Film & drama

Creative Communication Arts

Grade: 9-12             Credit: 0.5 Fine Art         Length: Semester

Prerequisite: none

Course Description: Students will explore many aspects of interpersonal communication, including the fundamentals of clear and expressive speech, setting a good first impression, extemporaneous speaking, and persuasion through propaganda. This is a project-based course in which students participate in demonstrative speaking, readers theatre, job interviewing, and infomercial/advertising production. 

Dramatic Arts

Grade: 9-12             Credit: 0.5 Fine Art         Length: Semester

Prerequisite: none

Course Description: This is an introductory acting course. Students will develop skills in improvisation, movement, voice, memorization, and characterization, as well as life skills such as confidence.  Assessment is performance-based and includes improvisational theatre, acting for silent film, monologue performance, and scene performances. 

Drama 2

Grade: 9-12             Credit: 0.5 Fine Art         Length: Semester

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Dramatic Arts

Course Description: Using the skills learned in Dramatic Arts, students further develop their skills in improvisation, movement, voice, characterization, creative vision, and acting while exploring theatre through projects of improvisational theatre, theatre history, scenic design, and directing. 

Creative Film, Video, Media Arts

Grade: 9-12             Credit: 0.5 Fine Art         Length: Semester

Prerequisite: none

Course Description: This project-based course studies the foundations of film production, discovering how storytelling is enhanced through lighting, color, camera angles and shots, and music and sound effects. Students will practice self-management and social skills by producing several short films and video projects. Students will also analyze films and give and apply constructive criticism to refine work. 

Honors Advanced Creative Film, Video, Media Arts

Grade: 10-12             Credit: 0.5 Fine Art         Length: Semester

Prerequisite: A "B" or better in Creative Film, Video, Media Arts

Course Description: This is an honors course which builds on the knowledge and skills of film production learned in Creative Film, Video, and Media Arts. Students continue their mastery of the pre-production and production processes and learn post-production skills. Students demonstrate their knowledge of film styles and film theory, writing professional screenplays, and plan and create professional-quality film products. 

Theatre Arts

Grade: 11-12             Credit: 0.5 or 1.0 Fine Art         Length: Semester/Year

Prerequisite: none

Course Description: This course is designed to involve students in the creative process and offer opportunity for play production. Students enrolled will be the company working on all phases of the theatre program. Participation in a theatrical production in a position of major responsibility will be required. Classroom and practical laboratory experience in areas of production will be taught. The course will also include the selection of a play, tryouts, rehearsal schedules, directing, and technical production: makeup, costumes, publicity, props, student directing, choreography, and other areas as interest is shown. As rehearsals proceed, students will work with the phase they are dealing with directly. They will work in two technical areas in the fall and spring. Students may enroll in two semesters of theatre arts. A student may enroll in the fall semester and work on the fall production which the student directs and produces, followed by a second project which is the choice of the class. A student may enroll in the spring semester which produces the spring musical. 

Special Requirements: 

1. All students admitted to class with the recommendation of the teacher 

2. Attendance two nights a week, Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30-8:30. For additional time spent on this course students can receive extra credit for Thespian points.

3. A genuine interest in the dramatic arts

Honors Advanced Theatre Arts

Grade: 12             Credit: 0.5 or 1.0 Fine Art         Length: Semester/Year

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Theatre Arts and teacher approval

Course Description: This course is designed for students who wish to pursue their interest in the technical aspects of the theatre at a more sophisticated level. The class will meet concurrently with Theatre Arts, but the student will be engaged in more complex activities, such as directing, designing, and producing with full responsibility for that job. Students will be expected to teach skills directly to their crews and develop a plan and objectives. Advanced Theatre Arts is considered an Honors course both semesters of a student's senior year for those students who have taken Theatre Arts for four semesters. Students may enroll in the SLU 1818 program and receive additional college credit for Honors Advanced Theatre Arts.