FENN'S IN MEDIA'S RACE

John Fenn's
CURRENT CLASS AND WORKSHOP OFFERINGS

Dear Friends,
In addition to my regular play/screen writing workshops, I have started a series of school residencies during which I go to secondary school classes and, with the teacher, help the students write, perform and direct their own digital film. I did one of these residencies in Sandusky Ohio and it proved to be a tremendous success.

As always, I am making these workshops available to any one who works with young people. If you are interested in this read on, if not scroll down to the courses I am offering and, at the end of the list, new opportunities for Independent Study credits.

DIGITAL FILMMAKING WORKSHOP

For student classes or groups, secondary through college age
Students write, act and direct their own film, under my guidance. All equipment is provided. I have a short preview of a film created by young people in a
Sandusky, OH workshop. It does take a few minutes to load down, but is worth the wait. If you are unable to access this, or if it is too jerky and crude
on your competer, simply E-mail me and I will send a VHS tape of the same material.
For a short preview of scenes from the film, click this link:

HARD TIMES, GOOD TIMES, a student created film

COURSES AT HAMLINE

GLS 8362 MALS. MFA
GLS 8462 MFA
PLAYWRITING: Exploring Dramatic Form
Tuesdays
Stating second half of Spring term

This workshop will stimulate each participant, of whatever level of experience, to deepen and expand their talent for creating meaningful drama.
The course will bring increased understanding of playwriting by focusing on issues of plot, character and theme. Strong attention will be placed on
problems of creating "actable" texts and coping with "page to stage" issues in theater. Samples of plays or scenes should accompany the application.
The pre-requisite and requirements for the course are the participant's desire to learn by doing (in this case, writing) not by receiving instructions or reading assigned textbooks.
There will be extensive in-class reading and staging of student scenes

INDEPENDENT STUDY AND/OR ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Dear Friends,
In response to requests from students, I am offering an unusual opportunity . The idea developed when a small number of Hamline students wanted an Independent Study program which would give them course credit for working on their own screenplay. I combined them in a small group, met with them sometimes together sometimes separately as they were writing and getting credits.

So I thought I should open this format for everyone. Essentially, you only have to apply for an Independent Study course, and away we go. I have listed below some possible areas for your consideration.
IF ANY OF THESE SEEM LIKE A POSSIBILITY FOR YOU, please reply to this note, and let me know the area of your interest.

Obviously this is not a commitment of any sort. These projects can be focused for writers and/or teachers and may:
~Be entirely on line, for those of you working in Thailand or wherever
~Be totally Independent Study
~Meet in small groups occasionally and, perhaps, have some online experiences.

I have to say, the last alternative allows you to capture the best of all possible worlds.

You will design your own project, but here are a few areas to consider:

EFFECTIVE WRITING
1) WRITING A SPECIFIC PIECE OF EXPOSITORY WORK (Thesis? Dissertation? Articles for Publication)
2) DEVELOP SKILLS IN POETRY, SHORT STORIES, NOVELS, OR NON-FICTION THROUGH A PROJECT

WRITING FOR PERFORMART (Play and/or Screen writing)
1) ADVANCED PLAY OR SCREEN WRITING
2 ) CREATING A COMPLETE WORK FOR SCREEN OR STAGE
3) MAKING DISCOVERIES IN THE BASICS OF WRITING FOR PERFORMART

CREATIVE STRATEGIES FOR CONVENTIONAL CURRICULUM
1) CREATING UNIQUE LESSON PLANS FOR DAY TO DAY TEACHING OF WRITING
2) DEVELOPING A PEDAGOGY TO SUPPORT UNIQUE STRATEGIES

SHAKESPEARE
1) THE WOMEN IN SHAKESPEARE
2) SHAKESPEARE IN FILM
3) TEACHING SHAKESPEARE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CYBERSAVVY
1) DEVELOPING UNDERSTANDING OF EXISTING COMPUTER PROGRAMS (AND NEW PROGRAMS FOR WRITERS)
2) DEVELOPING UNDERSTANDING OF EXISTING COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND NEW PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS

To register for Hamline classes, contact Sandra Beach at:

sbeach@gw.hamline.edu

651 523-2047

For anything else ... if only to chat ... click to me:

jfenn@visi.com

or phone

612 371-9010