Course Title: Work with others to develop a script

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2013

Course Code: COMM7318

Course Title: Work with others to develop a script

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6125 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting

Course Contact : Program administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email:mctafe@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Cameron Clarke
Email: cameron.clarke@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 140

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

Required Prior Study

This course at RMIT requires you to have completed all first year courses.

Course Description

The unit Work with Others to Develop a Script  will afford you the opportunity to develop skills and strategies to work productively with others in a team environment. This course will offer also you a space to work with others on your individual screen projects, and to take those projects, with the help of your colleagues, to the next level.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

ASWWOR605A Work with others to develop a script

Element:

1. Creative team is formed.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 A common vision for the project is developed and agreed upon by team.
1.2 An approach to writing is agreed upon.
1.3 Roles are clarified and agreed upon.
1.4 Fees are negotiated and agreed upon.
1.5 Where appropriate, contracts are drawn up and signed.

Element:

2. The existing draft script is analysed for areas needing attention.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 The script is examined for problems related to premise, story, structure, character and genre.
2.2 Marketing issues are clarified.
2.3 Agreement on required changes is reached.

Element:

3. An approach to rewriting is agreed upon.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 An appropriate methodology is negotiated.
3.2 Changes for next draft are prioritised.
3.3 Clear, workable script notes are written up, a rewriting schedule drafted and deadlines set.
 

Element:

4. Creative disagreements are resolved effectively.
 

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Disagreements are aired openly and appropriately and effective cooperation is sought.
4.2 Suitable compromises are found where necessary.

Element:

5. Re-write is achieved effectively.

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Re-write incorporates agreed solutions.
5.2 Re-write meets deadlines.
5.3 Re-writing process is reviewed by team.
5.4 New draft assessed by team.
5.5 Next stage of development is agreed upon (external marking, financing, marketing).
 


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to work as a screenwriter with a creative team in order to develop a film or TV screenplay

 


Details of Learning Activities

Commitment to Collaboration
Because of the collaborative nature of this course, an ongoing commitment to tackling group work in a generous and all-embracing way is essential. While you will be introduced to concepts and theories of collaborative writing and script development by way of short lectures, screenings and class discussion, most class time will be devoted to the practical business of script analysis, writing and rewriting.

1. In-class activities:

  • lectures
  • industry speakers
  • teacher directed group activities/projects
  • peer teaching and class presentations
  • group discussion
  • class exercises 
  • workshopping of students’ own projects
  • analysis/critique of writings
  • collaborative project work

2. Out-of-class activities:

  • independent project based work 
  • discussion and comment via the class website, Blackboard
  • online and other research
  • independent study


Teaching Schedule

Week starting Class content Assessment due Elements
Week 1


 

Introduction to course. Explanation/discussion of course content and assessment.

Collaborative writing - opportunities and pitfalls. What skills do you need to collaborate effectively?

  1
Week 2 

 
Individual research into: (a) group projects & (b) portmanteau screenplay construction   1
Week 3
 
Workshop #1: The business of teamwork and team building   1,3
Week 4 
 
Workshop #2: Approaches to collaborative writing; includes roles, fees, contracts. Groups formed – choice of themes, initial pitches   1,3
Week 5
 
Workshop #3: Story development: a collaborative approach. Groups formed – choice of themes, initial pitches (continued)   1,2
Week 6
 
Project work   1,2
Week 7
 
Working in groups: story conferences  Formative Assessment Task #1: Process Report 1,2,4
  Mid-semester break April 1 to April 5 (inclusive)    
Week 8
 
Group work/individual writing focussing on development of portmanteau screenplays   2,3,4,
Week 9

 
Group work/individual writing focussing on development of portmanteau screenplays (continued)   2,3,4,
Week 10
 
Group work/individual writing focussing on development of portmanteau screenplays (continued)   2,3,4,
Week 11

 
Group work/individual writing focussing on development of portmanteau screenplays (continued)   2,3,4,
Week 12 

 
Workshop #4: writing for performance. Group readings/ feedback  Formative Assessment Task #2: Script Producers Report ,2,3,4,
Week 13
 
Group readings/ feedback (continued)

Group work/individual writing: second draft
 
Formative Assessment Task #2: Script Producers Report (cont.) 3,4,5
Week 14

 
Group work/individual writing: second draft (continued)   3,4,5
Week 15 

 
Script readings    3,4,5
Week 16
 
 Script readings Formaative Assessment Task #3: Script Editing Notes  3,4,5

 

Semester 2      
Week Class content Assessment due Elements
Week 1
 
Workshop #5: Analysis and reflections on the development process   2,3,4,
Week 2
 
Workshop #6: Finding your voice   3,4,5
Week 3
 
Projects pitched, teams calved

Summative Assessment Task #1 due

 

1,2
Week 4
 
Groups floated off, projects decided   1,2
Week 5

 
Drafting of projects begins: Group workplans finalized   1,2,3
Week 6
 
Individual workplans finalized   1,4
Week 7
 
Workshop #7: Group readings/ feedback   2,3,4,
Week 8
 
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project   2,3,4
Week 9

 
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project (continued)   2,3,4,5
Week 10
 
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project (continued)  Formative Assessment Task #4: Meet with teacher to give update on your writing project 2,3,4,5
Week 11

 
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project (continued)  Formative Assessment Task #4 (cont.) 2,3,4,5
Week 12 

 
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project (continued)  Formative Assessment Task #4 (cont.) 2,3,4,5
Week 13
 
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project (continued)  Formative Assessment Task #4 (cont.) 2,3,4,5
Week 14
 
Production 

 
  2,5
Week 15
 
Production    2,5
Week 16
 
Screenings
 
 Summative Assessment Task #2 due 2,3,5


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Extracts, readings and additional references are provided throughout the course.


References

In addition to hard copy handouts, some readings are made available on Blackboard, and others can be accessed via the web. Recommended books will be discussed in class. You are advised to visit Blackboard for ongoing updated information.


Other Resources

Students will require access to a word processing program and the facility to print hard copies of their work. These facilities are also available in the Carlton Library.
Actors will be available for readings of students’ scripts in semester one.
Students will also have access to a range of AV resources in order to complete the required group film projects in semester two.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing tasks. You will be assessed on your ability to work effectively with creative partners, consult and accept feedback, critique draft screenplays and successfully revise your own work. You will also be assessed on your knowledge of screenwriting techniques, terminology and formats and production processes.

.  


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 tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks in this unit are graded.

Formative Assessment

1. Assessment Task #1: Process Report

A group report outlining how the task of working effectively in a group towards a common goal is being approached. What strategies are being put in place and how will success be measured? (Discussion with the teacher as a group). Due week 7 Semester 1  (Week beginning March 25)

2. Assessment Task #2: Script Producers Report

Individual oral reports detailing how Script Producers are approaching the task of running their group. A plan must be formulated and enacted before analysis of pre-meeting intention and post-meeting reality can be discussed. Due week 12 / 13 Semester 1 (Week beginning May 6/13)

3. Assessment Task #3: Script Editing Notes

Writing and delivery of script editing notes, demonstrating insightful and effective analysis of other team members’ contribution to the group project. (minimum 1500 words) Due Week 16, Semester 1. (Week beginning June 3)

4.Assessment Task #4: One-on-one meeting with teacher to give update on your writing project. Due at a time to be negotiated between Weeks 10 and 13 Semester 2 (Sept 9 and Oct 18)

5. Assessment Task #5: Your project:
Presentation of your completed and redrafted individual project.
Due Week 14, Semester 2. (Week beginning Oct 21)

Summative Assessment

1. Assessment Task # 1 : Group project:
Report (including a work folio) detailing development of your project and partnerships, and the successful formation and operation of a creative team (minimum 1500 words) Due Week 3, Semester 2. (Week beginning July 22)
 

2. Assessment Task #2. Writers Report
A Writers Report (minimum 1500 words), outlining and analyzing effectiveness of the rewriting process. Due Week 14, Semester 2 (Week beginning Oct 21)


Grades used in this course are as follows:

CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved - Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment

For further details on these assessment tasks and the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
 


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


Attendance 

The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that students attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Cover Sheet for Submissions
All students must complete a submission cover sheet for each piece of submitted work.


Plagiarism RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. For more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity


Copyright
All students have access to the myRMIT copyright shell. The myRMIT copyright shell contains information on copyright, plus also examples on how to use copyright works as part of your projects and assignments.

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
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 following URL for extensions and special consideration:
www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration/online


Student Progress Committee

This committee promotes the early identification of students who are not achieving acceptable academic performance. The committee provides identified students with assistance and seeks to ensure such students are aware of the range of support services available to them at the University. Student Progress Committee (SPC)


Student Feedback
Students are offered opportunities to provide feedback through a variety of mechanisms including online surveys conducted at the end of each course or semester, student complaints and Student Staff Consultative Committees

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview