Catalog 73 - National University

School of Media and CommunicationENG 685ENG 686Great Directors: AmericanGreat Directors: International■ MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN PROFESSIONALSCREENWRITING( 715-508)Faculty Advisor: Bettina Moss • (310) 662-2152 • bmoss@nu.eduThe Professional Screenwriting MFA program provides an in-depthstudy of the art of screen writing, where students learn to writecompelling, well structured stories with memorable characters.Graduate candidates develop skills in advanced screenwriting, theability to critically evaluate film and television scripts for practicaland commercial outcomes, and critical acumen in the area of filmand media studies. Graduate candidates will complete the programwith a minimum of two feature length screenplays and/or teleplays,an aesthetic statement reflecting their artistic development and amarketing plan intended to introduce the student’s work to theentertainment industry. This program is hybrid, with the majority ofclasses delivered online. There is also a two week on-site residencyin Los Angeles.Instructors bring the benefit of professional film and televisionexperience to their teaching. The program focuses on developingscreenwriters well versed in both commercial and independentscreenwriting and prepares graduates to work in a variety ofcapacities in the following fields: commercial, industrial orindependent screenwriting and television writing and/ordevelopment, digital entertainment media and communication, andeducational or instructional film programs. Course work coversscreenwriting, television writing, adaptation, script analysis, scriptdevelopment, and business aspects of film and televisionprogramming.Upon completion of the Master of Fine Arts in ProfessionalScreenwriting, students will possess the knowledge and skillsneeded to write professional level screenplays and to participate inthe ongoing scholarly and critical discussions of issues in the field offilm, film theory and criticism.Program Learning OutcomesUpon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:• Critique their own as well as creative works of others usingindependent research, relevant critical models and professionalvocabulary.• Through analysis of feature films, television programming andtelevision and film scripts develop a professional screenwriters’vocabulary for constructing and revising one’s own work.• Generate original and/or adapted narrative screenplays, as wellas critical writing, which reflect principles relevant to the craftand practice of screenwriting.• Working at an advanced level, generate new and/or reviseexisting work which integrates critical responses to previousdrafts and also demonstrates self-direction and originality inidentifying and solving problems.• Develop a polished aesthetic statement documenting the writer’sgrowth as an artist and the impact of academic, cultural andsocial influences.• Create an engaging, professional “pitch” and marketing plansuitable for introducing the MFA candidate’s work to the filmand/or television businesselectives to be completed prior to taking the 2-course thesis sequence.The low-residency component of the program consists of twoadvanced courses: the “hybrid course” SCR 670 Development-Production Writing, its practicum, SCR 670P, and SCR 675 TheBusiness of Screenwriting. The first month of SCR 670 is takenonline, and its Practica component is taken during the two weekon-site low-residency at National University’s Los Angeles campus.SCR 675, The Business of Screenwriting runs on-site for two weeksand will run concurrently with the SCR 670P practicum. These lowresidencycourses provide students with the opportunity to work inperson in a collaborative environment that introduces them toworking professionals and to learn crucial elements ofscreenwriting, pitch presentations and how business is conductedin the film and television community.Thesis SequenceTo qualify for the Master of Fine Arts the successful MFA candidatemust demonstrate her/his ability to work under the guidance of athesis advisor and to; a) independently develop, write and revise aminimum of two feature length screenplays or teleplays, b)independently develop and write an aesthetic statementdocumenting the artistic choices that resulted in the student’s thesisprojects and reflect how their artistic choices exist within a largercultural and social context and c) create a marketing plan and pitchto introduce the student’s work to the entertainment community.These must be contained in the MFA Thesis Portfolio.In order to proceed to thesis, SCR Master of Fine Arts candidatesmust apply in writing to the program lead faculty for “advancementto candidacy.” On the basis of the application, the MFA candidate isassigned to a thesis advisor. To be eligible for advancement to thesiscandidacy, prospective candidates must have successfully completedall core courses by maintaining a “B” average AND have completedall advanced courses with a minimum grade of “B.” Candidates whodo not meet these criteria will be required to successfully repeat acourse and/or complete an approved “guided study” or“professional internship.”The Professional Screenwriting thesis portfolio is developed during atwo-course sequence that may last from 4-12 months. The courses areSCR 690 Screenwriting Thesis and SCR 691 Thesis Qualification &Review. During the Screenwriting Thesis course, a candidate workswith a thesis advisor to develop a Screenwriting Portfolio bypolishing and/or revising one or two scripts previously developed inAdvanced Screenwriting classes and/or developing and writinganother new screenplay. In addition, an aesthetic statement is craftedalong with a marketing plan. Upon successful completion of thesecomponents as determined by the thesis advisor, the graduatecandidate is cleared to take the SCR 691 Thesis Qualification &Review. The candidate submits the screenplays, aesthetic statementand marketing plan for evaluation by a thesis committee. Based onthe committee’s review the candidate has two months to revise thescreenwriting portfolio and meet the standards for qualificationreview. The thesis committee determines whether the student hasmet or exceeded the qualification requirements for the ProfessionalScreenwriting Master of Fine Arts.A candidate must satisfactorily complete each thesis course withinthe maximum specified time period. A candidate who is unable tosatisfactorily complete each course during the specified time periodmust retake the course. Any thesis course that receives anunsatisfactory evaluation must be repeated.Media andCommunicationsProgram DeliveryThe program is offered as a Hybrid, online/on-site low-residencyprogram for US citizens and permanent US residents. The five corecourses, the electives and a majority of advanced courses with corequisite“studio Practica” are delivered online. Depending upontheir thesis project and professional interests, students select threeApplication Requirements and Program PrerequisitesTo be considered for admission, applicants must meet the Universitygraduate admission requirements listed in the catalog under generalinformation for graduate degrees.Students are expected to possess or have reliable access to a high-289