Course Title: TV Script Analysis
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2007
Course Code: COMM7116
Course Title: TV 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
Noel Maloney
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
The purpose of this module is to develop the necessary skills to critically interpret and evaluate TV script components which include formats, narrative structure and plot techniques, TV genre and script mapping requirements.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBM388 TV Script Analysis |
Learning Outcomes
1. Analyse the necessary components of a script to ensure presentation at industry standard.
2. Identify components of script construction, style and content.
3. Map script development and evolution.
Details of Learning Activities
Lectures, close script readings, discussions and presentation.
Teaching Schedule
WEEK 1 14/15 Feb
Orientation
Introduction
Dates for presentations
WEEK 2 21/22 Feb
How TV script departments work
Job roles
Developing a language to critique script
Reading:
Blue Heelers, Wildside
WEEK 3 28 Feb/1 March
Formats: series, serials, sit com, mini series, tele memovies
Plotting a serial and a series ep
Types of conflict: inner, situational, relational
Blue Heelers, Wildside: how do the scripts differ? What makes the better script? Why?
Reading:
The Surgeon
WEEK 4 7/8 March
Basics story concepts: premise, dramatic question, theme, exposition
Basic story components: conflict, action, character, time, place, design etc
Story structure
Definitions of story
Reading
Grass Roots
WEEK 5 14/15 March
Characterisation and character development
Exposition
Reading/Watch:
Love My Way
WEEK 6 21/22 March
Structuring an episode
Structuring a scene
POV
WEEK 7 28/29 March
Assignment 1 (in class)
Reading:
Six Feet Under
WEEK 8 4/12 April
Story stranding within episode
Series vs serials
Reading:
Seachange
Neighbours
Top Shelf
WEEK 9 18/19 April
Story and character arc through a series
Reading:
The Insider’s Guide to Love, Ep 1
No classes on Thursday 5 April and Wednesday 11 April
WEEK 10 25/26 April
The first episode
The ‘Tribe’
Watch:
Queer as Folk
Compare Neighbours to Queer As Folk
WEEK 11 2/3 May
Suspense, irony, mystery
Escalating conflict
Watch:
Doctor Who
Read:
Excerpt from The Way Of The World
Seinfeld
Sex And The City
WEEK 12 9/10 May
The sitcom
- farce
- satire
- parody
- comedy of manners
WEEK 13 16/17 May
Genre
Watch:
Firefly
Assignment 2.
WEEK 14 23/24 May
Presentations (3)
WEEK 15 30/31 June
Presentations (3)
WEEK 16 6/7 June
Presentations (3)
WEEK 17 13/14 June
Presentations (3)
WEEK 18 20/21 June
Review
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
Students are required to produce :
- A Close Script Analysis
- A Genre/Format Study
- A Series Analysis
Assessment Tasks
1. Close script analysis 30%
Close text study 700 words
Critique a given script in terms of story structure, characterisation and character development.
2. Genre/Format Study 30%
Comparative study 700 words
Compare two given scripts from a particular genre in terms of premise, format and narrative structures.
3. Series Analysis 40%
In pairs
Presentation
Choose a TV drama series from the list provided.
Analyse and present on the following:
- Premise
- Audience
- Format
- Narrative structure and plot techniques
- 3 major character arcs
Draw on examples from at least five episodes
In your presentation, provide at least five video/DVD segments as evidence.
Assignment will be assessed equally.
Assessment Matrix
Reserved
Course Overview: Access Course Overview