How does a filmmaker learn to tell stories that will make viewers
laugh, hold them at the edges of their seats, or move them to tears?
How does a television series writer learn to create characters and
situations that can lure viewers back week after week?  To what
extent are these storytellers  able to express a personal vision --
and to what extent must they conform to the "rules" of storytelling
in the television and film industries?

This course will focus on storytelling in the television and film
industries.  We will begin with theories of narrative and culture in
order to understand how and why human beings tell stories.  Next
we'll turn to theories of film and television in order to understand
how basic principles of storytelling have been modified to meet the
unique challenges presented by storytelling on movie and TV screens.
Finally, we'll look at the television and film industries in order to
understand how storytelling has been shaped by the commercial goals
and the extremely complex organization of  production in both
industries.

We will view movies and television series, including several that
have crossed over from one medium to the other (such as BUFFY THE
VAMPIRE SLAYER and THE X-FILES).  Grading will be based on a series
of short papers.