Course Title: Work with others to develop a script
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2012
Course Code: COMM5923
Course Title: Work with others to develop a script
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: John Reeves
Phone: 9925 4895
Email: john.reeves@rmit.edu.au
Teacher: Noel Maloney
Phone: 9925 4737
Email: noel.maloney@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 140
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
Delivery of this course at RMIT requires you to have completed all first year courses.
Course Description
The unit Work with others to develop a script, is taught within the course Collaboration and Development. This course will afford you the opportunity to develop skills and strategies to work productively with others in a team environment. This course will offer also you a space to work with others on your individual screen projects, and to take those projects, with the help of your colleagues, to the next level.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VPAU308 Work with others to develop a script |
Element: |
1. Creative team is formed. |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 A common vision for the project is developed and agreed upon by team. |
Element: |
2. The exisiting draft script is analysed for areas needing attention. |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 The script is examined for problems related to premise, story, structure, character and genre. |
Element: |
3. An approach to rewriting is agreed upon. |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 An appropriate methodology is negotiated. |
Element: |
4. Creative disagreements are resolved effectively. |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Disagreements are aired openly and appropriately and effective cooperation is sought. |
Element: |
5. Re-write is achieved effectively. |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Re-write incorporates agreed solutions. |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to work as a screenwriter with a creative team in order to develop a film or TV screenplay
Details of Learning Activities
Commitment to Collaboration
Because of the collaborative nature of this course, an ongoing commitment to tackling group work in a generous and all-embracing way is essential. While you will be introduced to concepts and theories of collaborative writing and script development by way of short lectures, screenings and class discussion, most class time will be devoted to the practical business of script analysis, writing and rewriting.
Specific activities include:
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
reading of excerpts of writings and set texts to provide examples of writing elements
workshopping of students’ own projects
analysis/critique of writings of students’ choice
2. Out-of-class activities:
independent project based work
discussion and comment via the class website, Blackboard
online and other research
independent study
Teaching Schedule
| Week starting | Class content | Assessment due | Elements |
| Week 1 |
Introduction to course. Explanation/discussion of course content and assessment.. | 1 | |
| Week 2 |
Individual research into: (a) possible group projects & (b) portmanteau screenplay construction | 1 | |
| Week 3 |
Workshop #1: The business of teamwork and team building | 1,2 | |
| Week 4 |
Workshop #2: Approaches to collaborative writing; includes roles, fees, contracts. Groups formed – choice of themes, initial pitches | 1,2 | |
| Week 5 |
Workshop #3: Story development: a collaborative approach. Groups formed – choice of themes, initial pitches (continued) | 1,2 | |
| Week 6 |
Project work | 1,2 | |
| Week 7 |
Working in groups: story conferences | 1,2,4 | |
| Week 8 |
Group work/individual writing focussing on development of portmanteau screenplays | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 9 |
Group work/individual writing focussing on development of portmanteau screenplays (continued) | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 10 |
Group work/individual writing focussing on development of portmanteau screenplays (continued) | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 11 |
Group work/individual writing focussing on development of portmanteau screenplays (continued) | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 12 |
Workshop #4: writing for performance. Group readings/ feedback | 1,2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 13 |
Group readings/ feedback (continued) Group work/individual writing: second draft |
1,2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 14 |
Group work/individual writing: second draft (continued) | 1,2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 15 |
Script readings | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 16 |
Script readings | Assessment Task #1 due | 2,3,4,5 |
| Week 17 |
Assessment Week - no classes |
| Semester 2 | |||
| Week starting | Class content | Assessment due | Elements |
| Week 1 |
Workshop #5: Analysis and reflections on the development process | 1, 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 2 |
Workshop #6: Finding your voice | 3,4,5 | |
| Week 3 |
Projects pitched, teams calved | Assessment Task #2 due | 1,2 |
| Week 4 |
Groups floated off, projects decided | 1,2 | |
| Week 5 |
Drafting of projects begins: Group workplans finalized | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 6 |
Individual workplans finalized | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 7 |
Workshop #7: Group readings/ feedback | 1,2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 8 |
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 9 |
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project (continued) | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 10 |
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project (continued) | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 11 |
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project (continued) | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 12 |
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project (continued) | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 13 |
Group work: each group to work together in assisting individual members towards next stage of their project (continued) | 2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 14 |
Script readings |
Assessment Tasks #3 and #4 due | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Week 15 |
Script readings |
1,2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 16 |
Script readings |
1,2,3,4,5 | |
| Week 17 |
Assessment week - no classes |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Extracts, readings and additional references are provided throughout the course. |
References
In addition to hard copy handouts, some readings are made available on Blackboard, and others can be accessed via the web. Recommended books will be discussed in class. You are advised to visit Blackboard for ongoing updated information. |
Other Resources
Students will require access to a word processing program and the facility to print hard copies of their work. These facilities are also available in the Carlton Library.
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 and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing tasks. You will be assessed on your ability to work effectively with creative partners, consult and accept feedback, critique draft screenplays and successfully revise your own work. You will also be assessed on your knowledge of screenwriting techniques, terminology and formats and production processes.
.
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 Task #1:Script Editing Notes
Writing and delivery of script editing notes, demonstrating insightful and effective analysis of other team members’ contribution to the group project. Due Week 16, Semester 1 (25%)
Assessment Task # 2 :Group project:
Report (including a work folio) detailing development of your project and partnerships, and the successful formation and operation of a creative team (minimum 1500 words) Due Week 3, Semester 2 (25%)
Assessment Task # 3 :Your project:
Presentation of your completed and redrafted individual project. Due Week 14, Semester 2 (25%)
Assessment Task #4 : Writer’s Report: A Writer’s Report (minimum 500 words), outlining and analysing effectiveness of the rewriting process. Due Week 14, Semester 2 (15%)
Assessment Task #5: Group Workshopping: You are assessed on your ongoing contribution to the group workshopping process (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 details on these assessment tasks and 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 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