Course Title: Writing for Film

Part A: Course Overview

Program: C6045

Course Title: Writing for Film

Portfolio: DSC

Nominal Hours: 68.0

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)
COMM7118	City Campus	TAFE	345T Media and Communication	Face-to-Face

Course Contact: Brendan Lee

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4368

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

Course Description

The aim of this course is to develop the skills required to write dramatic film screenplays, employing the use of narrative techniques, rhythm, visual symbols, and tone.  The course also focuses on the use of the mythological approach to storytelling, and creating effective screen characters, motivation, psychology, dialogue and subtext.  Students will explore ways in which they are able to convey their vision to other artistes and readers (director, cast, crew etc.)

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Prerequisites
- Storytelling
- Introduction To Screenwriting

National Competency Codes and Titles

National Element Code & Title:

VBM389 Writing for Film

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyze the key elements of selected genres
2. Demonstrate the incorporation of a mythic structure and selected archetypes into a contemporary story
3. Identify the visual symbols required for a single set design within a screenplay format
4. Develop scenes that demonstrate development of dialogue, character and point of view
5. Develop draft of screenplay

Overview of Assessment

Assessment includes:

One page synopsis for feature length screenplay
Three character arcs drawn from own feature treatment
Three pages of notes on themes and subtext layering inherent in scene breakdown of own feature