Designed as a multifaceted immersion into directing, this course will explore the principles of drama in the film medium, as well as define the responsibilities, methods and craft of the director. Directorial strategies used in feature film and the short form will be examined. We begin by studying published and produced works to investigate the dramatic input inspired by the director/actor collaboration. Through a series of exercises, the course will examine topics that include: how to break down the screenplay as a whole and as individual scenes; prepare a director's statement; rehearse, block and shape a scene within the context of the entire screenplay. Working with professional actors, we will address how to lead rehearsals and the film set environment. The actors' creative contributions will be discussed and analyzed. Film language choices and directing the camera will be explored as charactershaping and directorial approach components. Students may work with screenplays by other writers or use their own works.