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Level Two Certification - TV Tuesday
Feature film WriterForHire Syllabus (2021)
Mondays April 20th - May 18th 7:00p-9:30p
Location: Bridge 17, 252 Walker St Unit B, Atlanta, GA 30313
Class Time: 7:00p -9:30p (5-minute grace)
Street parking is available.
*Please note street parking is free where available. Looks for the dates on the NO PARKING signs. Sometimes the sign is posted with a date in the future or in the past.
Instructor: AZ Yeamen
email: az@bridgeseventeen.com
text: 678.744.7225 (up to 24 hours response time)
office assistant: writers@bridgeseventeen.com (faster response time)
Week
1
Module One
Overview of tools and software required for the course. Foundation setting with business tools, understanding the difference between plot and story, comparable selection, pace, schedule setting, one-sheet synopsis. Most importantly, character arcs. Two assignments will be given this week, as well as two scripts to read and watch for the course.
Topics to review:
Weekly Case Study
Arc selection
One-sheet
Voice & Pacing
Proper comp search
Weekly story questionnaire.
Freytag's Pyramid (Exposition & Inciting Incident)
Week
2
Module Two
Collaboration week. Based on last week's one-sheet story arc selection, present a tactful argument with a peer as to why your story arc approach is better suited to write the story. Be prepared to have film comparables that support your argument - structure-wise. Identify tropes in your story that you will explore and eventually deny to create an intriguing film. One assignment will be given this week.
Topics to review:
Freytag's Pyramid (Rising Action & Climax)
Story Arc
Power of Structure
Five-act vs. Three-act film structure
Plot vs. Story.
Weekly story questionnaire.
Week
3
Module Three
The building blocks of any story are the scenes created to support your character's motivations. In this module, we will review the causational relationship between your plot/character structure and sequence order. Based on your treatment loglines (last week's assignment), mark the sequences of events using Freytag's Pyramid. Provide comparables to support your storytelling method.
Topics to review:
Freytag's Pyramid (Falling Action & Denouement)
Story Arc
Scene structure
Obligatory scenes based on genre
Set Scene
5-key elements of a scene
Setting and descriptions
Creating strong characters with strong motivations
Weekly story questionnaire.
Week
4
Module Four
Pitch presentations are the cornerstone of writer-for-hire work. This module deals with final deliverables ad prepping clients for the pitch.
Topics to review:
Freytag's Pyramid (Full Story)
Story Arc
Rewrites & Edits
Final Deliverables
Cleaning Scripts
Schedule interruptions
Closing out clients. (Legal requirements
Week
5
Module Five - Capstone
A culmination of the program and steps on how to move forward. In this module, your personal thesis statement will be due. Prepare questions based on the topics below to ask a professional.
Topics to review:
Contracts - Letter for Agreement (Bridge 17 template)
Writer's Rights
Payscale
Continuing project involvement
Agent vs. Manager
Project integrity
When to say 'no.'
Managing producer's expectations.
Weekly work schedules
Collaboration techniques
When to STOP rewrites
Copyedit techniques (Final Draft 11)
Software tools and Communication (Legal protection).