Location:

Orange, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Film & Television

Program Overview

Program Description:

Screenwriting is like any calling: It is who you are, not merely what you do. And like most callings, being a screenwriter requires three distinctive characteristics: * Passion. You live to write and are obsessed with perfection. * Perseverance. You’re willing and able to endure untold hours of hard work. * Patience. You can accept the inevitable criticism and rewrites as well as the time involved in going from script to screen. Whether you’re starting from scratch with no prior screenwriting experience or you’ve already written a number of screenplays, Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts is an amazing place to hone your craft and become a true screenwriting professional. Our 2-year MFA in Screenwriting is an intensive program designed to help you develop your individual creativity as you explore the intricacies of story structure and character development. You’ll work one-on-one with an outstanding faculty of Hollywood screenwriters who have countless years of experience in both film and television — and many awards on their shelves. And you’ll learn to write in a variety of art forms — short film and feature-length, episodic television and mini-series. But just because we teach structure, doesn’t mean we’re bound by it. After all, too much structure often translates into too much predictability. Instead, we take a holistic approach to screenwriting with an emphasis on visual storytelling. Your work will be evaluated on its own merit as you cultivate your own voice, sharpen your personal sensibilities and refine your skills. A screenplay is essentially a blueprint for a movie, and thus incomplete until produced. As such, a great deal of your time here will be spent collaborating with fellow students — actors, directors, editors and cinematographers — getting your stories produced. In addition, you will study the fundamentals of film production so you’ll have first-hand knowledge how these functions come together to produce a film. And when you’re ready to leave us, you’ll go with at least two complete screenplays as well as a list of contacts, ready to make your move in Hollywood

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

Chapman University is accredited by and is a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.