Course Title: Storytelling
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2007
Course Code: COMM7115
Course Title: Storytelling
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
Teacher: Noel Maloney
Room 43 Level 4 Building 94
23-47 Cardigan Street, South Carlton
Tel 9925 4944
noel.maloney@rmit.edu.au
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
None
Course Description
This module develops skills in telling a story from the basis of both conceptual elements and craft elements.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBM387 Storytelling |
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify the historical environment for storytelling.
2. Demonstrate the key elements of the craft of storytelling.
3. Demonstrate and evaluate the individual elements of storytelling and the issues involved in revising and redrafting stories.
Details of Learning Activities
While students will be introduced to concepts and theories by way of short lectures and selected readings, most class time will be given to exercises and workshopping.
Teaching Schedule
WEEK 1
13.2.07
Introduction to course and assignments.
Nominate workshop dates
WEEK 2
20.2.07
Sourcing story
Types of story
Reading: Aristotle, Seger
WEEK 3
27.2.07
Sourcing: Fairy Tales
Story Structures: the story’s world
Reading: Aronson, Seger, McKee, Field, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel
WEEK 4
6.3.07
Sourcing: Myth
Story Structures: conflict
Reading: Seger, McKee
Story workshop (3)
WEEK 5
13.3.06
Sourcing: Classical drama
Story Structures: inciting incident
The Story and The Plot
Reading: Lysistrata, E.M Forster, A Winter’s Tale
Story workshop (3)
FIRST STORY DUE
WEEK 6
20.3.07
Sourcing: Places
Story Structures: point of no return
Reading: Seger
Story workshop (3)
WEEK 7
27.3.07
Sourcing: The Hero Myth
Story Structures: Characterisation, Character development, motivation
Stories for short film
Reading: Vogler, Campbell
Screening: selected short films (Ozon, Campion)
Story workshop (3)
WEEK 8
3.4.07
Stories for short film
Story Structures: Antagonists
Sourcing: Road tales
Reading: Garner
Screening: selected short films (McKilligan)
Story workshop (3)
10.4.07 EASTER BREAK
WEEK 9
17.4.07
Sourcing: True tales
Story Structures: set up, pay off
Stories for short film
Screening: selected short films (Scorsese)
Story workshop (3)
WEEK 10
24.4.07
Sourcing: Imagery
Stories for feature film
Story Structure: the middle, upping the stakes
Reading: Winton, Seger
Story workshop (3)
SECOND STORY DUE
WEEK 11
31.4.07
Sourcing: Observation
Stories for feature film
Story structure: Time
Reading: Carey, Dethridge
Story workshop (3)
WEEK 12
8.5.07
Review
Sourcing: Valued objects
Story Structure: dramatic action
Story workshop (3)
MID SEMESTER BREAK
WEEK 13
15.5.07
Stories for feature film
Story structure: TBA
Story workshop (3)
WEEK 14
22.5.07
Story Structure: mystery, suspense, irony
Reading: McKee
Story workshop (3)
WEEK 15
29.5.07
Story Structure: story and place
Reading: Wim Wenders, Elinor Fuchs
Story workshop (3)
WEEK 16
5.6.07
Story Structure: story and place
Reading: Adrian Martin
Story workshop (3)
THIRD STORY DUE
WEEK 17
12.6.07
Story Structure: subtext
Story Workshops (3)
WEEK 18
19.6.07
Review
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Writing Your Screenplay, Lisa Dethridge
Screenwriting Updated, Linda Aronson
Hero With A Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell
Story, Robert McKee
Making A Good Script Great, Linda Seger
The Writer’s Journey – Mythic Structure for Storytellers and Screenwriters, Christopher Vogler
Screenwriting, Sid Field
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course includes:
- 3 Stories (1500 – 2500 words each)
- In class exercises
Assessment Tasks
STORY FOLIO 100%
Story 1: A fairy tale 20%
Due: 13.3.07
2500 words
Story 2: Suitable for a short film 30%
Due: 24.4.07
2500 words
Story 3: Suitable for a feature film 50%
Due: 5.6.07
2500 words
Stories will be assessed on event structure, characterisation, character development, conflict and theme.
Please note: handwritten work will not be accepted.
Late Assignments
All assignments must be handed in on the due date and have a cover sheet attached. Any assignment handed in late will receive an initial deduction of 10 percent, and for every subsequent week, a further 10 percent deduction (unless you have received an extension).
Assessment Matrix
Reserved
Course Overview: Access Course Overview