Students will explore writing for film and live performance, developing stories through character, action, and dialogue. Through hands-on workshops and creative exercises, they’ll learn to shape ideas into scripts that engage an audience and give performers compelling material to bring to life.

Students will practice creating distinctive characters, structuring plots, and writing dialogue that reveals relationships and moves a story forward. They’ll explore how storytelling changes between stage and screen, with opportunities to develop dramatic scenes or experiment with lyrics and storylines for musical theater.

Through personalized feedback, discussion, and revision, students will strengthen their writing and develop their own creative voice. No prior experience will be required; students will build their skills in a collaborative environment that encourages imagination, curiosity, and experimentation.

What Students Will Create

Students will write and revise original scripts, scenes, or lyric-based pieces for stage or screen. Their finished work will provide material for future performance or production and demonstrate their growing ability to develop characters, structure a story, and write purposeful dialogue.

What Registration Will Include

This registration will cover one afternoon elective only. A morning intensive, a second afternoon elective, and housing will require separate registration.

Students will be able to take this elective on its own or combine it with other Summer@Cornish courses. No morning intensive will be required.

How Students Will Build Their Schedules

Full-Time Program
Students will register for a morning intensive and two afternoon electives, one from each schedule. Morning intensives will meet Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–noon, with a lunch break from noon–1 p.m.

One Afternoon Elective
Students will register for this course and attend on the days listed in its schedule. Afternoon electives will run from 1–4 p.m.

Afternoon Electives Only
Students who wish to attend every afternoon will choose two electives: one that will meet Monday/Wednesday/Friday and one that will meet Tuesday/Thursday.

Students will be able to pair this elective with the Film Intensive + Portfolio Development, or combine it with another morning intensive to explore interests across disciplines.

Students will need to add each course to their cart separately.

Explore film electives →

Browse all Summer@Cornish courses →

Housing Options

A residential option will be available to full-day students and will include supervised housing, evening and weekend activities, and extra studio time.

Students who plan to stay in housing will need to begin with the residential application before registering for courses. They’ll receive instructions for selecting a morning intensive and two afternoon electives as part of the residential package.

Learn about the residential program and how to apply →

Questions?

Students and families will be able to get help choosing courses and building a schedule by emailing cornishplus@seattleu.edu.