Breaking Into Pictures With Words : Movies: Screenwriting lecture will feature the film world according to Oscar-winner Steve Tesich.

Steve Tesich, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of such films as “Breaking Away” and “The World According to Garp,” will speak tonight at Chapman University.

Tesich’s lecture will begin at 8 p.m. in Chapman Auditorium and is expected to be both informational and anecdotal, said Mark Axelrod, a Chapman comparative literature professor who organized the program. Tesich will also present a briefer keynote address at the university’s Winter Writer’s Workshop, which runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tesich, whose speech is part of his 10-day stint as the campus’ screenwriter-in-residence, also is teaching an advanced screenwriting workshop for 14 students majoring in writing, radio or television. The daily classes end Wednesday.

Students were chosen for the workshop based on screenplays they’d submitted. “All the samples were well done with much potential,” said Axelrod, noting that many of the students “were speechless that they’d been picked. They’re familiar with Tesich’s reputation and know this is a great opportunity.”

Axelrod added that Chapman felt it was a “coup” having Tesich head the workshop because of his reputation in Hollywood and in New York’s theater community. Tesich has been honored for both his stage plays and his movie writing.

Tesich was born in Yugoslavia and came to the United States when he was 13. He began his career as an off-Broadway playwright. Hollywood success came quickly with his first script. Tesich won the Oscar for “Breaking Away,” a 1979 coming-of-age movie featuring Dennis Christopher and Dennis Quaid.

From there, Tesich went on to write “The World According to Garp” (1982), “Eyewitness” (1981), “Four Friends” (1981), “American Flyers” (1985) and “Eleni” (1985).

* Screenwriter Steve Tesich will speak tonight at 8 at Chapman University’s Chapman Auditorium, 333 N. Glassell St., Orange. $5 and $7. (714) 997-6812.