Screenwriting minor grows in its 10 years at UNC

UNC’s Writing for the Screen and Stage minor program has attracted aspiring screenwriters and playwrights throughout its 10-year tenure.

The minor, which is housed in the Department of Communication Studies, is welcoming its 10th class into the program in a few weeks.

Dana Coen, director of the minor, said the program has seen a slight increase in applications.

Sophomores and freshmen can apply to the two-year program during the spring semester. The application deadline for the 2012-13 school year was March 2.

Twenty-three students applied this year, and applicants will be notified March 23.

“There are a lot of people who would love to be able to write dramatically,” Coen said. “We teach students here to be quick dramatic writers — and I refer to dramatic writers as those who write for screen, stage and television.”

Students in the programs take classes such as “Introduction to Writing for the Screen and Stage,”

“History of American Screenwriting” and “Master Screenwriting.”

Most time spent in the classes is spent workshopping drafts of short film scripts, short plays and full-length film scripts.

Classes are taught by a small group, including Coen and Scott Myers, a lecturer. Both of them have professional experience with writing for the entertainment industry in Hollywood.

Myers said the minor is unique because it gives students opportunities to write a variety of screenplays and theater plays while allowing them to explore other academic subjects through their major.

“It’s not only different than any program at UNC, it’s different than any program in the United States,” Myers said.

Senior Hannah Floyd, a student in the program, said it is the reason she decided to come to UNC.

“I was on the website one day, and I found the program, and it looked really cool,” she said.

Floyd also said the classes in the program were attractive because they allow her to be the most creative.

“As a writer, I think that workshopping is the most important thing you can do,” Floyd said. “That’s what we spend most of the time doing in class.”

Coen said that while the program has grown in the past 10 years to include more students and a wider range of courses, he hopes to see it develop into a major.

“I feel like the minor is in a very good place right now,” Coen said.

“Certainly I would like it to expand into full major status and become a destination for students — nationally and internationally — who want to prepare themselves to be successful dramatic writers.”

Contact the desk editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.