Blog Assignment #8

So I know this is very late, but I figured better late than never. 

I think this class is very beneficial to studying film. Learning how screenwriters think is really cool. There is an obvious difference in a screenwriter who is writing for someone else than there is for a screenwriter who is writing for himself. Noticing those differences is pretty neat. 

Personally, I learned a lot from this class. It has taught to be aware of dialogue and how characters speak. It has also taught me about character motivation. Through the scene analysis, I learned how important it is to break down each scene not only for understanding, but also from a director's standpoint. Knowing characters inside and out is one thing, but knowing the scene and the situation inside and out adds a whole new understanding to the script at hand. 

This course will change the way I make movies for sure, when I begin to make movies. It has taught me the importance of doing preliminary work and the benefits of it. Going onto a set as a director knowing the script well allows the director freedom to make changes on the fly. They director can also allow the actors to be more creative because the actors can do their own thing until it begins to not hold true to the character, which the director should be able to tell them. As far as watching movies is concerned, this will help me to have a more critical eye for different things that occur on screen. Because of this class, I definitely listen a lot more during a movie. I am also encouraged to read more screenplays, especially from movies that I have enjoyed. It is also fun to read a screenplay and then watch it come to life on the screen.

As an after thought, you did a wonderful job Andrew as teacher of this course. Because of your passion for the subject, it made me want to learn and come to class. And this isn't coming just from me, but from other people I have talked to. You're a great teacher. Thanks for educating the masses and helping us to become better filmmakers.

Oh, and our last class meeting you told us to do the blog and get it out of the way because we will most likely forget.

And you were right. Cheers.

Final Blog

I learned alot about writing screenplays in this class. I became aware of several different styles of writing all of which were successful. I learned how to include technical lines within a screenplay without taking away from the story. I also learned alot about how to read and break down a script from a director's stand point. I learned how to give actors direction while keeping their mind off their own actions.

Discussion Questions:
1. Out of all the different writing styles we've seen whos did you like best?

2. Which of the authors did you like least? I'm pretty sure everyone is going to say sternburg but o well.

Anthony Strada

Final Blog

I learned a great deal from the Weston readings about directing as well as acting, so in that regard, this class has helped equip me to be a better and more effective director.  That reading specifically has educated me on how to communicate my vision more clearly.  I have also learned about the different styles of writing for the screen and can appreciate that form of writing more. Also, through learning McKee's method of script analysis, I have learned to better detect and appreciate "beats" and "events" in films.  The class has also helped to strengthen my opinions about movies, and the idea to not just think movies are good because other people say they are.  In taking a script analysis class, I am more knowledgeable, and therefore feel more qualified to evaluate movies.  Overall, though I did not always enjoy the amount of required reading for this course, I cannot deny that I learned a great deal.  

1.  Which script was your least favorite?  Why?

2.  What script would you recommend as required reading for future classes?  Why?

-Kyle Deason

Final Blog Pro

Script Analysis.
It was a learning experience. It has definitely been the most technical class I have yet taken, and I believe I now have a stronger hold over scripts than pre-SA. Basically, I'm glad I took this class. Even though I found the grading system frustrating at times.
At the end of the day, when I look back at scripts I wrote before this class, they look terrible. Just on a technical level, they look sloppy and like the person who had written wanted to say something but wasn't sure of his medium. I'm glad I can create a script 'on the level' now, which means no regrets for any grade I get in this class.
The script selection was strong. Especially Adaptation, that one is king. The weakest one was probably Boy's Life, but it was just very simple. I suppose it's not a bad thing to start off simple.

McKee is obvious, I liked Weston, Sternberg is a mad woman.

blog # 8

This class was definetly the hardest class I took this semester. I got a lot out of it though, now that the class is almost over I realize how much I've learned. Taking that extra credit final exam made me realize how far I had come. Before taking this class I would have never read a screenplay and thought of the beats or who drives the scenes etc. I had never even read a full screenplay before I enrolled in this class, so basically everything was new to me. Even though I failed most of the papers on coverage and scene anaylsis I still learned from doing them and the mistakes I made writing them. This course was full of information, sometimes to much, but it was all relevant information the way I see it if you want to be in the film business. The scripts we read we're marvallous, especially Goldman. I think all the scripts we read were important, I was able to take different things from each of the script. I would recommend this class to someone if they were going into the film business or becoming a screenwriter, especially a screenwriter. Script analysis is somthing your going to need to know if you expect to make it as a screenwriter.

1. How many people think this class was hard?

2. what was your favoite script?

Final Blog

The past semester has been a great learning experience for me. Obviously the purpose of taking this class is to assist the students in their abilities to analyze and break apart an entire scene or even script. There are so many elements involved that are extremely useful such as the Rehearsal Plan from Weston and McKee's breakdown, and both of which were utilized quite often in this course. Before this class, I wouldn't say I read many screenplays and analyzed them. Although I still have some things that I could improve upon according to Script Analysis, I completely believe that it has helped me. And I was exposed to many wonderful screenplays from so many different genres from The Apartment to Boogie Nights. I would say my favorites were Pulp Fiction and Do the Right Thing. Goldman was also a pretty large part of this course, and his scripts were equally as great. There were also many blogs, papers, and even a group project throughout the semester. The papers were actually enjoyable to write because it helped me further my analytical thoughts. And I was very happy about working with a group on the final project. Overall, I think that script analysis was a great course and I believe its benefited me for the exact reasons it was supposed to.

Salvatore DePasquale

Discussion Questions:
- What do you believe was the most useful part of this course?

- Did you enjoy working with a group and do you think it helped you?

Blog 8. Benfits of Script Analysis

This course was definitely the most challenging I've had this semester or any semester thus far. Challenging in the way that I have seen movies in a new light. I love reading scripts and seeing the changes in the final product. I love the attention to detail, the style, the structure, of the scripts and their way of giving the reader the vision of the movie. What I come to enjoy about analyzing the scripts is the way an individual can interpret the script. The interpretations are endless and the particular interpretations really serve as a sort of portal into the interpreter's mind. I find that interesting. Weston's book really really really helped in really uncovering what a script has to offer. The book really opened my eyes as to what to consider when you start creating a script. The chapter on subtext was helpful. Of course, I expected the more structural material like Sternberg and McKee. But I guess what the class has done in terms of changing the way I watch movies is the way I approach dialogue. I love the flow of one character to the other, the exchanging beats, the subtext. While I'm watching, I can't help but revel at the writer's ability to inject the dialogue with subtext while still maintaining a flow that seems natural and not preachy. I feel that with subtext, you can accomplish more, rather than doing it in an upfront manner that may come off preachy.

Oh and I loved 'Dreams on Spec.' Keep that for future classes.

Krystian Lorenzana

Questions

1. What script would you like to see if you were to take the class again?

2. Does the class inspire you to write your own material?