Writing Class at City College Sharpens My Script

I am currently working on a digital story with Rochelle, a client at the clinic whose story will be featured at the upcoming "Religion, Spirituality, and Mental Illness" workshop to be held at the clinic. In her story, she talks about her journey through mental illness beginning with her first "break" at the age of 19 and all the ups and downs that took place. Hers is really a story of hope and faith as she describes how her family and faith in God have helped her through the "toughest of times." 

At the "non fiction Scriptwriting" (cinema 72) course I am taking at City College, I had an opportunity tonight to submit my work in progress to the class for critique. It was a script of Rochelle's story that I revised using some of the storytelling techniques we've been utilizing in class. We actually took a whole hour analyzing my rough draft and got some helpful feedback. I'm beginning to feel that my investment in a three-hour class in the evenings (taking the bus from work to school then home) is paying off. 

Nonfiction Scriptwriting (CINE 72)

I'm taking a course this semester on Nonfiction Scriptwriting at SF City College's Cinema Department taught by Denise Bostrom. With all the stuff going on in my life, I can only take one course at a time in the evenings. So for the next four months, my Thursday evenings are strictly devoted to learning the craft of writing non-fiction for the film/video. 

 Already into my third week of class, I am working on a script for a "how-to/instruction" film. In just a couple of weeks, we will move into the "autobiographical/experimental" category of nonfiction film. Our last third of the semester will be devoted to writing the standard "documentary." 

My ultimate aim for taking this course is to continue to improve my craft as an amateur filmmaker. In this case, I think taking this writing class will spark some new ideas for our Intermedia Arts project and also sharpen my skills in cinematic and visual storytelling.

Because I have not taken the traditional route to film education (my second B.A. was an interdisciplinary major in film studies, but was not geared toward production), I try to learn as much as I can from a variety of sources: (a) watching DVD's and movies whenever I get a chance, (S.F. Public Library has been a great resource), (b) reading books on film theory/history, (c) taking production courses at City College, (d) just getting out there and shooting.