Foundations of Screenwriting Craft

This unit introduces core principles of cinematic storytelling, including idea development, three-act structure, characterization, diction, ethics, and industry-aware formatting and devices. It reinforces creative process skills and prepares students to produce industry-standard sample pages and a concept package for deeper drafting, revision, and pitching in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze differences between film and other storytelling mediums and justify writing choices that prioritize visual, cinematic storytelling
• Apply three-act structure and narrative beats to create a concise scene/beat outline and draft a compelling opener, middle progression, and resolution
• Demonstrate industry-standard screenplay formatting and correctly implement cinematic writing devices (e.g., voice-over, series of shots, split screen, POV, intercut, musical) in sample pages
• Evaluate character, diction, physical world construction, and ethical considerations in a concept and produce a one-page package (logline, synopsis, treatment) plus a brief plan for research, rights clearance, and initial business steps