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Screenwriting and Planning Laboratory

Screenwriting and Planning Laboratory

Code	16616
Year	2
Semester	S1
ECTS Credits	6
Workload	OT(15H)/PL(45H)
Scientific area	Cinema
Entry requirements	The student must: 1. Be fluent in written Portuguese. 2. Have some knowledge of English language (some bibliography and filmography will be available in that language).
Learning outcomes	At the end of this course unit, the student must be able to: 1. Correctly apply screenwriting techniques. 2. Write a script for a fictional short film. 3. Write the texts that contextualize a script (synopsis, tag line, treatment). 4. Articulate the script with the other phases of the making of a movie. 5. Develop a critical spirit in the assessment of literary and cinematic texts. The learning objectives are in line with the methods: a strategy of guided writing, leading the student from the idea to the revision of the script.
Syllabus	1. Basic concepts 1.1. Characteristics of a short movie 1.2. What is a scritp? 1.3. The format of a script 2. Planification 2.1. Finding good ideias 2.2. Researching about characters, space and time 2.3. Building credible characters 2.4. Writing natural dialogues 3. Writing 3.1. The narrative arch 3.2. Equilibrium 3.3. Inciting incident 3.4. Growing obstacles 3.5. Climax 3.6. Epilogue 4. Revision 4.1. Tips to revise a script 4.2. Checking list 5. Promotion 5.1. Writing the paratexts 5.2. Being successful in the pitch
Main Bibliography	Bibliografia Comparato, Doc. Da criação ao guião. Pergaminho, 2003. Mancelos, João de. Como escrever um guião para curta-metragem. Colibri, 2019. McKee, Robert. Story. Methuen, 1999. Nogueira, Luís. Laboratório de guionismo. Labcom, 2010. Parent-Altier, Dominique. O argumento cinematográfico. Texto & Grafia, 2011. Prior, Allan. Script to Screen. Ver Books, 1996. Trottier, David. The Screenwriter’s Bible. Silman-James, 2010. Filmografia Jang, Suyeol, dir. Life Is Strange. Din Films, 2024. Jonsgarden, Tomas, dir. Kasper & Sophie. B-Reel Films, 2022. LaMotte, Jason, dir. The Library. Kickstarter, 2015. Moodysson, Lukas, dir. Bara Prata Lite. Memfis Film, 1997. Nussabaum, Joe, dir. George Lucas in Love. Quality Film Entert., 1999. Osborne, Patrick, dir. Feast. Walt Disney, 2014. Peña, Juanjo Giménez, dir. Timecode. Nadir Films, 2016. Poon, Jada, dir. Code Red. Ringling College, 2021. Shi, Domee, dir. Bao. Pixar, 2018. Solanas, Juan, dir. L’Homme sans Tête. CNC, 2003.
Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria	The mark results from a script, a synopsis and a treatment (max. 11 pages), for a short film. I will take into account: the student's talent for writing fiction; discipline and hard work; proficiency in oral and written Portuguese; capability of taking criticism from the professor and the colleagues.
Language	Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.