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Description

This subject offers postgraduate students the opportunity to develop advanced skills in writing for the screen. Students can develop short- or long-form drama or animation. Students develop an idea through industry-accepted stages of development and formats and through workshops with professional actors. Students gain skills in research, visualisation, structuring, storytelling and character development. Students also improve their ability to read, develop and script-edit their own work and the work of their colleagues.

Subject objectives/outcomes

At the conclusion of this subject students are expected to be able to:

a. Develop a screenplay through researching an idea, pitching, writing an outline and/or step outline and then developing a screenplay.

b. Understand the three-act dramatic structure as well as alternative approaches to dramatic structure.

c. Present their work in industry standard screenplay formats

d. Understand scene and sequence structure.

e. Understand subtext and sub plots.

f. Critique and script edit their own work and that of their colleagues.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Script/Step Outline

Objective(s): a, b, c, d

Weighting: 40%

Task: Students writing a short film (up to 15min) must write a first draft in script format. Students writing long form drama must write an opening sequence (8-15 pages) in script form plus a step outline of the first act.

Assessment criteria:

* Accomplishment in writing a set up that hooks an audience and creates the desire to keep reading and watching.

* Pace and structure of the screenplay.

* Achievement in writing performable dialogue.

* Adherence to script and step outline formats.

Assessment item 2: The Screenplay

Objective(s): a, b, c, d, e, f

Weighting: 60%

Task: Students writing a short film (up to 15mins) must write a second draft. Students writing long form drama present their first act in script form or six key scenes from the film linked by a step outline of the rest of the film.

Assessment criteria:

* Accomplishment in structuring and pacing a coherent and engaging work for the screen.

* Ability to write visually and to write performable dialogue.

* Understanding of subtext and subplots.

* Response to critical feedback that includes rewriting.

* Adherence to script and step outline formats.

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Supplementary Texts

Aronson, L 2000 Scriptwriting Updated: New and Conventional Ways of Writing for the Screen. Australian Film Television & Radio School ; Allen & Unwin.

Dancyger, K and Rush, J (1995) Alternative Scriptwriting Boston : Focal Press

Dancyger, K 2001 Global Scriptwriting Focal press

Hillis R, Cole 1983-1988 The complete guide to standard script formats CMC Publishing.

Halperin, M 2000 Writing the Second Act Building Conflict & Tension in Your Film Script. Studio City : Michael Wiese Productions

Ondaatje, M 2002 The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing film. Bloomsbury Press.

Lucey, P 1996 Story Sense: Writing story and script for feature films and television McGraw-Hill.

McKee, R 1999 Story - Substance, structure and style and the principals of screenwriting Methuen

Seger, L 1992 The Art of Adaptation: Turning Fact and Fiction into Film. An Owl Book Henry Holt and Company New York 1992

Seger, L 1987 Making A Good Script Great Dodd, Mead and Company New York

Stempel,T 1982 Screenwriting Tantivy Press

Stok, D ed 1993 Kieslowski on Kieslowski Faber and Faber

Thompson, D and Christi, I ed (1989) Scorsese on Scorsese Faber and Faber

Trottier, D 1998 The Screenwriters Bible Silman James Press Los Angeles

Truffaut, F 1984 Hitchcock Dialogue between Truffaut and Hitchcock New York Simon and Schuster

Ward, V 1990 Edge Of The Earth - Stories and Images from the Antipodes Heinemann Reed

Wolitzer Fitzgerald, M 1999 Did It: The Writer's Guide to Mastering the Screenplay Penguin

Other Details

Levels: Postgraduate
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