"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse." (The Godfather)
"You had me at hello." (Jerry Maguire)
"Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane." (Shawshank Redemption)
"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope." (Star Wars)
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." (Gone With the Wind)
Do you recognize these lines? Probably you do - they are some of the most iconic and well- known lines from cinema history. But have you ever considered who wrote those lines? Or who put down on paper all the lines of your favorite films? Sure, directors and actors are hugely important to the filmmaking process, but you cannot have a movie without first having a script, and that is what this class is all about. In this course, students will explore the theory and structure of screenwriting through film and script analysis, writing exercises and techniques, and class discussion. In the first unit of the course, students will explore conventions of screenwriting like character, conflict, plot, and structure, and will analyze how these elements are used in well-known films. Next, they will focus on developing an idea for their own original screenplay and will use peer review to help them revise and refine their ideas and writing. The final weeks of the course focus on rigorous writing practice and culminate in students writing and sharing the first full draft of their screenplays. Join this class and join the ranks of screenwriters like Francis Ford Coppola, Norah Ephron, Jordan Peele and Aaron Sorkin.