Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Screenwriting
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2009
Course Code: COMM5411
Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Screenwriting
School: 345T Creative Media
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5181 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing
Course Contact : Brendan Lee
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4368
Course Contact Email:brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Contact name: Roz Williams
Location: Building 94, level 2, room 6, 23-27 Cardigan Street, South Carlton
Phone: 9925 4974
Fax: 9925 4362
Email: roz.williams@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 85
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
Produce Writings – Screenwriting (VBP552)
Course Description
This course covers the knowledge and skills required to research and experiment with writing and editing techniques and media to generate writings. It develops the skills used of film and television writing and examines storytelling methods and techniques used to engage audience emotions.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP553 Refine writing and editing techniques - Screenwriting |
Element: |
1. Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
2. Develop and refine conceptual vision for writings |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
3. Determine and organise resource requirements for work |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
4. Plan the writing |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
5. Realise writings |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Learning Outcomes
Not applicable
Details of Learning Activities
Screenwriting 2 is a continuation of Introduction to Screenwriting (Screenwriting). The course examines storytelling methods and craft techniques used to engage audience emotions. Adaptation will be examined. Characterisation and its impact on structure to create a multi-layered story will be explored.
Classes will include planned lectures, weekly class exercises to review what has been learnt in class, workshopping of students’ own projects, screening of video/dvd excerpts to provide examples of screenwriting elements, analysis/critique of scripts, films and television programs of students’ choices, and film & tv review presentations.
Teaching Schedule
Week | Content - 1ST SEMESTER | Outcomes |
1 | Orientation/introduction | |
2 | Introduction to adaptation Material sources General techniques Adapting novels Identifying methods |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
3 | Adapting short stories Plays & musicals Identifying methods Writing for the Australian market How the industry works Pitching your script |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
4 | Progress reports Non-fiction – different sources |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
5 | Completion of non-fiction How to create marketing synopsis, adaptation notes |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
6 | Cartoon characters Franchises Fairy tales Songs & poetry Legal aspects |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
7 | Acquiring rights/options Public domain Legal aspects cont. Refining screenwriting processes |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
8 | WORKSHOP synopsis, character notes & adaptation notes | VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
9 | SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENT FOR MARKING Guest speaker Creating scene breakdowns |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
10 | Tutorials with teacher Discuss progress on treatment |
VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) |
11 | Heroes & villains Anti heroes Transitions Manipulating screen time Discuss progress on treatment |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
12 | Discuss progress on treatment Character needs |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) CUVCOR13A |
13 | HAND IN TREATMENT FOR COPYING 2nd Act story |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
14 | WORKSHOP treatments | VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
15 | SUBMIT ASSIGNMENT FOR MARKING Different ways to start a screen story |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
16 | Students’ choices of scenes of adaptations |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) |
Week | Content - 2nd Semester | Outcomes |
1 | Review 3-act structure Action points – major ones & everyday ones. Their use in film/tv Introduction to adaptation Material sources General techniques Adapting novels Identifying methods |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
2 | Screen stories that have no 3-act structure. Character-centred screen story |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
3 | Screen stories that have no 3-act structure. Character-centred screen story |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
4 | Writing for television – series & serialsCompletion of non-fiction How to create marketing synopsis, adaptation notes |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
5 | Writing for television – series & serials |
Identifying methods used when adapting from cartoon scripts & franchises Legal aspects in adaptationCUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
6 | SUBMIT 10 PAGES OF SCRIPT FOR PHOTOCOPYING Guest speaker |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
7 | WORKSHOP | VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
8 | WORKSHOP | VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
9 | Myths & symbols in screenwriting |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
10 | Myths & symbols in screenwriting Genre |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
11 | SUBMIT 30 PAGES OF SCRIPT FOR COPYING Genre Discuss progress on treatment Transitions Manipulating screen time |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
12 | WORKSHOP 30 pages script in small groups |
VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
13 | WORKSHOP 30 pages script in small groups | VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
14 | SUBMIT ASSIGNMENT FOR MARKING Genre |
CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) CUECOR1B (Manage own work & learning) CUCOR04A (Originate concept for own work & conduct critical discourse) VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) CUSADM03A (Manage a project) CUVDES05A (Interpret & respond to a brief) |
15 | One on one tutorials with teacher | VBP553 (Refine writing & editing techniques) |
16 | Analysis of scenes & sequences similar to students’ work (student choice) | CUSRAD02A (Conduct Research) |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Students will be expected to make full use of the Carlton Street library in accessing scripts, and will also be expected to view films and tv programs in their own time. |
References
Other Resources
Students will be expected to make full use of the Carlton Street library in accessing scripts, and will also be expected to view films and tv programs in their own time.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment includes class exercises, synopses, character profiles, a scene breakdown, part of a script and presentation of reviews.
Assessment Tasks
1. Film review
15 minute class presentation with partner (David & Margaret style) of film currently in release or re-release at cinema
Due date
tba (first semester)
Percentage weight
5%
2. TV review
20 minute class presentation with partner of tv program (current or non-current).
Presentation to comprise 10 mins screening of material in class followed by 10 min presentation & discussion
Due date
tba (second semester)
Percentage weight
5%
3. 10 pages of script for class workshopping (taken from 1st 30 script pages of new original project or 2nd 30 script pages of project commenced in Screenwriting 1)
Due date
23 April (workshopping will commence 30 April for several weeks)
Percentage weight
20%
4. 1st 30 script pages of new project or 2nd 30 script pages of project commenced in Screenwriting1
Due date
21 May for workshopping
4 June submitted to teacher
Percentage weight
20%
5. Creating 1-page marketing synopsis & 1-page story synopsis of adaptation from another source.
Notes on why student has chosen this story for adaptation and what methods of adaptation will be used.
Character biogs & notes
Due date
20 August for workshopping
10 September submitted to teacher
Percentage weight
25%
6. Treatment/story outline of adaptation
Due date
8 October for workshopping
29 October submitted to teacher
Percentage weight
25%
Assessment Matrix
Other Information
All relevant education/administration fees with this course are to be met by student (as outlined in RMIT invoice/s), plus any film/tv viewing and texts.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview