Advisor’s Note

Spring 2023 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the first graduating class of Film and Video Studies at George Mason University. Reflecting on that first group of six students, I recall five created non-fiction/documentary films for their senior capstone projects. Only one of the seniors I taught that year chose to write and direct a scripted fictional work. While there is still a considerable documentary strand within the Film and Video Studies curriculum, most senior capstones involve scripted fiction films. In fact, screenwriting is one of the official concentrations of the BA in Film and Video Studies.

Having been with Film and Video Studies since the beginning, I have enjoyed seeing the increasing interest in screenwriting and fiction. However, regarding the students in the screenwriting concentration, I am always looking for ways to highlight their work, which is sometimes eclipsed in public perception by the work of directors and other creative roles.

When CJ, an outstanding writer and graduate of Film and Video Studies, approached me with the idea of starting a journal dedicated to the art of screenwriting, I was sure this was just the kind of spotlight Mason screenwriters needed to make their work visible to the community. As a former advisor to Mason Cable Network, I knew Student Media would be an ideal partner to bring CJ’s idea to fruition. This first issue highlights the work of students within the screenwriting concentration and others taking screenwriting classes at Mason. I hope this issue is the first of many.

Thomas Britt Professor, Film and Video Studies