"With a good script, a good director can produce a masterpiece; with the same script a medicore director can make a passable film. But with a bad script, even a good director can't possibly make a good film."

-- Akira Kuroswa, Writer: Roshomon, The Seven Samurai, Ran.

It's no exaggeration to say that the script is at the heart of every emotional, creative, and practical decision that's made in the filmmaking process.  An understanding of screenwriting is crucial to the filmmaking experience, no matter where a student's career ultimately goes.