class schedule
Week 1 lesson 1) Introduction: What is adaptation. Discussion on the transition from narrative to screenplay to screen.
2)Visual literacy, what is it? Short passages from novels and plays with film clips. Formatting. Functions, Catalyzers, and Indices.
Weekend Reading: The Importance of Being Ernest
Week 2 3) The Importance of Being Ernest, the play: a study of character
4) Quiz 1 on reading and screenplay Formatting
The Importance of Being Ernest: how dialogue advances plot.
Assignment (1): 2 page scene (faithful adaptation) The Importance of Being Ernest
Week 3 5) The Importance of Being Ernest, screenplay: writing visually.
Hand in Assignment 1.
6) View main scenes of The Importance of Being Ernest: Expand limits of the stage.
(Choose groups for oral presentation)
Weekend Reading: Romeo and Juliet
Week 4 7) Quiz 2 on Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, the play: a study in plot.
8) Romeo and Juliet: creating scene outline and 3 act structure
Choose a topic for midterm oral.
Assignment (2): Write Scene outline of Romeo & Juliet Identify functions, catalyzers, and indices of Plot Points
Week 5 9) Romeo and Juliet, Screenplay: analysing various adaptations (Zeffarelli, Baz Luhrman)
Hand in Topic for Midterm Oral
Hand in Assignment 2
10) West Side Story: classic vs modern. Adaptation as spin-off.
Weekend Reading: Brokeback Mountain
Week 6 11) Quiz 3 on Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain, the short story: finding the narrative “through line”: what to cut, what to leave in the movie, and how to expand.
12) Brokeback Mountain: words to image. Subplots, themes, character…
Assignment (3): adapt 2 page Scene from Brokeback Mountain
Week 7 13) Brokeback Mountain, the Screenplay: Examine differences between short short and the script: plot line, character, pacing/rhythm, etc.
Hand in Assignment 3
14) View clips of Brokeback Mountain: examine how the screenplay was transferred to the screen
Week 8 15) ORAL PRESENTATIONS
16) ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Weekend Reading: Beauty and the Beast
Week 9 17) Quiz 4 on Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast, the fairy tale: a look at symbolism.
18) View clips of Beauty and the Beast by Jean Coucteau: finding and creating subtext in the script.
(Choose a Fairy Tale to adapt for Final Project)
Assignment (4): Write DRAFT outline of a Beauty & Beast
Week 10 19) Beauty and the Beast by Walt Disney: modern fairy tales.
Hand in Assignment 4: B&B DRAFT outline
20) View Beauty and the Beast: Walt Disney version
Weekend Reading: Double Indemnity
Week 11 21) Quiz 5 on Double Indemnity
Double Indemnity: the novel, creating a new world
22) exploring mood, style, atmosphere, attitude
Weekend Reading: The Godfather (Book 1, 2, 3)
Week 12 23) The Godfather, the novel: creating great characters
24) Discuss Function, catalyzers and indices of the novel
Weekend Reading: The Godfather (finish book)
Week 13 25) Quiz 6 on The Godfather
The Godfather, novel: Finding the story, creating its structure, Plot lines.
26) The Godfather, the Screenplay: View part 1 of film. Analyze how the script was transferred to the screen
Week 14 27) The Godfather: view rest of film. Discussion
28) The Godfather: Discussion and wrap up.
Final Final Exam (comprehensive) & Final Project due