Franklin Deese Headshot

Franklin Deese

Associate Professor

School of Film and Animation
College of Art and Design
fwdppr@rit.edu
585-475-2743
Office Location
GAN-2290

Franklin Deese

Associate Professor

School of Film and Animation
College of Art and Design

Education

BA, MFA, University of California, Los Angeles

fwdppr@rit.edu
585-475-2743
Areas of Expertise
Scripting
Film Production

Select Scholarship

Invited Article/Publication
Deese, Frank. "Reel Impact: Movies and TV that Changed History - "Patton" and Nixon." Script Magazine. (2020). Web.
Deese, Frank. "Reel Impact: Movies and TV That Changed History - "The China Syndrome"." Script Magazine. (2020). Web.

Currently Teaching

SOFA-112
Fundamentals of Screenwriting
3 Credits
This course will introduce students to the forms and techniques of writing for visual media, particularly the short film. Students will develop resources for finding stories and concepts that can be turned into films. Students will be responsible for writing a short script of their own choosing and for completing several brief written exercises in areas such as personal storytelling, character development, dialogue, and plot. Scripts written in this course can be used as the basis for films produced in other classes.
SOFA-208
Dramatic Structure
3 Credits
This course explores the theories of dramatic structure from Aristotle to the present and applies these theories to current and classic dramatic works. The class also explores dramatic script structure as it is used in dramatic works on stage and screen.
SOFA-407
Senior Capstone II
4 Credits
Students work independently with their advisor towards completion of their capstone experience for their BFA degree. Students have a predetermined timeline and must complete all deadlines of that timeline to pass this thesis course including completion and public screening of finished work or final presentation of craft experience.
SOFA-563
Writing the Feature
3 Credits
This course is an exploration of the feature film form. Students propose ideas for a feature length film and, in consultation with the instructor and other students, write a detailed step outline and a substantial portion of the first draft.
SOFA-564
Writing the Series
3 Credits
This course is an introduction to all forms of series writing for television and the Internet. Students will choose to write either a one-hour pilot for a dramatic series, or a half-hour pilot and an additional episode for a single-camera comedy series. All students will develop and write a series bible, a thorough description of all the characters and the world in which the series takes place as well as how the series may develop with future plot-lines.
SOFA-599
SOFA Independent Study
1 - 6 Credits
SOFA Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, should propose a course of study or project with clearly defined deliverables. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. Student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to apply.
SOFA-613
Graduate Screenwriting
3 Credits
This course focuses on the forms and techniques of writing for visual media, particularly the short film. Throughout the course, students develop resources for finding stories and concepts that can be turned into films. Students are responsible for writing a short script of their own choosing and for completing several brief written exercises in areas such as personal storytelling, character development, dialogue, and plot. Scripts written in this class can be used as the basis for films produced in other classes.
SOFA-663
Writing the Feature
3 Credits
This is course is an exploration of the feature film form. Students propose ideas for a feature length film and in consultation with the instructor and other students, write a detailed step outline and a substantial portion of the first draft.
SOFA-664
Writing the Series
3 Credits
This course is an introduction to all forms of series writing for television and the Internet. Students will choose to write either a one-hour pilot for a dramatic series, or a half-hour pilot and an additional episode for a single-camera comedy series. All students will develop and write a series “bible,” a thorough description of all the characters and the world in which the series takes place as well as how the series may develop with future plotlines.
SOFA-790
Research and Thesis I
4 Credits
This is the first of two courses designed to advance a student towards completion of their thesis. Students will work independently on their approved plan of work for their thesis while meeting on a regular basis with their committee chair. They are required to meet at least twice with their full committee during the semester.
SOFA-799
Film and Animation Graduate Independent Study
1 - 4 Credits
Film and Animation Graduate Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, should propose a course of study or project with clearly defined deliverables. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. Student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to apply.
SOFA-890
Research and Thesis II
4 Credits
This is the second of two courses designed to advance a student towards completion of their thesis. Students will work independently on their approved plan of work for their thesis while meeting on a regular basis with their committee chair. They are required to meet at least twice with their full committee during the semester as well as present a final screening of their thesis.

In the News

  • April 29, 2022

    three people making the American Sign Language sign for cheese.

    Pioneering RIT and NTID collaboration garners the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Grand Prize

    Say Cheese, a pioneering, heartfelt film directed and produced by two RIT students, took home the top prize in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program announced during the final night of CinemaCon in Las Vegas late Thursday. The project featured the combined creative efforts of students, faculty, and staff in RIT’s School of Film and Animation and NTID.

  • December 1, 2021

    student in a studio filming a person sitting on a motorcycle.

    RIT educates tomorrow’s experts in virtual production

    MAGIC Spell Studios, RIT’s world-class digital media research and production facility, is bringing the latest in virtual production (VP) technology to RIT students. VP blends filmmaking, 3D graphics, computational photography, and real-time game engine rendering to produce in-camera visual effects similar to those seen in the groundbreaking work on Disney’s The Mandalorian and Marvel’s Avenger films.

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