Continuing Education

209 East 23rd Street

Short films for many filmmakers are their entrance into the industry. But, what is it that makes an award-winning short? How do we take a big idea and chisel it down to a memorable 15 minutes? This course aims to answer this question. Students will be immersed in the craft of short filmmaking and develop a story premise, characters and an outline, as well as write a script (10 to 15 pages). The goal of the course is for students to leave the class with a screenplay that they are ready to shoot. Throughout the semester, award-winning shorts will be analyzed and critiqued for inspiration and guidance on structure, story and technique. Guest lectures by filmmakers who have made successful shorts will offer students creative insight into the writing process, production and the festival experience. This is a wonderful course for both established and emerging filmmakers alike.
NOTE: This course is held on campus at SVA.