Narrative Filmmaking: From Script to Screen

FILMPROD 12AX

Narrative Filmmaking: From Script to Screen is a hybrid writing/production course that guides students from making a 30-second, silent, solo character introduction film to a 3-minute partner-created narrative film. Initial lectures and hands-on instruction in DSLR technical training, cinematography, and character behavior support the first exercise, filmed at the end of the first week. After critiquing that 30-second film, students will learn screenwriting, lighting, sound, directing actors, and editing in service of their second exercise: with a partner of their choosing, students will write, film, and edit their longer narrative film, relying on another pair to support their film as crew, and vice versa. Throughout, partners will compose two drafts of their script and workshop it in class, while also using a day for scouting locations, finding props, and securing actors. A two-day weekend shoot will include one day for filming their short and one day supporting the other pair's film. The final week is spent in editing and classroom critique of the films, with a public screening on the final day. This course is truly INTENSIVE and requires a significant amount of work (including nights and weekends) outside of class and daily deadlines for submission of creative work.

This course fulfills the Creative Expression (CE) requirement.

What Comes After Arts Intensive?

Alumni of the Arts Intensive Narrative Filmmaking course have founded a student film production club called Golden Spike Studios (now Flying Horse Films), gone onto MFAs in film production and screenwriting, served as videographers for Kamala Harris, and continued professional artistic collaborations that began in Arts Intensive.

Meet the Instructor(s)

Adam Tobin

Adam Tobin is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Art & Art History, where he teaches screenwriting, television, script analysis, and adaptation. He created the television series About a Girl and Best Friend’s Date for Viacom’s The-N network (now TeenNick), won an Emmy for writing on Discovery Channel’s Cash Cab, and worked in script development for Jim Henson Pictures and The National Basketball Association. His story clients have included ITVS documentaries, Adidas, Aardman Animation, Blue Sky Studios, Google Maps and Search, and DreamWorks Animation. Tobin also wrote the script and lyrics of She Persisted: the Musical based on Chelsea Clinton’s children’s book and The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza with bestselling author Mo Willems. Tobin holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford in English and an MFA from USC School of Cinematic Arts in Screenwriting.

Elivia Shaw

Elivia Shaw is an award-winning filmmaker based in Berkeley, CA, Elivia is driven by filmmaking that uses intimacy and personal narrative to question our larger social systems and identities. Her work has been featured on the Atlantic and PBS, and screened at festivals including AFI DOCS, DOC NYC, and Big Sky. Her short film, The Clinic, won awards at seven festivals including the Grand Jury Prize at AFI Fest. She previously worked on award-winning television series and documentaries for Al Jazeera, HBO and PBS including Al Jazeera's Empire, Life According to Sam and Sky & Ground. Elivia Co-Produced Natalia Almada’s Users, winner of the 2021 Directing Award at Sundance, and Co-Produced and Co-Edited Leslie Tai’s How to Have an American Baby (True False 2023, DOC NYC 2023, PBS’ POV 2023). She is currently directing her first feature documentary which received support from ITVS, SFFILM, the Redford Center and the Berkeley Film Foundation. She is a graduate of Stanford University’s Documentary MFA where she has taught film production courses since 2018.