Department of Visual & Media Arts
Writing for Film and Television (BA, BFA)
Isabelle Redman combines her love of writing with Hollywood
Writing for Film and Television major Isabelle Redman walks away from her program with a written feature film. (Filmed and edited by Emerson College students.)
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 screenplays, situation comedies, one-hour prime time dramas, and short scripts suitable for film, video, or new media.
Credits: 44 for BA, 60 for BFA (both degrees also include 8 additional upper-level liberal arts credits)
I. Visual and Media Arts Foundations (12 credits)
The Visual and Media Arts Foundations offer 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 |
One of the following:
| VM 102 | Dimensions of Creativity |
| VM 120 | Foundations in Visual and Media Arts Production |
II. 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 204 | Topics in Media Arts: Practice |
| VM 230 | Introduction to Film Production |
| VM 231 | Intermediate Film Production |
| VM 240 | Introduction to Video Field Production |
| VM 241 | Introduction to Studio TV Production |
| VM 250 | Introduction to Sound Principles and Audio Production |
| VM 251 | Location Sound Recording |
| VM 260 | Introduction to Interactive Media |
| VM 261 | Computer Animation |
| VM 331 | Topics in Visual and Media Arts: Practice |
III. Specializations
At least two of the following:
| VM 322 | Comedy Writing for Television |
| VM 323 | Writing Primetime Drama |
| VM 324 | Topics in Screenplay Genres |
| VM 325 | Writing the Adaptation |
| VM 328 | Topics in Film Writing |
| VM 329 | Topics in Television Writing |
| VM 423 | Writing Television Pilots |
| VM 424 | Interactive Storytelling |
| VM 428 | Feature Writing Workshop |
| VM 429 | Comedy Writers' Room |
At least one of the following:
| VM 402 | Seminar in Media Arts Topics |
| VM 409 | Seminar in Western Art |
| VM 410 | Seminar in Non-Western Art |
Required Courses
| One additional advanced visual and media studies course numbered VM 300-315, 400-418, or 500-519. |
In addition to the General Education and major requirements, all students are required to complete at least two courses at the 300 or 400 level from the following Liberal Arts areas:
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Recommended Electives
| 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 I |
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 »






