Course Title: Film Script Analysis

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2007

Course Code: COMM5108

Course Title: Film Script Analysis

School: 345T Creative Media

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6045 - Advanced Diploma of Arts Professional Screenwriting (Film,Television and Digital Media)

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

David Rapsey
Michael Brindley

Nominal Hours: 68

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

Co-requisites: Storytelling, Introduction to Screenwriting

Course Description

This course develops the necessary skills to critically interpret and evaluate film script components including narrative structure and plot techniques; film culture; film genre and script development mapping requirements.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBB484 Film Script Analysis


Learning Outcomes


1. Analyse the necessary components of a script to ensure presentation at industry standard
2. Identify script construction, style and content
3. Develop interactions between film narrative and culture
4. Map script development and evolution.


Details of Learning Activities

Lectures, discussions and workshops.
Students will be required to understand and apply the comparative analysis techniques set out in Script Analysis: A Handbook, which is available on- line from the RMIT Library.


Teaching Schedule

Weeks 1 - 2
Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind (2 Drafts)

Weeks 3 - 4
The Truman Show  (2 Drafts)

Weeks 5 - 6
Three Kings (3 Drafts)

Weeks 7 - 8
Alien 3 (Multiple Drafts)

Weeks 9 - 10
Runaway Jury and the Bank

Weeks 11 - 12
American Beauty (2 Drafts)

Weeks 13 – 14
Shine (3  Drafts) *

Weeks 15 - 16
Fran (Treatment and two drafts)*


Weeks 17 - 18
Schindler’s List (Two drafts)


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

 Suggested reading material will be provided in class by teacher.
Handouts provided in class by teacher
Internet access through RMIT Library
Final Draft program on several computers in RMIT Carlton Library and Main Library
Publications & dvds/videos through RMIT Library, community libraries, video libraries and other sources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment includes:

Scene Breakdown
Audience Response Pattern Analysis 
Comparison and Contrast 
In class exercises  


Assessment Tasks

Scene Breakdown of feature script        15%    
Audience Response Pattern Analysis     15%    
Class presentation and written essay comparing
of two screenplays – equivalent to
2000 words    50%    
Class exercises    20%    


Assessment Matrix

Reserved

Course Overview: Access Course Overview