In this class, students will view and learn to dissect narrative films for the elements of traditional three-act structure, the most common storytelling format in the industry, and then apply those lessons to their own work. By understanding how and why this structure creates memorable and tightly paced Hollywood films, students will be able to apply it to their own nonfiction work, and will actively workshop those ideas in class and small group discussions and exercises. In melding the sensibilities and conventions of documentaries with an easily identifiable narrative structure, students will not only identify ways to adapt their subject matter to the appetite of a story-hungry contemporary documentary audience but also learn how to deliver commercially viable documentary films for today’s selective environment. (6 hours)

Note: An eight-week version of this course will be taught in the fall.

Joshua Dasal is a screenwriter, filmmaker, actor, and advertising veteran. A graduate of the prestigious University of Southern California (USC) film school, he has creatively developed, written, directed, produced, and consulted for entities like the Discovery Channel, PBS, Sony Screen Gems, and director Wes Craven. His work has screened at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Director’s Guild of America, and USC’s First Look Film Festival. Dasal was awarded a Mid-Atlantic Emmy and Silver Telly for his PBS work, the HDFest Best Documentary prize for The Mars Underground, screenwriting acclaim from Final Draft, and five regional awards, including “best film,” for his 48 Hour Film Project short, Cake.

All levels

begins Monday, October 08, 2012

meets on:
Monday, 07:30 PM - 09:30 PM