Screenwriting has witnessed a variety of developments throughout different media in recent decades. However, for a long time now, the literary nature of the screenplay has given rise to many passionate, even fierce debates and the idea that as a textual artefact the screenplay does not exist on its own still dominates many practitioners and theorists’ perception and speech.

This “teleological cage” – the idea that the sole purpose of a screenplay resides in its screen transposition – tends to eclipse the screenplay textuality. That being said, even at a time when the multiplication of screens gives the impression that text is a less prominent media, the fact remains that a great number of screenplays are constantly being written and read each year, everywhere in the world.

Not wishing to (re)question whether or not the screenplay is a literary form, but rather focusing on stakes raised by screenplay textuality, this issue of the Journal of Screenwriting is dedicated to emerging screenplay styles, modes, and languages, in all media and different national contexts.

We seek theoretical reflections on different approaches, analysis of storytelling strategies, as well as analysis of individual screenplays or cases, and investigations of bodies of work and practices with a specific focus on emerging screenplay styles, modes, and languages.

See the full Call for Papers here

Deadlines:

In the first instance, please email abstracts of up to 400 words and a short biography, no later than April 1st 2021, to both of the editors of this special issue: Dr. Romana Turina (rturina@aub.ac.uk) and Prof. Gabrielle Tremblay (tremblay.gabrielle.2@uqam.ca).

Completed articles should be sent by November 1st 2021.