Singapore University of Social Sciences

Scriptwriting: The Short Film

Scriptwriting: The Short Film (FLM364)

Synopsis

FLM364 Scriptwriting: The Short Film is a highly practical course that builds on the foundation established in FLM361 Scriptwriting: Telling a Compelling Story (the prerequisite course for FLM364). It is a common misconception that a short film is a brief version of a feature film. Students will learn how a short film actually needs to tell a story in imaginative ways that immediately grab attention. Students will go through the process of developing an outline, crafting compelling characters and situations, and writing a script for a short film.

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every January

Topics

  • Why short films matter and why 10- to 15-minute shorts are more in demand than 30-minuters
  • Case studies: 2-Act and 3-Act short films
  • Genres and the story world
  • Innovate: Reinterpret, fuse, create something new
  • The Why and What of your story
  • Outlining and breaking down the scenes
  • Hooking the audience
  • Improving character introductions and weaving in back story
  • Making characters inhabit their space
  • Disguising exposition with the right placement and withholding of information
  • Elevating a scene with analogies
  • Crafting the dialogue

Learning Outcome

  • Deconstruct story and character.
  • Construct an outline that shows clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
  • Use screenwriting techniques to hook the audience.
  • Develop and refine characters and scenes.
  • Experiment with ways of writing exposition.
  • Create a script for a short film.
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