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SCRP workshop students: a gentle reminder I'm expecting to see opening sequences in my mailbox today. It's critical that you start writing your actual script and keep up the momentum on this project.

Comic Book Writing Class Official!

This fall, we've added a new class to the roster -- SCRP 465 ST: Comic Book Writing. For those of you interested in the graphic story-telling medium, there's even better news! The class is being taught by veteran comic writer and all-around great guy, John Arcudi, who's currently writing the Superman section in DC's Wednesday Comics, as well as Aliens, Predator, and BPRD for Dark Horse.

Register early, since this class is guaranteed to be popular and to fill quickly. E-mail me with any questions.

Senior Project Changes

Anyone who will be a Senior, graduating at the end of the 2009-2010 academic year, must take note that the Senior Project cycle of classes, SCRP 495/496, has been rescheduled to Fall/Winter, rather than Winter/Spring.  You will need to register for your senior project during the Fall term, and adjust the rest of your schedule accordingly.  The class should appear on the registration web area when registration opens at the end of the month.

News Quickies

Two bits of news today -- 

There will be a brand spanking new comic book writing class in the fall term. Details will follow as soon as registration numbers are firmed up, etc.  Watch this space, and tell your friends to watch this space for more information in advance of registration.

The brand new Drexel film fest (no name yet) will be running late in fall term.  Look for announcements on this space as well as campus-wide as details develop.

Screenplay Reading

SCRP Faculty Member David Greenberg has a table reading of a script coming up.  Details below:

SHADOWPLAY: Jennifer is afraid of her own shadow. You should be too.

Philadelphia Filmmakers Salon

This month's salon will feature a reading of Shadowplay, a screenplay by award-winning writer/director David Greenberg and local producer Chris Hicks.

Shadowplay is the story of a shy young painter who accidentally unleashes her inner demons when she attempts to seduce a man with magic.

If you're a filmmaker, screenwriter or actor and want to meet, connect and socialize with others, this is the place for you. This monthly event gives you the opportunity to see what projects members of the local film community are working on and gather in a casual setting. This is a free event.

Date: Sunday, July 26.
Time: 7-10 PM

Location: The Studio at Filmtech school, 2019 S. Juniper St. in South Philadelphia.
Website: filmtechschool.com
email: info@filmtechschool.com
Phone: 215-313-0123

The Problems With Sci-fi

In reference to ongoing discussions with some of you about the difficulties of writing sci-fi, here's an excerpt from Today's Salon Article Called "Why America is Flunking Science."

• Let's take these two halves of Crichton in sequence, as both embody important lessons about science in our culture. First, science in the entertainment media. Crichton had little patience for scientists' complaints about ridiculous sci-fi plots and wild scientist stereotyping. In a 1999 lecture before the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he countered such gripes with his own perspective on why scientists will probably never be very happy with the products of Hollywood. As Crichton advised, there are at least four important rules of movies that just don't mesh with the real process of research: "(i) Movie characters must be compelled to act. (ii) Movies need villains. (iii) Movie searches are dull. (iv) Movies must move." Crichton argued that real science, with its long, drawn-out intellectual processes and frequent dead ends, simply can't be reconciled with such exigencies. "The problems lie with the limitations of film as a visual storytelling medium," he concluded. "You aren't going to beat it."
• Crichton's words are worth heeding. People who care about science and want it to come off better in the mass media can't ignore his four rules of movie storytelling. They can't ask for entertainment products in which the characters do actual research (or at least not much of it). They can't ask for entertainment products that will be boring — a contradiction in terms. Rather, the goal must be to work toward finding ways of conveying information about science through film and other entertainment media without rendering them dull or unpalatable to audiences.

Room set for meeting

Next Thursday's meeting will be in the small screening room, UCross #030.

SCRP Workshop Meeting - July

Tentatively, we're going to meet next Thursday, July 16th @ 11:00 AM.  I'll announce the room as soon as it's secured.

Workshop Class - Assignment

Now that everyone's -- except for a late joiner -- blog has been posted, please take a look at them and help your fellow writers if you have any comments. We will have our July meeting next week. Date to come. Stay tuned.

Workshop Blogs

Congratulations to those of you who managed to meet the first deadline in the workshop class. Your blogs links are posted to the left. For the rest of you... *sigh*. Get on the stick.

Lit Class - Beware!

The first quiz has been posted on BB Vista. Please note, you need to watch a film clip of your choice before taking the exam. The film clips - from two different adaptations of Beowulf - are accessible under the "Film Clips" section on the home page.

E-mail me with any questions.