Course Title: Feature Screenwriting

Part A: Course Overview

Program: C6045

Course Title: Feature Screenwriting

Portfolio: DSC

Nominal Hours: 136.0

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.

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM5123

City Campus

TAFE

345T Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

Term1 2007

Course Contact: Professional Screenwriting Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4368

Course Contact Email: brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au


Course Description

The purpose of this module is to develop the skills and techniques to create a fictional film narrative.


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Storytelling
Introduction to Screenwriting
Writing for Film

NOTE: Students are expected to begin this course with a first draft of a screenplay already written.



National Competency Codes and Titles

National Element Code & Title:

VBB502 Feature Screenwriting


Learning Outcomes

1. Create novel/new concepts that are suitable for development as a feature length film.
2. Construct and develop a story from a theme or concept presented at a story conference.
3. Demonstrate the techniques for storyline midway turning point, conflict scenes, themes and sub-plot for a feature film screenplay.
4. Identify emotional journeys of characters and ‘opening plan’ for a screenplay.
5. Create a feature length screenplay draft which demonstrates an understanding of the elements of film narrative.
6. Produce a screenplay to industry specifications.


Overview of Assessment

Semester 1:

1.    Written assignment analysing the narrative development of the student’s own  screenplay, accompanied by  a one page synopsis of the screenplay.

2.    Analysis of two other screenplays accompanied by synopsis.
 
3.    Extended synopsis of the students developing screenplay ( approx. 10 pages)

4.    Extended treatment for the second draft of the screenplay 25 – 30 pages

Semester 2:

5.    Written analysis of 3 treatments other than their own.

6.    Written revision of the student’s own treatment and strategy towards the next draft.

7.    First 40 pages of second draft screenplay.

8.    Completed second draft of screenplay