Descriptif

Course description:

Students will explore the ins and outs of short stories and short films in different steps:

• studying short stories as well as fiction filmmaking through the screening of films.
• screenwriting on specific subjects and situations — from both existing and personal writing material.
• making a fiction short film accordingly.

Learning outcomes: 

• Reading: students will become active readers of short novels and appreciate ambiguity and complexity to articulate their own interpretations.
• Writing skills: students will write short scripts for short films.
• Oral communication skills: students will demonstrate the skills needed to hopefully act in their own “productions”
• Critical Approach: students will develop the ability to evaluate their own work according to prerequisites and initial objectives.

Class Format: 

Students will be involved in direct use of the language in participatory, communicative, and interactive classes. Time will mainly be devoted to:

• analyzing material (reading and viewing activities);
• confronting ideas and discussing interpretations, approaches and techniques;
• meetings for discussing group projects.      

Course Content & Material: 

• Short Stories by Charlie Fish, Russell Golman, Raymond Carver, Ray Bradbury, James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, Matthew Thomas, Henry James, Annie Proulx, Margaret Atwood…
• Short films by Martin Scorsese Tim Burton, George Lucas, Adam Davidson, Stephen Daldry, Jim Gillespie, Brian Percival, Christopher Nolan, Simon Ellis, Disney, Pixar…