Stage, Screen & More

WRITING WORKSHOP: LINKED SHORT STORIES

Rosalie Davis | M.L.A. in Humanities, Harvard University From Hemingway’s In Our Time to Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Interpreter of Maladies, the linked short story collection is an enduring and elastic American genre. Offering prose writers an open, intuitive form to build up a composite work of discrete narratives, these “novels in stories” tend to unfold chronologically and are strongly linked to a place . This workshop will introduce students to the genre as readers and move quickly to support them as writers . The first writing assignment will be to draft one stand-alone short story . After review and feedback, students will be asked to develop a second story, which enriches, continues, responds to, and—in some way—belongs with the first. For the first class, read two stories from a linked short story collection of your choice, and consider how they relate to one another . Registered students will be sent a list of suggested titles a week before class begins .

COURSE CODE: SHOT Sec. 01: 8 Mondays, 6-7:30pm. Begins Apr. 5 | $225 No class Apr. 19 & May 31

INTRODUCTION TO WRITING CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Lee Gjertsen Malone | Journalist, Editor and Author Have you always wanted to write a children’s book? Join Lee Gjertsen Malone, author of middle-grade novels The Last Boy At St. Edith’s and Camp Shady Crook (both published by Simon & Schuster), to learn the ins and outs of writing books for kids of all ages, including a look at the different types of children’s books; how to develop the right voice for a kid’s story; and various strategies for tackling plot . The class will include both reading and writing exercises and an opportunity to get valuable feedback on your work .

COURSE CODE: TYKE Sec. 01: 2 Thursdays, 7:45-9:45pm. Apr. 22 & 29 | $100

FOUND IN TRANSLATION:

WRITING ACROSS DIFFERENCES

Marika Preziuso | Associate Professor of World Literature at MassArt I have crossed an ocean I have lost my tongue From the root of the old one A new one has strung (Grace Nichols) In Found in Translation, we will read poetry and short stories by contemporary writers who move swiftly and unapologetically across languages, translate themselves, and intentionally code-switch . We will then respond creatively to these readings by stretching the contours of our writing practice, and experiment with English and every other language we feel drawn to . We will take seriously the original meaning of the prefix “trans” as “across”, and create new writing at the intersections of ethnic and cultural identities (we all have these!), personal and world histories, native and adopted languages, rooted and grafted homes .

COURSE CODE: ACRO Sec. 01: Friday, 5-7pm. May 14 | $45

STAGE SCREEN AND MORE

FILM CLUB DISCUSSION

Thomas Meek | Writer For this four-week session, you’ll watch two films each week and join classmates for a lively discussion lead by Tom Meek, Cambridge Day film editor and member of the Boston Society of Film Critics. Two films will be assigned each week (assignment will be given out before the first meeting). Films will be selected from what’s available on Amazon (may require rental) and Netflix (membership). Selections will ideally be one recently released film, and one related film (by filmmaker, theme, social issue etc.). Cinephiles and casual viewers welcomed alike .

COURSE CODE: PICS Sec. 01: 4 Mondays, 5:45-7:45pm. Begins May 3 | $140

PLAYWRIGHTS’ WORKSHOP

Peter Littlefield | Stage Director, Writer, and Dramaturg You get an idea for a play . Now, how do you build it into a narrative? Moments grow into scenes . The movement of scenes becomes a language in itself . Story is secondary to something more elusive: a dramatic world recognizable from our lives . We are here to support you, whether you’re just beginning or writing a full-length play . We will read work, discuss problems, and use exercises to trigger observation and imagination .

COURSE CODE: PLWR Sec. 01: 10 Thursdays, 7-9pm. Begins Apr. 8 | $270

INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING FOR MOVIES, TV, THEATER, AND MULTIMEDIA

Andrew Osborne | Screenwriter, baitshop.org Whether you want to create movies for Hollywood, Sundance, or the local grindhouse, learn the basics of screenwriting in a supportive workshop environment while you work towards the first, second, or even final draft of a solid “spec” script. We’ll explore the three-act structure, industry-standard format, character, and dialogue, as well as tips for surviving in the entertainment business and making your own independent film.

COURSE CODE: REEN Sec. 01: 10 Mondays, 7-9pm. Begins Apr. 5 | $270 No class Apr. 19 & May 31