Course Title: Develop storylines and treatments
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2011
Course Code: COMM5909C
Course Title: Develop storylines and treatments
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:Bredan.lee@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Cameron Clarke
Tel: 9925 4908
Email: Cameron.clarke.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
At RMIT you are required to have completed Assess a Film Script (COMM5920) before enrolling in Develop Storylines and Treatments (COMM5909C).
At RMIT Write Scripts (COMM5907C) is delivered and assessed together with Develop Storylines and Treatments.
Course Description
Develop Storylines and Treatments develops the skills and knowledge required to develop a narrative or storyline.
The unit Develop Storylines and Treatments is delivered and assessed within the course Write Film, which is made up of three competencies:
1. Assess a Film Script (COMM5920)
2. Develop Storylines and Treatments (COMM5909C)
3. Write Scripts (COMM5907C)
Assess a Film Script is delivered and assessed in Semester 1.
Develop Storylines and Treatments and Write Scripts are delivered and assessed together in Semester 2.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CUFWRT501A Develop storylines and treatments |
Element: |
1. Plan and prepare to write production material. |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Define appropriate script-writing construction, style and formats for given type of production and clients. |
Element: |
2. Develop storylines or treatments. |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Identify components of script development required by concept proposals |
Element: |
3. Finalise storylines or treatments. |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Present materials for discussion to production teams |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to develop a storyline or treatment in preparation for writing a film script.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course, you learn through:
1. In-class activities:
• lectures
• industry speakers
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• analysis/critique of students’ writings
2. Out-of-class activities:
• independent project based work
• writing and reading assignments
• online and other research
• independent study
In the second semester of the course, Write Film you will be working independently on writing the first draft of a screenplay. You will be expected to spend a minimum of 1.5 hours a week outside of class time working independently on this project, and to bring your work regularly to class for workshopping and to receive feedback from your teacher and your peers.
Teaching Schedule
| Week | Content | Assessment due | Competency and Elements |
| 1 | Originating and developing screenplay ideas | CUFWRT501A Plan and prepare to write production material CUFWRT601A Prepare to write the scripts |
|
| 2 | The feature premise Research and the screenplay |
CUFWRT501A Plan and prepare to write production material CUFWRT601A Prepare to write the scripts |
|
| 3 | Key genre elements | CUFWRT501A Plan and prepare to write production material CUFWRT601A Prepare to write the scripts |
|
| 4 | The feature synopsis | CUFWRT501A Plan and prepare to write production material CUFWRT601A Prepare to write the scripts |
|
| 5 | Character refresher | CUFWRT501A Develop storylines or treatments CUFWRT601A Prepare to write the scripts |
|
| 6 | Character revelation and development | Assessment 1 due |
CUFWRT501A Develop storylines or treatments CUFWRT601A Prepare to write the scripts |
| 7 | Point of View | CUFWRT501A Develop storylines or treatments CUFWRT601A Write draft scripts |
|
| 8 | In-depth character breakdowns Character arcs Dialogue |
CUFWRT501A Develop storylines or treatments CUFWRT601A Write draft scripts |
|
| 9 | The feature treatment The feature scene breakdown |
CUFWRT501A Develop storylines or treatments CUFWRT601A Write draft scripts |
|
| 10 | Theme and subtext | Assessment 2 due |
CUFWRT501A Finalise storylines or treatments CUFWRT601A Write draft scripts |
| 11 | The feature first draft Script conventions Final draft workshop |
CUFWRT501A Finalise storylines or treatments CUFWRT601A Produce final scripts |
|
| 12 | Plots and subplots | |
CUFWRT501A Finalise storylines or treatments CUFWRT601A Produce final scripts |
| 13 | Setups and payoffs | CUFWRT501A Finalise storylines or treatments CUFWRT601A Produce final scripts |
|
| 14 | Three act refresher | CUFWRT501A Finalise storylines or treatments CUFWRT601A Produce final scripts |
|
| 15 | Alternative structure The hero’s journey |
Assessment 3 due |
CUFWRT501A Finalise storylines or treatments CUFWRT601A Produce final scripts |
| 16 | Scenes and sequences Creating a visual style |
||
| 17 | Assessment Week (No classes) |
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
You will require access to a computer and to the internet
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 exercises 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 1. Synopsis and Treatment
Due date: Week 6
Percentage Weighting: 30%
Workshop and write a synopsis and treatment for a feature length screenplay.
Assessment 2. Character Arcs for three Characters
Competency addressed:
Due date: Week 10
Percentage Weighting: 30%
Describe character arcs for three characters drawn from a treatment (to be workshopped in class) based upon your feature synopsis. Include plot developments and how they affect your characters journey. Half a page per character.
Assessment 3. Analysis of Scene Breakdown
Competency addressed:
Due date: Week 15
Percentage Weighting: 30%
Identify and provide notes on thematic issues and subtextual layering inherent in a scene breakdown (to be workshopped in class) based on your feature treatment. Two pages.
Assessment 4. Class exercises
Due date: Ongoing throughout semester
Percentage weighting: 10%
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. These are
available through the course contact in Program administration
Other Information
Feedback:
You will receive both spoken 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. 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