Course Title: Write Narration

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2008

Course Code: COMM7146C

Course Title: Write Narration

School: 345T Creative Media

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5134 - Diploma of Screen

Course Contact : Barbara Gliddon

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4072

Course Contact Email:barbara.gliddon@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Adam Lovell
+ 61 3 9925 4976
adam.lovell@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 50

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

None

Course Description

In this course, students will learn the skills and knowledge necessary to write narration for use in documentary, educational or training programs.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFWRT08A Write Narration

Element:

Prepare to write the narration

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Establish production requirements with relevant personnel according to organisational procedures

1.2 Determine the purpose and function of the narration

1.3 Gather information from various sources as required to generate and record ideas to develop the narration

1.4 Develop those ideas that create visual images through auditory presentation

1.5 Consider the ideas that present the visual image through an auditory presentation

1.6 Evaluate and select the most appropriate ideas for the purpose and function of the narration

1.7 Consider the narrator, if selected, to help determine the style of the narration to be developed

Element:

Write the narration

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Write a draft of the narration using methods and conventions most appropriate to the context or as specifically required

2.2 Write the narration ensuring that it is easy to read and uses accepted elements of language

2.3 Ensure that the narration meets all necessary timing requirements of the production

2.4 Ensure factual information is accurate and relates to the results of research

2.5 Ensure that the narration contains all necessary components for the production

2.6 Define and redraft the narration until it meets auditory, creative and technical requirements

2.7 Ensure that the material is written within the deadlines required

2.8 Submit the narration to relevant personnel for consideration and review

2.9 Document and implement required changes to the narration, confirming that the narration meets all requirements and is ready for production


Learning Outcomes


.


Details of Learning Activities

Class writing exercises. Group workshops, field trips. Discussions and analysis of both screenplays and produced films.
Private study is a critical element of studying this course.

Students will work on writing a screenplay of up to twelve (12) minutes duration.


Teaching Schedule


Week 01: Orientation
Week 02: Storytelling, the elements of stories
Week 03: Visual storytelling, storyboarding
Week 04: Sound in film narrative
Week 05:Characterisation in short films
Week 06: Dialogue writing
Week 07:Writing an outline. What is the story about?
Week 08: Workshopping the outline/treatments. Negotiating feedback
Week 09: Writing the first draft
Week 10: Why so many drafts? Editing and re-writing
Week 11: Timing the screenplay
Week 12: Cutting the screenplay
Week 13: Revising the first draft
Week 14: Feedback on first draft
Week 15: Workshopping the first draft
Week 16: Writing the final draft
Week 17: Editing and re-timing the final draft
Week 18: Finessing and delivering the final draft 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Writing The Short Film by Pat Cooper and Ken Dancyer

0-240-80588-7


References


Other Resources


Attendance at new release films and the viewings of older films are a required element of the program as is the use of the audio-visual and written resources of RMIT’s libbraries.

Attendance at film festivals is required.


Overview of Assessment

First draft of short film script (50%)
Second draft of short film script (50%)


Assessment Tasks



The first draft of the screenplay of up to twelve (12) minutes duration is worth 50% of the overall assessment mark.

This includes working to brief and deadline.

The final draft of the screenplay of up to twelve (12) minutes duration is worth 50% of the overall mark.

This includes working to brief and deadline.


Assessment Matrix


Not applicable.

Other Information



Please refer to Other Resources (above.)

Course Overview: Access Course Overview