Course Title: Script and story edit television drama
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2012
Course Code: COMM5936
Course Title: Script and story edit television drama
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6088 - Advanced Diploma of Screenwriting
Course Contact : Brendan
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815
Course Contact Email:mctafe@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: John Reeves
Phone: 9925 4895
Email: john.reeves@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
This course delivers the skills and knowledge required by a professional script and story editor working in all facets of television drama production. It introduces you to the business and techniques of running a story meeting, working with the writer, editing a script to match the writer’s vision to various production requirements, and liaising with other screen professionals including fellow editors, directors and the production team.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VPAU667 Script and story edit television drama |
Element: |
Element 1 Run a story meeting. |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Effective working structure for story meeting group is established |
Element: |
Element 2 Edit a script. |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Series requirements are identified |
Element: |
Element 3 Work with writer. |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Writer’s intentions are clarified |
Element: |
Element 4 Liaise with production. |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Production meetings are scheduled and attended |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to story edit television series or serials.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course, you learn through:
1. In-class activities:
• lectures
• 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 | Skills inventory Sample scripts Final Draft - introduction |
1/3 | |
2 |
Role of the Story and Script Editor: history/overview Our collaborative work – discussion and development |
1/2 | |
3 | Role of the Story and Script Editor (cont’d): Series and Serials Script editors – short list Timing Intensive |
1/2 | |
4 | Role of the Story and Script Editor (cont’d): longform series, one-off production Story editing/development/research exercise Script editing: assessing script content and structure |
1/3 | |
5 | Story editing/development: Building characters Script editing: scene and sequence analysis structural modification story hooks and character transition |
2 | |
6 | Script/Story editor visits/reports: Assessment #1 Story editing/development: Building stories Story editing/development: the story conference (part Assessment #2) |
2 | |
7 |
Script/Story editor visits/reports (cont’d) Story conference debrief/feedback |
2 | |
8 | Script/Story editor visits/reports (cont’d) Presentation of character and story notes (part Assessment #2) Segment plotting (cont’d) |
Assessment #2 due | 2 |
9 | Delivery of brief stories Script editing: script rewriting and polishing Script editing: Writer/editor meetings (part Assessment #3) |
2 | |
10 | Script/Story editor visits/reports (cont’d) Script editing: Writer/editor meetings (cont’d) |
2 | |
11 | Script/Story editor visits/reports (cont’d) Script editing: Writer/editor meetings (cont’d) |
2 | |
12 | Assessment #4: Script evaluation/propsed reshaping | Assessment #4 due | 2/3 |
13 | Masterclass: Script Editing Intensive |
|
2/3 |
14 |
Delivery of second draft stories (part Assessment #3) Writer/editor meetings: debrief /feedback |
2/3 | |
15 | Final edit and delivery of collated draft script (part Assessment #3) | Assessment #1: all Script/Story Editor visits/reports due Assessment #3 due |
3 |
16 | Final Review | 3/4 | |
|
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
Students will require access to the Final Draft word processing program and the facility to print hard copies of their work. These facilities are available in the Carlton Library. Assessment #3 due
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.Script/Story Editor Visit/Report
Meet and interview a Script/Story Editor active in the industry, research their role and working methods, and either host a class visit from your subject, or report to class on your findings in a 25 minute presentation including at least 3 scripted and/or visual examples of their editing work, with written report (500-700 words) supplied.
Due date: As scheduled with the teacher
PercentageWeighting: 25%
Assessment 2. Story Editing/Story Conference
Manage a story conference and subsequent meetings where in tandem with other students you will participate in a session at which brief stories will be plotted, each focussing on a different character. You will lead the group in plotting the story relating to a character you have developed, in scenes to be written by another participant. Your job is to make the writer’s task as clear and effective as possible.
At the conclusion of the plotting session you will write up the notes for the story and scenes you have plotted, and relay them to the writer.
Due date: To be completed by August 21
Percentage Weighting: 25%
Assessment 3. Script Editing/Working With Writer Task
Upon delivery of a writer’s draft script, you are tasked to time the material, gather responses from other participants and convene a meeting with the writer, at which the writer’s intentions are clarified, strengths and weaknesses of the script are discussed and clearly communicated. Story restructuring is carried out if required, and any other changes are negotiated as the writer proceeds to a second draft.
Once all second drafts are delivered, you and all other participants will reformat, reshape and edit the stories into a single, multi-linear episode.
Due date: To be completed by Oct 16
Percentage Weighting: 25%
Assessment 4. Script evaluation/proposed reshaping (written assessment)
Write a script evaluation/assessment of a TV drama project and suggest possible strategies for next stage development, including reshaping of the story and the emotional line of the episode. (1500-2000 words)
Due date: Week 12 (September 18)
Percentage Weighting: 25%
Your assignments will be graded. The 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. This is available through the course contact in Program Administration
Other Information
Feedback
You will receive both oral 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.n 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