MFA in Film-Television – Script & Screenwriting

Designed to demonstrate professional competence and creativity in the student’s specific area of study. Portfolios should be done close to the end of the program of study. May be repeated for up to six credits.  Prerequisite:  COM 691.  All portfolios, whether MFA or M.A., have the 98 designation. (Pass/No Pass).

Students work with faculty to learn about academic requirements for publication, determine the topic/set-up of culminating projects, complete necessary preparation to begin projects, and arrange for committee assignments.  Pass/No Pass.

Aesthetic experience in various media, including the relationships between morality and art, between beauty and truth seen through the lens of the Christian faith, provide an emergent media literacy.

Historical/critical investigation of the production of religious films both for specialized evangelistic and didactic purposes, as well as the religious dimensions of the secular film industry. Study for the latter will focus on the works of Bergman, Bresson and Dryer and modern ethical Hollywood directors such as Allen, Spielberg and Beresford. May be taken online if student can verify access to the films required.

Critical and historical study of film and television with a topical focus. Different areas of scholarly study will be examined each time the course is offered; may be retaken for the study of a new topic. Some of the recent areas studied include: Film and Television Comedy, the Western, Film Noir, African-Americans and Women and Hollywood.

Examines the structural components of plays and film scripts. Character development studied in relation to structure. Scenarios, treatments and a substantial amount of creative writing realized as the students work toward the development of a full-length work.

An exploration of the structural, thematic and character techniques in writing plays for the stage from the sketch to the full-length play. Emphasis is placed on developing a “theatrical” knowledge of conventions and imagery that is the exclusive realm of the live theatre experience from a writing standpoint.

Examination of the special circumstance of the short film script (less than 45 minutes running time). Students learn the narrative conventions of this format and write two film scripts through multiple drafts.

An analysis of the structural components of a variety of TV narrative program forms, such as situation comedies and hour-long dramas. Includes survey of markets and pitching techniques.

Builds upon the skills of SSW 510 Story Structure for Stage & Screen. Skills course that guides from the idea through treatment and step-outline to a finished first draft and the marketing of both the script and the writer. Special consideration given to format, story narration and dialogue polishing.

Various topics involving the writing of scripts for the screen, stage, or other media.  Topics will be based on the strengths and interests of the instructor.  Topics include, but are not limited to, narrative adaptation, genre writing, and writing for the Internet.  May be repeated when topics vary.

Provides opportunities for practical and hands-on experience in a given area such as magazine, newspaper, public relations, performing arts, film arts and television arts. (Pass/No Pass) Note: See listing under specific Schools. All MFA or M.A. practicum have the 80 designation. Theatre practica also have a 681/781 designation.

An  online  two-credit  course  designed  to  help  acclimate students to Regent University and online learning. It will provide the knowledge, resources and essential skills needed for success  at  the  graduate  level. Topics  include  academic  writing,  online  learning,  information  literacy,  and  advising  and support services. It may be required for some students as a condition of admission, and may substitute for UNIV LIB Information Research and Resources and/or ENGL 500 Graduate Academic Writing Seminar.

In this exploding age of information, it is the objective of the library faculty to prepare graduates to be on the cutting edge of information technology. Information literacy is the ability to effectively access information for problem solving and decision-making; thus, the knowledge and abilities you glean from this course will open doors to lifelong learning. It is imperative for graduate study research. Since the information learned in this course is a vital foundation for all other coursework, its completion is required within the first semester of study. The course takes approximately ten hours to complete.