We’ve all familiar with the concept of adaptation, and the phrase, “The book was better than the film” has become something of a cliche. But for those of us who are avid viewers of movies and TV shows and also writers, one might wonder what we can learn from directors, screenwriters, cinematographer, and even actors. In this class, we’ll go over some basic terms from film technique and theory, and then apply these to the craft of fiction. From characters and dialogue to scene-building, from perspective to tone, we’ll examine how films can inform and enhance our writing, and consider the ways that the visual language of film can be reverse-adapted to the page. We’ll focus on a different film each week; films will be available on various streaming services, but the majority will come from the Criterion Channel, so it is recommended that students factor a membership for the duration of the class as an additional materials fee. (Criterion also has great additional resources, such as interviews with directors and commentary, that we might avail ourselves of).

Writers who might benefit from taking this class are fiction writers who are fans of film but haven’t determined how they can avail themselves of film techniques yet in their fiction, and anyone who loves to discuss film and television with the same enthusiasm that they devote to their favorite books.