A Unique Opportunity To Take A Course Featuring Groundbreaking Television Showrunner Joel Surnow

From August 22 to August 30, 2019, the Department of Communication Studies is offering a special Master Scriptwriting Class with Joel Surnow, co-creator and executive producer of TV series such as La Femme Nikita and 24.

This class, part of a series of intensive, innovative classes that focus on scriptwriting for a variety of genres and media, and featuring industry professionals, will be open to Communication Studies students at undergraduate, diploma, and masters levels of study. Students will earn 3-credits toward their degree upon successful completion of the course.

Taking an experiential and hands-on approach to learning, students will:

• work together collaboratively in order to hone their professional and creative skills,
• gain exposure to industry expertise and experience, and
• develop a critical understanding of industry processes.

The 7-day long course, led by a part-time instructor, will include:

• an introduction to the genre,
• instruction on how to write pitches and scriptwriting basics,
• a pitch session with Joel Surnow,
• writers' room simulation

How to apply:

Applicants must submit for review:

1)     A letter of intent describing why they want to take the class (150 words max.)

2)     a writing sample in ONE of the following formats:

·       treatment, with sample of dialogue (5 pages max.), or

·       script (first 20 pages only*), or

·       prose fiction (10 pages max.).

* Script submissions should provide the full story or concept from beginning to end. For longer scripts, provide the first 20 pages in script format then the balance of the story in brief synopsis form.

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Character development
• Narrative arc or evidence of story progression
• Quality of writing

Students at all levels of study follow the same application process. Applications are due by June 17, 2019 and must be submitted via email in one pdf to marcella.diclaudio@concordia.ca. Admission will be granted on a competitive basis and is limited to 10 students. The course will run full days August 22 to August 30, 2019, inclusive, and students are required to attend all days, in full, in order to pass the course.