Course Title: Write for children's television
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2011
Course Code: COMM5933
Course Title: Write for children's television
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6088 - Advanced Diploma of Screenwriting
Course Contact : Brendan
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254815
Course Contact Email:mctafe@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Cameron Clarke
Phone: 9925 4908
Email: Cameron.clarke@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 70
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
At RMIT, you are required to have completed all first year core competencies before enrolling in this elective course.
Course Description
Write for Children’s Television covers the concept and practice of writing television programmes specifically for the “C” classification age group (14 years and under).
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VPAU664 Write for children's television |
Element: |
1.Create a concept for a children’s television drama series |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Sustainable premise is established suitable for a younger audience |
Element: |
2.Further develop concept |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 A writing team is formed with clear goals and common vision |
Element: |
3.Write a script |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Scene sequences are created which move the story |
Element: |
4.Develop another draft |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Identify, in conjunction with other team members, the areas needing further development |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to: 1. translate text stories into television narrative 2. work up story concepts for children’s television series using the story conferencing process 3. write television scripts of a stipulated length for existing or proposed children’s television series 4. compile a comprehensive, professional quality folio of work to take into the children’s television marketplace.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course, you learn through:
1. In-class activities:
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• class exercises
• individual and group project work
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
2. Out-of-class activities:
• independent and group project based work
• online and other research
• discussion and comment via blackboard
• independent study
Teaching Schedule
| Week | Content | Assessment due | Elements |
| 1 | • Traditional stories – fairytales etc. • Contemporary fairytales • Tradition and the evolution of storytelling for children • Violence |
1. Create a concept for a childrens television drama series | |
| 2 | • Parameters – fantasy and reality in story telling for children • Childrens genres |
1. Create a concept for a childrens television drama series | |
| 3 | • The series bible • Brainstorming / Concept generation and story conferencing / Originating and developing ideas • Creating a visual style • Forms of presentation – puppets, animation, live action… |
1. Create a concept for a childrens television drama series 2. Further develop concept |
|
| 4 | • Theme • Character Refresher – Protagonist / Antagonist |
1. Create a concept for a childrens television drama series 2. Further develop concept |
|
| 5 | • Synopses • Brainstorming Episodes |
1. Create a concept for a childrens television drama series 2. Further develop concept |
|
| 6 | • Devising a non-narrative children’s show | Assessment 1 due | 1. Create a concept for a childrens televisdion drama series. 2. Further develop concept |
| 7 | • Adaptation | 1. Create a concept for a childrens television drama series 2. Further develop concept |
|
| 8 | • Synopsis, treatment, scene breakdown | 2. Further develop concept 3. Write a script |
|
| 9 | • Character and story arcs | 2. Further develop concept 3. Write a script |
|
| 10 | • Identifying and resolving the A and B stories • Scene Breakdown |
Assessment 2 due | 2. Further develop concept 3. Write a script |
| 11 | • Setups and Payoffs • Childrens television programming requirements and regulations • The childrens television market |
2. Further develop concept 3. Write a script |
|
| 12 | • Dialogue for children • Structure |
3. Write a script |
|
| 13 | • Scenes and Sequences | 3. Write a script |
|
| 14 | • Pitching • Formatting • Animation |
3. Write a script 4. Develop another draft |
|
| 15 | • Final Draft Workshop • Workshop Simulation • Animation cont. |
Assessment 3 due |
4. Develop another draft |
| 16 | • From Storyline to First Draft – the process | 4. Develop another draft |
|
| 17 | Assessment Week (No classes) |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Any prescribed reading material will be distributed in class |
References
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information. |
Other Resources
You will require access to a computer and to the internet
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is on going throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class discussion and exercises and through the application of learned skills and insights to your written projects.
Assessment Tasks
To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment.
Assessment 1. Mini Bible – Part A
Working in groups, develop an original concept for a children’s television series including synopsis, characters, and pilot episode storyline.
Due date: Week 6
Percentage Weighting: 30%
Assessment 2. Mini Bible – Part B
Working in groups, complete mini bibles with five further storylines and key moments in the series arc.
Due date: Week 10
Percentage Weighting: 30%
Assessment 3. Pilot Script
Write a 24 minute pilot script of the proposed series.
Due date: Week 15
Percentage Weighting: 30%
Assessment 4. Class Exercises
Due date: Ongoing throughout semester
Percentage Weighting: 10%
Your assignments will be graded. The grades used in this unit are as follows:
Grades used in this unit are as follows:
80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program Administration
Other Information
Feedback:
You will receive both spoken and written feedback on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is about the honest presentation of your academic work. Presenting work that fails to acknowledge other people’s work within yours can compromise academic integrity. For further information on academic integrity and plagiarism, please refer to the following URL. http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kkc202lwe1yv
Late Submissions
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Please refer to the course blackboard site for information on late submissions and on applying for an extension.
Special Consideration Policy
Please refer to the following URL for information on applying for special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;
Course Overview: Access Course Overview