FILM MFA: Screenwriting Thesis Advisement

The Screenwriting Thesis project is a feature length screenplay that demonstrates originality of subject matter as well as mastery of the technique of cinematic and dramatic structure, characterization and dialogue. 

At the close of the second year, all those students who declare screenwriting as their concentration will be assigned a thesis advisor from our full-time faculty.

In the early fall of the third year, all screenwriting concentrates meet with their advisor to pitch two or more possible ideas for the screenplay thesis, which will be completed in either the 3rd, 4th or 5th year. In this meeting, advisors and students begin to map the best course to help the student progress toward graduation.

During the thesis year, the student will work with their advisor in developing their thesis script through several clearly marked stages – from an initial pitch to the delivery of the final draft. 

The thesis process culminates with a review meeting in December or May of the graduating year, at which the students' thesis screenplay and non-thesis work will be discussed with both a second reader and a faculty member who has no previous knowledge of the student's writing. The purpose of this meeting is to help the student transition from an academic to a professional context, and to assess the work accordingly.

The thesis screenplay must be accompanied by a non-thesis feature-length screenplay, which may have been written for Screenwriting II or Screenwriting III/IV (and ideally, taken through Script Revision)

The non-thesis screenplay may be replaced by a commensurate amount of work in television writing.

Screenwriting concentrates must have taken Script Revision at least one time during their Research Arts matriculation.