Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	03/22/2023
Top Code	060420 - Television (including combined TV/Film/Video)
Units	3 Total Units
Hours	54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours	0
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S)

Course Description

This is an introductory course to film and television genres. Students will get to examine the constructive use of film and television genres in the craft of screenwriting and teleplays. We will cover current and classic films and television programs to deconstruct genres and their evolution in the art of storytelling for film and T.V. Students will analyze and critique scripts, television programs, and films to assess the components of genre styles. This comprehensive course is for students interested in writing for film and television while taking a practical look at each aspect of script development. This class will develop and identify the basic story structure elements present within specific genres of film, television, and new streaming media. ADVISORY: FILM A102, FILM A110, and FILM A155. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Identify specific film and television genres through the critiquing of story elements within film and television programming, as well as illustrating writing styles of each specific genre to successfully communicate with industry professionals.
2. Demonstrate basic level of proficiency by articulately examining and explaining thoughtful points-of-view on valid constructive screenplay elements and themes in a critically cogent manner.
3. Create, compose, and exhibit, log lines, outlines, and scripted pages, using acquired knowledge to complete an original project containing proper story structure elements for a particular film or television genre.

Course Objectives

• 1. Distinguish and differentiate between specific thematic genres within the television, film, and streaming industry.
• 2. Identify and explain basic television, film, and streaming genre styles and formats.
• 3. Apply theory, critical analysis, and assessments of film and television programming.
• 4. Diagram beat sheets, outlines, and treatments.
• 5. Formulate and write a log line, beat sheet, and outline for any specific genre element pertaining to film and television storytelling.
• 6. Develop an understanding of the planning and writing process of film and television genres.
• 7. Demonstrate proper use and interpretations of industry terminology and writing genres.
• 8. Compare and contrast format standards of feature films, traditional broadcast television programs, and emerging digital platforms and technologies in Hollywood.
• 9. Critically explain and identify styles of genres standard to the entertainment industry.
• 10. Classify and critique written works of feature films, television programs, and streaming media, all while examining the style and format standard to the entertainment industry.
• 11. Design and compose log lines, beat sheets, and outlines for specific genres for their portfolio.

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Lecture Content

WEEK ONE:  GENRE VS FILM GENRE Specific, schematic, relevant elements of genre. Audience expectations/important first five minutes Hollywood and Genre Non- Hollywood and Around the World Uber-Genres/ Drama and Comedy Film viewing assigned Schematic/Specific/Relevant  (The ICM)   WEEK TWO - WESTERN Elements of classic structure of the genre/ Discussion of tone, audience expectations and the Plot versus character/ How to graph a character arc. Breakdown of weekly viewing assignment; classic story structure and how the classic westerns affect todays storytelling.  How to read visual elements What can make Westerns relevant today   WEEK THREE – WESTERN /GO THROUGH WORK Discuss and breakdown of assigned film Students present work: log line western Hybridization discussion Western Outline due next week   WEEK FOUR  - HORROR Discuss and breakdown assigned film Elements of classic structure of the genre/ Discussion of tone, audience expectations and the Plot versus character Psychological/Slasher/Monster/Thriller subgenres Commercial-ness o f the genre   WEEK FIVE – HORROR/ GO THROUGH WORK Discuss and breakdown of assigned film Students present work: log Line horror Hybridization discussion Horror Outline due next week   WEEK SIX -  ROMANCE/ ROM COM/ BUDDY Discuss and breakdown assigned film Background/iconography/audience expectations, classic components and more Reports begin - genre analysis   WEEK SEVEN – ROMANCE/ ROM COM/ BUDDY -GO THROUGH WORK Discuss and breakdown of assigned film Students present work: log line rom com/buddy  Hybridization discussion Romance/ Rom Com Outline due next week Reports continue   WEEK EIGHT  - THE THRILLER/CRIME 1.Discuss and breakdown assigned film 2.The series movies  (Bourne, Bond etc) 3.Reports continue   WEEK NINE  - THRILLER/CRIME /GO THROUGH WORK Discuss and breakdown of assigned film Students present work log line Thriier Hybridization discussion Thriller Outline due next week Reports continue   WEEK TEN – SCI – FI / FANTASY g> Discuss and breakdown assigned film Elements of classic structure of the genre/ Discussion of tone, audience expectations and the Plot versus character The unexpected Reports continue   WEEK ELEVEN – SCI-FI/ FANTASY -- GO THROUGH WORK Discuss and breakdown of assigned film Students present work: Log line Sci-Fi Hybridization discussion Sci-Fi Outline due next week   WEEK TWELVE –  DISASTER/WAR/EPIC AND OTHER GENRES Discuss and breakdown assigned viewing Discussion of genres we have not covered (we will have talked about most as we discuss hybridization) Reports conclude   WEEK THIRTEEN -  YOUR WORK Discuss and breakdown assigned film Genres used as constructive devices.    WEEK FOURTEEN - READ ORIGINAL TEN PAGES Discuss and breakdown film Look at the business of various genres in the marketplace Read, Discussion and critique WEEK FIFTEEN – READ ORIGINAL TEN PAGES Discuss and breakdown assigned film Best genre writers and why Read, Discussion and Critique   WEEK S IXTEEN –    FINAL EXAM

Method(s) of Instruction

• Lecture (02)
• DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
• DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

A. Lecture B. Practical Examples C. One-on-one Instruction D. Individual Assignments E. Viewings/Readings F. Assignment Critique G. Assignment Feedback H. Genre Review

Reading Assignments

Script Coverage: students are required to spend 16hrs (1hr/wk) reading, writing, analyzing, and critiquing coverage on a professional television script. Reading text: Students are required to spend 16hrs (1hr/wk) reading chapters in the Film Genre for the Screenwriter book and writing bullet points from the chapters.

Writing Assignments

Students will be required to write one critical analysis of a genre. Proficiency will be demonstrated by satisfactorily completing assignments and participating in group and class discussion. Students will demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills through their understanding of outlines, treatments, and scripted content.  Students will write genre outlines. Students will write pilot genre treatments. Students will write 10 pages for an original screenplay genre.

Out-of-class Assignments

Log Lines: students are required to spend 16hrs (1hr/wk) coming up with original log lines for each weeks genre being studied.  Outline writing: students are required to spend 16hrs (1hr/wk) compiling and constructing an outline for their weekly selected genre. Treatment writing: students are required to spend 16hrs (1hr/wk) compiling and constructing a treatment for their selected genre. Scriptwriting: students are required to spend 16hrs (1hr/wk) writing the firest 10 pages of an original screenplay in the genre of their choice.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

A. Assignments B. Individual Projects C. Examinations D. Oral Presentation and analysis E. Written Script Coverage

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will be required to write a genre outline. Students will be required to write a genre treatment. Students will be required to write 10 pages of an original screenplay in a particular genre. Proficiency will be demonstrated by satisfactorily completing assignments and participating in group and class discussions.  Students will demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills through their understanding of genres within the scripted writing process.

Eligible Disciplines

Broadcasting technology (film making/video, media production, radio/TV): Any bachelors degree and two years of professional experience, or any associate degree and six years of professional experience.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Miller, Kam. The Hero Succeeds, First ed. High Low Media, 2016 Rationale: The Hero Succeeds embodies pivotal instruction on how story structure is defined and implemented in storytelling. This practical guide behaves as a step-by-step comprehensive and analytical assessment of "the hero" in any story platform or genre.   2. Required Vogler, Christopher. The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers, Third ed. Michael Wiese Productions, 2007 Rationale: The Writers Journey helps the writer understand the theoretical and mythological approach to character development and their journey in the writing process. Traditional methods are used in this book to help the writer understand the theory behind stories.      3. Required Selbo, Jule. Film Genre for the Screenwriter, 1 ed. New York: Routledge, 2015 Rationale:   This book is the roadmap to embracing the conventions of genre in our current plane of existing and past media. It is a practical instructional manual, and entertaining as it is analytical.

Software Resources

1. Final Draft. Final Draft, 12 ed. Screenwriting software