This advanced screenwriting course explores the inevitable process of growing up, including the adolescent's path toward adulthood and their new understanding of themselves and the world around them. What does it mean to grow up? How does one handle decisions and confront the adult world? Through analyzing films in the coming-of-age genre and a variety of sub-genres, we investigate individual needs and desires in the face of external pressures, failure and social success, loss of innocence, and rites of passage. This is first and foremost a screenwriting course. The goal is for students to continue to hone their craft and write at least 50 pages of a script. We help each other conceptualize, outline, and write our screenplays using exercises, research, and discussion.
