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Screenplays 101 - Part 1: Basic Structure

Created by Nicholas Pappas

Screenplays 101 - Part 1: Basic Structure

Screenwriter Nick Pappas leads a two-part course on screenplays 101. Great scriptwriting is not something that can be covered in a single course: so we're going to start with the basics. Those basics are going to be split up into a Part 1 and a Part 2. Part 1, this course, will concentrate on basic film structure. Part 2 will concentrate on screenplay formatting.

By the end of this course, students should have a basic understanding of history, terminology, and are able to identify the barest bones of the three-act structure, all with an eye toward developing their own screenplay.

Module 0: Introduction 5:35 FREE PREVIEW
This module introduces the course, and outlines what will be covered in each section.
Module 1: What is a Screenplay? 10:53 FREE PREVIEW
In this module we’re going to look at the history of the screenplay, identify what a screenplay is, how it’s different than other forms of writing, and set up expectations for what’s to come in future modules.
Module 2: Theater vs. Film from a Writer’s Point of View 15:31
In this module we’re going to look at playwrights and screenwriters, how the jobs differ and how they overlap.
Module 3A: The Three-Act Structure 16:18
In this module we’re going to discuss the basics of the way we tell stories and how that influences the structure of a screenplay.
Module 3B: A Case Study 7:46
This is Module 3B - Structure: Pee-wee’s Big Adventure – A Case Study where we’ll take all of the theory that we discussed in Module 3A and apply it to Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
Module 4A: Protagonists: Goals, Obstacles, and Tactics 15:05
In this module, we’ll examine how a protagonist is shaped by their goals, the obstacles against them, and how they use different tactics to get around those obstacles.
Module 4B: A Case Study 7:26
In this module we’ll look at what we learned in module 4A and apply it to Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
Module 5: Wrap-Up 3:55
In this module we’re going to wrap up Screenplays 101 – Part 1: Basic Structure and get ourselves ready for Screenplays 101 – Part 2: Basic Formatting.

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Standards Addressed

National Core Arts Standards

Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade HS Accomplished

TH:Pr4.1.HSII.a - Discover how unique choices shape believable and sustainable drama/ theatre work.

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 6

TH:Cr3.1.6.a - Articulate and examine choices to refine a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.

Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding - Grade 7

TH:Cn11.2.7.a - Research and discuss how a playwright might have intended a drama/theatre work to be produced.

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 8

TH:Cr3.1.8.a - Use repetition and analysis in order to revise devised or scripted drama/theatre work.

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Proficient

TH:Cr3.1.HSI.c - Refine technical design choices to support the story and emotional impact of a devised or scripted drama/ theatre work.

Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding - Grade HS Proficient

TH:Cn11.2.HSI.a - Research how other theatre artists apply creative processes to tell stories in a devised or scripted drama/theatre work, using theatre research methods.

Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work - Grade HS Accomplished

TH:Re9.1.HSII.c - Verify how a drama/theatre work communicates for a specific purpose and audience.