Course Title: Originate and develop concepts

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: BUSM6217C

Course Title: Originate and develop concepts

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6088 - Advanced Diploma of Screenwriting

Course Contact : Program administration

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: Cameron Clarke
Phone: 9925 4908
Email: Cameron.clarke@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 30

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

Originate and Develop Concepts delivers the skills and knowledge required to develop your ideas for the screen. It is taught within the course Elements of Screenwriting and is delivered and assessed alongside the competency Conduct Research which looks at the skills and knowledge required for you to research effectively within the operating conditions experienced by screenwriters.

 The unit Originate and Develop Concepts (BSBCRT501A) is delivered and assessed alongside Conduct Research (CUFRES401A)


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

BSBCRT501A Originate and develop concepts

Element:

1. Evaluate and explore needs and opportunities.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Research and evaluate existing information that informs new concept development.
1.2 Where appropriate, identify and use gaps in current range of products, programmes, processes or services as the catalyst for generating new ideas or concepts.
1.3 Expand the potential of new ideas through exploration of opportunities beyond the obvious.
1.4 Identify factors that could have an impact on ideas or concepts to be developed, including potential for commercialisation.
1.5 Determine whether other players are filling identified gaps or investigating similar opportunities.
1.6 Develop preliminary ideas or innovative and different ways to address needs and opportunities.
1.7 In consultation with relevant stakeholders, agree on broad parameters for developing ideas and concepts to meet market requirements.

Element:

2. Develop a range of creative approaches.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 use a range of creative thinking techniques to generate innovative and creative concepts to address identified needs.
2.2 challenge, test and experiment with different concepts and ideas as part of a collaborative process.
2.3 evaluate concepts in terms of their suitability for the target audience or purpose, their feasibility and their commercial potential.
2.4 take account of social, ethical and environmental issues as concepts and ideas are generated and discussed.
2.5 identify resources required to achieve desired creative and innovative outcomes.
2.6 evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies for achieving desired outcomes.
2.7 select concepts or approaches that achieve required outcomes in an innovative and feasible way.
2.8 present proposed concepts or approaches in an appropriate format.

Element:

3. Refine concepts.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 ensure concept development process is open to ongoing refinement and testing.
3.2 seek input and feedback on concepts from relevant stakeholders.
3.3 seek specialist advice on creative and technical aspects of proposals as required.
3.4 compare concepts with best practice examples of similar products, programmes, processes or services.
3.5 use a range of creative and practical criteria to determine the advantages and disadvantages of different concepts.
3.6 evaluate constraints on the realisation of concepts or ideas.
3.7 refine proposals based on analysis and feedback.

Element:

4. Develop concepts to an operational level.

Performance Criteria:

4.1. Use refined concepts as the basis for developing detailed implementation specifications
4.2 Present specifications to relevant parties for approval, funding or endorsement
4.3 Reflect on methodology used to generate concepts and ideas and note ways of improving this in the future.

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course, you will be able to develop a concept into an early draft of a script.


Details of Learning Activities

In this course you learn through:
1. In-class activities:
lectures
industry speakers
teacher directed group activities/projects
peer teaching and class presentations
group discussion
class exercises to review discussions/lectures
workshopping of students’ own projects
analysis/critique of writings of students’ choice

2. Out-of-class activities:
independent project based work
writing and reading assignments
online and other research
independent study


Teaching Schedule

Week Starting Class content Assessment Elements
Week 1
(7 Feb)
Introduction to the semester’s material and assessment.
(Discussion of the research brief.)
The Screenwriter in the Scheme of Things
  BUSM6217C Evaluate and explore needs and opportunities COMM5916C Clarify research brief
Week 2
(14 Feb)
The Concept Document
(Discussion of research ideas and techniques)
  BUSM6217C
Evaluate and explore needs and opportunities
Develop a range of creative approaches COMM5916C Clarify research brief
Week 3
(21 Feb)
Creating Stories
(Discussion and update on research assignments)
  BUSM6217C
Develop a range of creative approaches COMM5916C Conduct research
Week 4
(28 Feb)
Creating characters
(Discussion and update on research assignments)
  BUSM6217C
Develop a range of creative approaches COMM5916C
Analyse research findings.
Week 5
(7 March)
Creating scenes
(Discussion and update on research assignments)
  BUSM6217C
Develop a range of creative approaches. COMM5916C
Analyse research findings.
Week 6
(14 March)
Present Research Assignments Class presentation due COMM5916C Analyse research findings.
Present research findings.
Week 7
(21 March)
Present Research Assignments   COMM5916C Analyse research findings.
Present research findings.
Week 8
(28 March)
Visuals
(Discussion and review of research projects)
  BUSM6217C
Develop a range of creative approaches.
COMM5916C
Analyse resea.rch findings
Week 9
(4 April)
Film language   BUSM6217C Develop a range of creative approaches.Conduct research - COMM5916C
Analyse research findings
Week 10
(11 April)
Screenwriting in a Cultural Context   BUSM6217C
Evaluate and explore needs and opportunities.
Develop a range of creative approaches.
COMM5916C Conduct research. Analyse research findings.
Week 11
(18 April)
The 3 Act Structure Concept Document assessment due COMM5916C
Conduct research. Analyse research findings.
Present research findings.
Mid-semester break (21/4 – 27/4)      
Week 12
(2 May)
The Short Film   BUSM6217C Evaluate and explore needs and opportunities.
Develop a range of creative approaches.
Week 13
(9 May)
The Short Film   BUSM6217C Evaluate and explore needs and opportunities.
Develop a range of creative approaches.
Week 14
(16 May)
Synopses and Treatments   BUSM6217C
Refine concepts .
Develop concepts to an operational level.
Week 15
(23 May)
Dialogue
Short Film assessment due
BUSM6217C Develop a range of creative approaches
COMM5916C
Conduct research
 Week 16
(30 May)
 Pitching

   BUSM6217C
Develop a range of creative approaches.
Refine concepts.
Develop concepts to an operational level.
 Week 17
(6 June)
 Assessment Week    


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Handouts, DVD/video presentations, screenplays etc. The class website, Blackboard, can be accessed via the web.


References

You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.


Other Resources

You need access to a computer and the internet


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, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing tasks.
 


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
1. Class presentation – in groups, research and discuss a project which takes advantage of cross-platform delivery. Examine the nature of the project, including who is behind it creatively, where funding for the project comes from, and whether or not the project achieves its potential. Due: Week 6 (30%)

2. In groups, write a three to five page Concept Document for a project which takes advantage of cross-platform delivery.
Due: Week 11 (30%)

3. Through workshopping, develop and write the first draft of a ten minute short film. Ten to twelve minutes of formatted script. Assignments will be assessed with an eye to story, plot, structure, character, imagery and subtext. Due: Week 15 (30%)

4. Workshopping. (10%)

Grades used in this course are as follows:
80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail

For further information on 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

Feedback:
You will receive verbal and written feedback by teacher on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Late Submissions
Please refer to the course blackboard site for policy information including information on late submissions and plagiarism

Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

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:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview