific instructions, contact Writing for Screen and Television, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211 or telephone (213) 740-3303, or online at cinema.usc.edu.

General Education Requirements

The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which together comprise the USC Core. See here and here for more information.

Required Production Courses

Undergraduate writing students are required to take CTPR 241 Fundamentals of Cinema Technique and CTPR 290 Cinematic Communication. These introductory production courses are taken concurrently during the sophomore year.

CTPR 241 is an experiential course dealing with the technical and aesthetic principles of directing, cinematography, editing and the development of ideas through a cinematic vocabulary.

In CTPR 290 each student makes four digital video movies, executing all the creative roles personally, and takes a crew position on a group project. Exploration of personal expression and diverse genres is encouraged, with emphasis on visual and sound patterns, with limited dialogue. Approximately $1,000 should be budgeted for miscellaneous expenses, lab and insurance fees.

Four-Year Major Requirements for the B.F.A. in Writing for Screen and Television

Year One, First Semester		Units
CTWR 106a	Screenwriting Fundamentals	4
		4

Year One, Second Semester		Units
CTCS 190	Introduction to Cinema	4
CTWR 106b	Screenwriting Fundamentals	4
CTWR 120	Genesis of the Screenplay	2
		10

Year Two, First Semester		Units
CTWR 206a	Writing the Screenplay	4
CTWR 314	Writing to be Performed	2
CTWR 321	Introduction to Television Writing	2
		8

Year Two, Second Semester		Units
CTCS 201	History of the International Cinema II	4
CTPR 241	Fundamentals of Cinema Technique	2
CTPR 290	Cinematic Communication	4
CTWR 206b	Writing the Screenplay	2
CTWR 250	Breaking the Story	2
		14

Year Three, First Semester		Units
CTCS 464	Film and/or Television Genres, or
CTCS 469	Film and/or Television Style Analysis	4
CTWR 305	Advanced Screenwriting: The Relationship Screenplay	4
CTWR 416	Motion Picture Script Analysis	2
CTWR 434	Writing the Half-Hour Comedy Series	2
		12

Year Three, Second Semester		Units
CTWR 411	Television Script Analysis	2
CTWR 421	Writing the Hour-Long Dramatic Series	2
CTWR 453	Advanced Feature Rewriting	4
		8

Year Four, First Semester		Units
CTWR 418a	Senior Thesis	4
		4

Year Four, Second Semester		Units
CTWR 418b	Senior Thesis	4
CTWR 459a	Entertainment Industry Seminar	2
		6

Electives

Suggested electives in Cinematic Arts include:

CTWR 417	Script Coverage and Story Analysis	2
CTWR 430	The Writer in American Cinema and Television	2
CTWR 431	Screenwriters and Their Work	2
CTWR 433	Adaptations: Transferring Existing Work to the Screen	2
CTWR 435	Writing for Film and Television Genres	2 or 4, max 8
CTWR 437	Writing the Situation Comedy Pilot	2, max 4
CTWR 438	Linked Narrative Storytelling for the Web	4
CTWR 439	Writing the Original Dramatic Series Pilot	4, max 8
CTWR 468	Screenwriting in Collaboration	4, max 8
CTWR 487	Staff Writing the Multi-Camera Television Series	4, max 8
CTWR 499	Special Topics	2-4, max 8

Grade Point Average Requirements

A minimum grade of C (2.0) must be earned in all required and prerequisite courses (a grade of C- (1.7) or lower will not fulfill a major requirement).

Master of Fine Arts

The Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing for Screen and Television, is an intensive two-year degree program that concentrates on writing for narrative film and television. During the course of their studies, students benefit from a wide array of internship and mentorship opportunities available as a result of the university’s close links to the Los Angeles film industry’s top screenwriters, directors, production companies and studios.

Course work includes practical instruction in everything a working writer needs to learn about the filmmaker’s art and craft. Writing is taught in small workshop-style classes. The approach focuses on the visual tools of storytelling, developing stories from characters and then on an Aristotelian three act structure. Fractured narratives, ensemble stories, experiments with time and points of view, as well as other idiosyncratic styles of storytelling, are also addressed. The curriculum covers other professional concerns, including legal issues, agents and the Writer’s Guild, as well as the history and analysis of cinema and television. Classes are taught by working writers with a wide variety of skills, experience and approaches.

Each fall 32 students are selected to begin the Graduate Writing for Screen and Television Program; there are no spring admissions. Applicants must submit a supplemental application and materials to the Graduate Writing for Screen and Television Program. For specific instructions, contact the Graduate Writing for Screen and Television Program, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211, or telephone (213) 740-3303, or online at cinema.usc.edu.

A total of 44 units is required. A minimum of 30 units must be 500-level or above.

Required Courses

Year One, First Semester		Units
CTWR 513	Writing the Short Script	2
CTWR 514a	Basic Dramatic Screenwriting	2
CTWR 572	Practicum in Directing Actors for Film	2
		6

Year One, Second Semester		Units
CTPR 507	Production I	4
CTWR 421	Writing the Hour-Long Dramatic Series, or
CTWR 434	Comedy Writing Genres	2
CTWR 514b	Basic Dramatic Screenwriting	2
CTWR 516	Advanced Motion Picture Script Analysis	2
		10

Year Two, First Semester		Units
CTWR 515a	Practicum in Screenwriting, or
CTWR 519a	Thesis in Television Drama	4
		4

Year Two, Second Semester		Units
CTWR 515b	Practicum in Screenwriting, or
CTWR 519b	Thesis in Television Drama	4
CTWR 520	Advanced Scene Writing Workshop	2
CTWR 559	The Business of Writing for Screen and Television	2
		8

CTPR 507 Production I (4 units), introduces the fundamental principles of motion picture production, emphasizing visual and auditory communication. This course covers the basic aspects of filmmaking through lectures and hands-on production using digital video. Each student works on several collaborative projects, serving as writer, producer, director, cinematographer, sound designer or editor. Projects are shot using digital cameras and edited on non-linear systems. Approximately $1,200 should be budgeted for miscellaneous expenses, lab and insurance fees.

Six units of Critical Studies course work is required.

CTCS courses (6 units required)		units
CTCS 464	Film and/or Television Genres	4
CTCS 469	Film and/or Television Style Analysis	4
CTCS 501	History of Global Cinema Before World War II	2
CTCS 502	History of Global Cinema After World War II	2
CTCS 503	Survey History of the United States Sound Film	2
CTCS 504	Survey of Television History	2
CTCS 505	Survey of Interactive Media	2
CTCS 510	Case Studies in National Media and/or Regional Media	4, max 12
CTCS 511	Seminar: Non-Fiction Film/Video	4
CTCS 518	Seminar: Avant-Garde Film/Video	4
CTCS 564	Seminar in Film and Television Genres	4
CTCS 569	Seminar in Film and Television Authors	4
CTCS 587	Seminar in Television Theory	4

Total: 44 units required for the degree.

Electives

Students may choose from the following electives to complete their degree. Additional courses beyond the required 6 units of CTCS course work, from the Critical Studies list of courses, may be taken as electives. Electives outside of cinematic arts are available with departmental approval.

ELECTIVES		UNITS
CTAN 436	Writing for Animation	2
CTAN 448	Introduction to Film Graphics – Animation	4
CTIN 458	Business and Management of Games	2
CTIN 483	Introduction to Game Development	4
CTIN 488	Game Design Workshop	4
CTIN 558	Business of Interactive Media	2
CTPR 479	Single Camera Television Dramatic Pilot	2
CTPR 486	Single Camera Television Dramatic Series	4
CTPR 506	Visual Expression	2
CTPR 575ab	Directing for Writers	2-4
CTWR 430	The Writer in American Cinema and Television	2
CTWR 431	Screenwriters and Their Work	2
CTWR 433	Adaptations: Transferring Existing Work to the Screen	2
CTWR 441	Writing Workshop in Creativity and Imagination	2
CTWR 499	Special Topics	2-4
CTWR 518	Introduction to Interactive Writing	2
CTWR 541	Writing from the Unconscious	2
CTWR 550	Advanced Story Development	2
CTWR 555	Pitching for Film and Television	2
CTWR 574	Advanced Seminar in Directing Actors for Film	2
CTWR 599	Special Topics	2-4

WRITING Intensive ELECTIVES		UNITS
CTWR 410L	Character Development and Storytelling for Games	4
CTWR 435	Writing for Film and Television Genres	2 or 4, max 8
CTWR 437	Writing the Situation Comedy Pilot	2, max 4
CTWR 439	Writing the Original Dramatic Series Pilot	4, max 8
CTWR 453	Advanced Feature Rewriting	4
CTWR 553	Advanced Rewriting Workshop	4

Courses listed as writing intensive electives are considered heavy writing classes; students may take a maximum of three courses and 10 units of writing intensive courses per semester, required and/or elective.

Grade Point Average Requirement

An overall grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) must be maintained in all courses. In addition, an overall grade point average of 3.0 in all units attempted is required to qualify for registration in CTWR 515ab or CTWR 519ab. Courses in which a grade of C- (1.7) or lower is earned will not apply toward a graduate degree.

In lieu of a thesis the student is required to either complete a full-length screenplay, which will be developed in CTWR 515ab, or an original one-hour drama television pilot, mid-season episode and series bible, which will be developed in CTWR 519ab; this final work must be accepted by the Division of Writing Graduation Committee.

Time Limit

Students must maintain satisfactory progress toward their master’s degrees at all times. The time limit to complete all requirements is three years from the first course at USC applied toward the Master of Fine Arts degree. Course work more than seven years old is automatically invalidated and may not be applied toward the degree.

Writing for Screen and Television Certificate

The Writing for Screen and Television Certificate is awarded for one year of study.

Applicants must be recognized writers outside of the field of screenwriting.

The course of study is no less than 16 units total, over two semesters. Writers, both U.S. and international, should appeal directly to the chair for admission in the fall semester.

Admission is granted to only one or two scholars a year, and is of the highest selectivity. Applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree with at least a 3.0 GPA. Additionally, candidates must show compelling reason for not applying to a formal degree program.

The general course of study is as follows:

first semester		units
CTWR 513	Writing the Short Script	2
CTWR 514a	Basic Dramatic Screenwriting, or	2
CTWR 515a	Practicum in Screenwriting	4
CTWR 516	Advanced Motion Picture Script Analysis	2
CTWR 572	Practicum in Directing Actors for Film	2
		8

Second semester		units
CTPR 536	Editing for Scriptwriters	2
CTWR 514b	Basic Dramatic Screenwriting, or	2
CTWR 515b	Practicum in Screenwriting	4
CTWR electives		2-6
		8

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