Writing for the Stage and Screen Minor

We are living in a visual culture in which Film and Television have an increasing effect on our lives. It is the culture of today and the language of this generation. Chapel Hill has long held a storied place in the world of writing and dramatic art. The Writing For the Screen and Stage minor was created in 2003 to draw upon Carolina's rich history and outstanding faculty to provide students with the opportunity to focus in this field. The program will emphasize the craft of writing above all.

Read more about Writing for the Screen and Stage from this article from the College of Arts and Sciences:
Arts and Sciences Showcase: A unique new program in Writing for the Screen and Stage

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

The program is open to students from all liberal arts disciplines. Students interested in the WRITING FOR THE SCREEN AND STAGE MINOR must have a 2.4 GPA or better, and have taken English 130 (formerly ENGL 23W - Introduction to Fiction, Writing Track), English 123H (formerly ENGL 29W - Freshman Honors in Fiction Writing) or Communication Studies 330 (formerly COMM 33 - Introduction to Writing for Film and Television).  The Submission Deadline for Fall 2009 applicants is Friday, February 20, 2009. Students who are invited to participate in the minor will be notified by Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

To be considered for participation in the minor, students must submit an appropriate writing sample. The writing sample can be:

• a short story
• a screenplay - short or feature length
• a play - one act or longer
• the first two chapters of a novel

All students must have a recommendation from their Writing Course Instructor.

English 130, the Introduction to Fiction Writing, is open to any student at the University. English 132H is restricted to Honor students.  COMM 330 gives preference to COMM majors, so instructor permission may be required to enroll.

The requirement of ENGL 130, English 132H, or COMM 330 can be waived based upon the recommendation of relevant previous instructors and the submission of appropriate written material as defined above. Examples would include, students having taken comparable courses such as a writing workshop course.

Submissions must include:

• Student's Name

• PID #
• Email Address
• Telephone Number
• Recommendation Letter from Previous Appropriate Instructor
• Submission Piece

and should be submitted to Professor David Sontag by email (sontag@email.unc.edu) or delivered in person to the Student Services Assistant in Bingham 117.

CURRICULUM

In addition to English 130 (formerly 23W) or English 132H (formerly 29W), the five required courses in the minor include:

Fall Semester of JUNIOR Year
COMM 131 / DRAM 131: Writing for the Screen and Stage (formerly COMM 30/DRAM 153)

DRAM 120: Play Analysis (formerly DRAM 20)

Spring Semester of JUNIOR Year

COMM 546.001: History of Film I (formerly COMM 146)
and
COMM 433: Intermediate Screenwriting (formerly COMM 132)
or
DRAM 231: Intermediate Playwriting (formerly DRAM 155)

Fall Semester of SENIOR Year
COMM 639: Special Topics in Media Production: Master Screenwriting (formerly COMM 139)
or
DRAM 331: Advanced Playwriting (formerly DRAM 157)

Spring Semester of SENIOR Year

Electives for screenwriting including but not limited to COMM 639 (formerly COMM 139)
or
Electives for playwriting including but not limited to DRAM 195 (formerly DRAM 65) or DRAM 290 (formerly DRAM 192)

CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN SUCCESSIVE COURSES IN THE MINOR IS BASED ON THE STUDENT'S WORK AND THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE STUDENT'S PREVIOUS INSTRUCTOR(S).

For additional information, please contact Professor David Sontag at sontag@email.unc.edu.