Course Title: Adapt fiction and nonfiction work for the screen
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2013
Course Code: COMM7325
Course Title: Adapt fiction and nonfiction work for the screen
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6125 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting
Course Contact : Program Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254815
Course Contact Email:mctafe@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Ms. Glenda Hambly
Email: glenda.hambly@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
Required Prior Study
At RMIT, you are required to have completed all first year core courses before enrolling in this course.
Course Description
A large proportion of produced screen drama is adapted from pre-existing material: novels, short stories, stage plays and non-fiction books and articles. This course develops the skills and knowledge required to write an adaptation of a fiction or nonfiction work as a screenplay either as a commissioned script or as a speculative venture.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
ASWADT612A Adapt fiction and nonfiction work for the screen |
Element: |
3. Develop a treatment |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1Story structure is developed or translated into a different medium |
Element: |
1. Evaluate fiction or nonfiction work for suitability as an adaptation |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 The strengths and weaknesses of story, characters and overall narrative structure are assessed |
Element: |
2. Determine the film story |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1Essential story for adaptation and suitable genre are identified in the film story |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to adapt pre-existing material for the screen
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
Teaching Schedule
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.
| Week | Class Content | Assessment Due | Elements |
| 1 | Introduction to the course. General discussion of the varieties of adaptation and the problems inherent in adapting various source materials. Key principles in screen adaptation.
Discuss students’ assessment project - source material for their adaptation. |
1 | |
| 2 | Class workshop. Adapt Mr and Mrs Dove as a contemporary short drama. The specific problem of adapting prose fiction. Retaining the author’s voice.
Progress report 1. Students pitch their choice of source material and its translation to screen drama – and receive feedback. |
1 | |
| 3 | Class workshop Mr and Mrs Dove cont.
Progress report 1 cont. Students pitch their choice of source material and its translation to screen drama – and receive feedback. |
Assessment 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Case studies: adapting a true story. Guests: Shaun Grant writer of Snowtown and Jane Hampson, currently adapting Tamil Tigress.
Seminar: Problems of adapting Non Fiction. Quiz Show and Bikie Wars and the source material. Truth versus entertainment. |
2 | |
| 5 | Seminar: Brokeback Mountain. Putting flesh on the bones of a short story. Converting inner states to observable (filmable) behaviour.
Preparation for class comparative analysis project. |
2 | |
| 6 | Students present comparative analysis of a short story, graphic novel, novel or play and its screen adaptation. | 1, 2 | |
| 7 | Students present comparative analysis of a short story, graphic novel, novel or play and its screen adaptation. | 1, 2 | |
| Semester Break: April 1 to April 5 (inclusive) | |||
| 8 | Guest Speaker: Moira Moss to discuss Copyright issues, option agreements, assignment of film rights agreements, releases, indemnity and chain of title.
Seminar: The Boys – from stage play to screenplay. Changing genre, show don’t tell. |
1 | |
| 9 | Craft Workshop: opening out a stage play. Imagining action in three dimensions. | 2 | |
| 10 | Progress report 2. Students report to class on their own adaptation. | Assessment 2 |
2, 3 |
| 11 | Progress report 2. Students report to class on their own adaptation. | Assessment 2 (cont.) | 2, 3 |
| 12 | Seminar: Failed adaptations. Great Gatsby and Barney’s Version. Separating prose style and content. Retaining the author’s voice. The use of Voice Over narration. | 2, 3 | |
| 13 | Seminar: adapting a novel to the big and small screen. Puberty Blues - the 1979 novel, 1981 feature and 2012 mini-series. | 2, 3 | |
| 14 | Class workshop: Go Girl series; Know It All adapting children’s literature into a television episode. | 2, 3 | |
| 15 | Two guest authors speak about their experience in dealing with screenwriters. Compromise and protecting the original vision. | 2, 3 | |
| 16 | Seminar: Reflection on the course. Summary of key principles of adaptation. Further work on problem areas.
Deadline for Assessment Project – delivery of students’ adapted Treatment |
Assessment Project due. | 1, 2, 3 |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information on relevant references.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is on-going throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include: participation in class exercises, oral presentations and practical writing tasks.
Assessment Tasks
Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks in this unit are graded.
To demonstrate competency in this course you need to complete each one of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard.
Formative Assessment
Assessment 1: Progress Report 1- Choosing your source material to adapt
An analysis of your choice of source material, including a brief synopsis of the (prose fiction, stage play, non-fiction work ) for adaptation. Your analysis should argue the suitability of the source material for screen adaptation but also set out the problems to be addressed in adapting it to another medium. To be submitted and presented on Week 3.
Assessment 2: Progress Report 2 - Determining the film story.
A series of “short documents’ including a one sentence, one paragraph and one page synopsis of the film story, a formulation of the film’s theme and dramatic question, the plot, identification of the principal characters and their story arcs. (Due Week 10/11)
Assessment 3: Comparative Analysis – Group Class Work
The students in the class will divide into groups of three to analyse ONE of the short stories/novels/play/graphic novel from a list provided by the teacher. (Date for group discussion to be determined with teacher)
Summative assessment
Assessment 4: Completed Treatment. Minimum 15 to maximum 20 pages.
A prose description of the screenplay for a feature or tele-feature. Due: Week 16.
For further details on the assessments and information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
Grades used in this course are as follows:
- HD Competent with High Distinction
- CDI Competent with Distinction
- CC Competent with Credit
- CAG Competency achieved - graded
- NYC Not Yet Competent
- DNS Did not submit for assessment
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
Attendance
The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.
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.
Student feedback at RMIT
Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. Student progress policy
Cover Sheet for Submissions
You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work. This signed sheet acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.
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. Special consideration, appeals and discipline
Course Overview: Access Course Overview