RTF 396/368: Feature Film Lab

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - FALL 2008

UTFI is accepting submissions for the fall Screenwriting portion of the UTFI Feature Film Lab (RTF 396/368)-- an advanced five-semester screenwriting, pre-production, production, and post-production practicum.  The sequence is designed to provide students the opportunity to develop potential feature film projects from the script stage through full-fledged pre-production; each summer, we will shoot one project as a class. This portion of the FFL is designed to generate feature film projects to be undertaken by UTFI in the Summer Production portion of the five semester Feaure Film Lab course sequence.

The Screenwriting practicum takes a professional approach to filmmaking.  Students are expected to gain a deep understanding of the complicated, collaborative work required to turn a feature-length script into an actual film.  Focus will be put on improving the chosen projects and preparing them for production. The emphasis of this class will be on both process and product.

The Fall Semester will be an in-depth exploration of the chosen scripts, with attention placed on finding the movie within the script.  Extensive script work-shopping and revision will be required, with a focus on carving out story/character elements that are working, and shedding the rest. Students will also examine other crucial practical considerations—such as identifying the audience for their scripts, and potential methods of financing their projects. The semester will culminate with fully cast and rehearsed staged readings of the selected scripts.

All scripts from the fall semester will be considered for inclusion in the spring semester production lab --where a core group of filmmaking talent (directors, actors, editors, cinematographers, designers, composers, et al.) collaborate to "pre-produce" the projects.

This is an organized course that is open to graduate and undergraduate students; undergraduate students may enroll for either undergraduate or graduate credit.

In order to submit, ALL screenplay submissions must:

1) Be Feature Length (we won't take treatments, first acts, etc.)

2) Be Low-Budget (or be willing to be rewritten with a low budget in mind.) Low-Budget means $100,000 or less.

3) Be able to be shot in Texas (Or be willing to be rewritten with Texas as the shooting location).

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS AUGUST 10th @ 10AM
LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Selected students will be notified no later than August 24th.