About the Program
The Minor in Screenwriting offers a focused, interdisciplinary program designed to develop students’ skills in writing for the screen, stage, and emerging media. This minor addresses the growing demand for high-quality writing and storytelling instruction with the aim to nurture the next generation of visual storytellers across all disciplines.
With the entertainment and media industries increasingly embracing global and innovative production models, there is a critical need for unique voices in screenwriting, narrative designing, and visual storytelling with training in story structure and character development.
The minor serves:
- Emerging screenwriters and creative writers seeking structured training.
- Artists and professionals in adjacent fields (film, theater, journalism, advertising, game design) expanding their storytelling skills.
- Undergraduate students across VCU looking to complement their major with strong narrative and creative writing experience.
Students completing the minor will:
- Understand and apply dramatic structure across media.
- Write original scripts for short films, feature films, plays, or episodic formats.
- Refine revision skills through workshops and faculty feedback.
- Gain confidence in pitching their work for production or publication.
Upon completion, students will be prepared to:
- Submit scripts to screenwriting fellowships, labs, and contests.
- Develop works for independent production and theatrical staging.
- Collaborate on interdisciplinary creative projects.
- Build a professional portfolio to support applications to graduate programs or industry opportunities.
Courses will be taught by a rotation of Cinema and Theatre faculty with professional credits in film, television, and stage, supported by guest lectures from industry professionals and alumni.
Curriculum Structure
This course introduces students to the creative process and essential elements of effective narrative writing. Through a combination of lectures and practical exercises, students explore various formats, including narrative pieces, critical essays, and basic screenplays. It serves as a critical stepping stone for those aiming to develop strong storytelling skills in cinematic contexts.
CINE 110
This course focuses on the development of synopses, treatments, and intermediate-level screenplays. Students will also learn strategies for effectively pitching and communicating narrative ideas.
CINE 111
Introductory course, designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how screenplays function as blueprints for film production. The course covers essential topics such as common story structures, standard script formatting and abbreviations, script analysis for production purposes, and the creation of shot-by-shot shooting lists.
CINE 217
This course explores the fundamentals of playwriting through the use of Aristotelian and Freytag theories. Using these theories and assigned reading and writing exercises completed in class, the course culminates with the class creating and participating in a public reading of each student’s own 10-minute play.
THEA 365
This class delves into the narrative screenwriting process, providing students with an in-depth understanding of the formal elements of storytelling. Through a workshop setting, students refine their skills in character development, plot structure, thematic exploration, and narrative unity. The course emphasizes the development of original scripts, encouraging students to craft compelling narratives suitable for short films or other cinematic formats.
CINE 496
A capstone experience where students finalize scripts and curate a professional portfolio, positioning their work for production pipelines, creative collaborations, agency representation, and development opportunities.
CINE 498
Application Requirements
Submit a 2-page (maximum) writing sample that showcases your voice. This can be:
- A script (film or TV)
- A play (theatre)
- A short story (fictional prose)
Your sample can be an excerpt from a longer piece. If submitting an excerpt, please provide brief context for the sample (2-3 sentences) explaining where it falls in the larger work and why you chose this particular section to represent your writing. We want to see your unique voice in your writing!
Answer the following questions in one page (maximum):
- Why are you drawn to screenwriting?
- What do you hope to gain from this minor?
Tell us why you love screenwriting and what this opportunity means to you.
Email the above materials to cinema@vcu.edu with the subject line: “Application to Screenwriting Minor”
Application Deadline: April 25th, 2026