Instructor: Rodger Cove
February 21 - April 18, 2009, Saturdays, 12 - 4
$390 ($350 for Praxis members) + 5% GST
About the instructor
Rodger Cove is a screenwriter with nine screenplays to his credit. A former editor of the literary magazine PRISM international, and a two time Praxis Fellow, he has also been a semi-finalist in the prestigious Chesterfield and Nicholl Screenwriting Competitions. Related work experience includes stints as a dramaturge, script analyst, and story editor for Theatre Terrific, CBC Western Drama Development, British Columbia Film, Movie Central, and Praxis. A senior instructor in the writing department at the Vancouver Film School, he also teaches screenwriting on-line at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Most recently, he has written, co-produced and acted in a feature length mockumentary called Hair of the Sasquatch, which had its world premiere at the 2008 Calgary International Film Festival. His feature script Roadside is currently under consideration in Los Angeles, with John L’Ecuyer attached to direct. Rodger has a B.A. in English, from Simon Fraser University, and an MFA from the University of British Columbia.
Course Overview
This 8 week course is based on the idea that the first draft of anything is merely a discovery draft in which we learn what is working in the story and what isn’t.
Designed for screenwriters who have a first draft of a feature film script under their belts, and who have an understanding of format and basic three act structure and a desire to improve their script, this course will run as if each script were going through the development process. This means we begin at the beginning with who and what the story is about and move on from there with the instructor serving as senior story editor. With input from their peers and the instructor, the writer will objectively reappraise all aspects of their own work and come up with a rewrite strategy designed to advance and improve all aspects of characterization and story structure. Part of this process means reading and appraising classmates’ work.
We will then continue with the writers implementing their rewrite strategies and bringing fresh pages into a group workshop environment to receive feedback from fellow students and the instructor. On-going discussions and prepared lectures will precede every workshop; a running Q&A will also help writers with issues specific to what they are encountering as they move along with their rewrite.
Ultimately, the focus will be on developing the stories, discovering new dimensions in them, and getting to know what is possible and dramatically viable. At the end of the course, the writer should be finished, or be well on his or her way to completing, a second draft screenplay.
Weekly Breakdown
Week 1
Students must each come with a one sheet of their story, along with a character breakdown.
Stories are pitched to the class as a whole.
In a lecture/discussion format, we explore the function and design of the following: theme, main characters, supporting cast, plot, and subplot, causality, the beat sheet, and sequencing. We will also discuss scene design and analysis and understanding genre.
Further, we will analyze the opening pages of a script from early draft to final draft pages and discuss the dramatic viability of the changes. Class wraps with a discussion on rewrite strategies.
For next week, they should bring in their rewrite strategy and the first 15 pages of their rewrite.
Week 2
Q&A to start with any issues they want to discuss. It will be followed by a lecture on writing in the moment and crafting an effective presentation on the page, along with the expectations the reader/audience has for the 15 pages/minutes. We will also discuss dialogue, exposition and the various ways it can be delivered; e.g. flashbacks, montages, and voice over narration.
Group Workshops - the first 15 pages.
From this point on in the course, workshopping will occur regularly with rotating groups of 3 so that everybody gets a chance to give input on the work of others.
A brief wind-up discussion regarding our expectations for pages 15 to 30. Student needs to prepare a 2 to 4 beat sequence to be written over the coming week.
Week 3
Q&A, followed by a lecture on crafting image systems to enhance the story’s thematic intentions. We will further analyze clips from various movies to explore how the image systems work within their thematic contexts.
Group workshops – pages 15 to 30.
Student needs to prepare a 2 to 4 beat sequence as the basis for their writing over the coming week.
Week 4
Q&A, followed by a lecture/discussion on obstacles, complications and reversals. We will further explore the value of suspense and surprise in terms of creating narrative tension.
Group workshops - pages 30 to 45.
Student needs to prepare a 2 to 4 beat sequence as the basis for their writing over the coming week.
Week 5
Q&A, plus a lecture/discussion on the various levels of conflict. And further to narrative tension, we will also examine point of view and scene focalization.
Group workshops - pages 45 to 60.
Student needs to prepare a 2 to 4 beat sequence as the basis for their writing over the coming week.
Week 6
Q&A, plus a lecture on setting and geographical archetypes and the values they have in contributing to a story’s overall mood and tone.
Group workshops - pages 60 to 75.
Student needs to prepare a 2 to 4 beat sequence as the basis for their writing over the coming week.
Week 7
Q&A, plus a lecture/discussion focused on the third act - crisis, climax, and resolution.
Group workshops - pages 75 to 90.
Student needs to prepare a 2 to 4 beat sequence as the basis for their writing over the coming week.
Week 8
This week will begin with Group workshops - pages 90 to 105.
In the last part of this final class we will wrap up with our usual Q&A, starting it off with a discussion on what to do once you have a script you’re prepared to show to people.
Please note this is a PROPOSED SCHEDULE dependent on variables including class experience level, size, interests, etc. Some aspects of organization and content may be modified as we move forward.
$390 ($350 for Praxis members) + 5% GST
Space is limited - register today!
Refund Policy
$100 cancellation fee prior to February 13. $150 February 14 - 27. No refund after Feburary 27.