Department of Visual & Media Arts
Screenwriting (BA, BFA)
Storytelling has evolved from its roots in the oral tradition to that of telling stories for film and television. A specialization in Writing for Film and Television will foster learning through writing, critique, and rewriting. Students will be encouraged to be innovative and individualistic in their style and expression. They will have the opportunity to write feature-length scripts, situation comedies, one-hour prime time dramas, and short scripts suitable for film, video, or new media.
Credits
BA: 44
BFA: 60
Visual and Media Arts Foundations (12 credits)
The Visual and Media Arts Foundations offers students a broad theoretical, historical, and practical introduction to the visual and media arts.
| Required Courses |
|---|
| VM 100 | History of Media Arts I |
| VM 101 | History of Media Arts II |
| VM 120 | Foundations in Visual and Media Arts Production |
Introduction to Disciplines (16 credits minimum)
At the Introduction to Disciplines level, students explore one or more of the department’s main discipline areas.
| Required Courses |
|---|
| VM 200 | Media Criticism and Theory |
| At least two of the following: |
|---|
| VM 220 | Writing the Short Subject |
| VM 221 | Writing the Feature Film |
| VM 222 | Writing for Television |
| At least one of the following: |
|---|
| VM 230 | Introduction to Film Production (I) |
| VM 231 | Intermediate Film Production |
| VM 240 | Introduction to Video Field Production |
| VM 241 | Introduction to Studio Television Production |
| VM 250 | Introduction to Sound Principles and Audio Production |
| VM 251 | Audio Field Recording |
| VM 260 | Introduction to Digital Media Production |
Specializations
| Required Courses |
|---|
| VM 402 | Seminar in Media Arts Topics |
| One Advanced Visual and Media Studies course (4 credits) | |
| At least two of the following: |
|---|
| VM 320 | Feature Writing Workshop |
| VM 322 | Comedy Writing for Television |
| VM 422 | Writing Primetime Drama |
| VM 425 | Scene Study Workshop |
| Recommended Courses |
|---|
| VM 423 | Writing Television Pilots |
| VM 424 | Interactive Storytelling |
| VM 231 | Intermediate Film Production |
| VM 440 | Advanced Studio Production: Fiction |
| WR 211 | Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction |
| TH 121 | Introduction to Acting I |
| TH 388 | Playwriting |
Advanced Visual and Media Arts Workshop
Students may apply to take the Advanced Visual and Media Arts Workshop. Two semesters are mandatory for BFA. Optional for BA.
For specific course prerequisites, please consult the Undergraduate Catalogue.
Holly Van Leuven, a Writing, Literature and Publishing student, and Timothy Zientek, a Visual and Media Arts major with a concentration in Writing for Film and Television, describe how their innovative class brings writers from different majors and colleges together. Watch video »
Emerson College classmates Alan Schoolcraft '95 and Brent Simons ’97 wrote the screenplay for the #1 movie in North America, Megamind. The Dreamworks film made $43.7 million at the box office in the first weekend.
Jay Cocks,
Screenwriting Chair
Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Jay Cocks, whose work includes Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ, The Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York, and Kathryn Bigelow's Strange Days, is Emerson’s Jane and Terry Semel Chair in Screenwriting. Learn more »
Jacob Emanuel ’08 and William Block ’08
Paramount Pictures Set to Produce Screenplay by Emerson Duo
The Hollywood Reporter and Variety are reporting that Paramount Pictures recently picked up a screenwriting pitch from two alumni of Emerson’s Film program, Jacob Emanuel ’08 and William Block ’08. Read the full story »
