Developing and Refining Screenplays

This unit advances students’ ability to shape, revise, and professionally present a screenplay or short web/TV project. Students build on foundational story and character work to deepen Act II/III structure, sharpen scenes and exposition, and practice industry-ready submission, protection, and collaboration skills.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze three-act structure and story mechanics — including Act II complications, Act III resolution, time clock, conflict, and tone — by identifying turning points and specific pacing or stakes issues in an existing outline and producing a revised outline that strengthens dramatic momentum.
• Demonstrate scenecraft and voice by writing and revising at least two sample scenes and one short web-series or TV episode outline that clearly establish character, conflict, exposition, and consistent tone.
• Apply professional industry practices by preparing polished submission materials (logline, one-page synopsis, sample pages), taking basic steps to protect work, recruiting and managing readers, and drafting targeted approaches to agents or managers.
• Evaluate adaptation and collaboration processes by creating an adaptation plan or TV conversion treatment, conducting guided peer critiques, and incorporating feedback to improve structure, character dynamics, and dialogue.