Course Title: Script and story edit television drama
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2018
Course Code: COMM7327
Course Title: Script and story edit television drama
School: 345H Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6125 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting
Course Contact: Course Administration
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
9925 4895
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 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: |
ASWSET614A Script and story edit television drama |
Element: |
1 Run a story meeting |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Effective working structure for story meeting group is established 1.2 Contributions from team are encouraged 1.3 Conflict in team is managed effectively 1.4 Story plotting is managed effectively, to deadlines 1.5 Story requirements of program are met |
Element: |
2 Edit a script |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Series requirements are identified 2.2 Script requirements are identified 2.3 Strengths and weaknesses of script are noted 2.4 Script is edited for character, story and production conventions and requirements 2.5 New scenes are written where required 2.6 Story is restructured where required 2.7 Deadlines are met effectively |
Element: |
3 Work with writer |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Writer's intentions are clarified 3.2 Strengths and weakness of script are communicated to writer clearly 3.3 Changes are negotiated effectively 3.4 Assistance is given where necessary |
Element: |
4 Liaise with production |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Production meetings are scheduled and attended 4.2 Production concerns are noted and acted upon 4.3 Amendments are incorporated into script where needed 4.4 Communication with production personnel is maintained throughout editing process |
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, including plotting room simulation
• 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
Course Schedule: Semester 2: 2018 | |||
Week |
Topic |
Content |
Assessment |
Week 1 5 July 2018 |
Introduction to course |
Skills Inventory Sample Scripts Final Draft - Introduction |
Begin scheduling script editor visits for Assessment #1 |
Week 2 12 July 2018 |
Role of the Story and Script Editor |
Our collaborative work - discussion and development |
|
Week 3 19 July 2018 |
Role of the Story and Script Editor (cont'd): Series and Serials |
Script Editors - short list Timing intensive |
|
Week 4 26 July 2018 |
Story Editing/Development/Research |
Script Editing: Assessing Script Content and Structure |
Assessment 1: Script Editor Visits commence (as scheduled) - various dates throughout semester as per script editor availability |
Week 5 2 August 2018 |
Story Editing/Development: Building Characters & Stories |
Script Editing: scene and sequence analysis Structural Modification Story Hooks and Character Transition |
|
Week 6 9 August 2018 |
Writing Character & Story Notes |
Segment plotting Story Conference Debrief and Feedback |
Assessment 2: Story Conferences Due: STORY CONFERENCES BEGIN (in-class): Week 6, August 9 SCENE BREAKDOWNS DUE: Week 8, August 23 FIRST DRAFT SCRIPT DUE: Week 10, September 6 |
Week 7 16 August 2018 |
Presentation of Character & Story Notes |
Segment Plotting (cont'd) Story Conference Debrief and Feedback (cont'd) |
Assessment 2: Story Conferences Due: STORY CONFERENCES BEGIN (in-class): Week 6, August 9 SCENE BREAKDOWNS DUE: Week 8, August 23 FIRST DRAFT SCRIPT DUE: Week 10, September 6 |
Week 8 23 August 2018 |
Drafting of written first draft sequences |
|
|
Week 9 30 August 2018 |
Drafting of written first draft sequences |
Script Editing: Script Re-writing and Polishing |
|
Week 10 6 September 2018 |
Delivery of written first draft sequences |
|
Assessment 3: Working with Writer - in class Due: Thursday 6 September (all written submissions via Canvas) - in-class presentations scheduled across 2 weeks. |
Week 11 13 September 2018 |
Script Editing: Writer/Editor Meetings |
|
Assessment 3: Working with Writer - in class Due: Thursday 13 September (all written submissions via Canvas) - in-class presentations scheduled across 2 weeks.
|
Break: September 17 to September 28 inclusive | |||
Week 12 4 October 2018 |
Delivery of Written Second Draft Sequences |
Reshaping Skills: Structure and Rhythm |
|
Week 13 11 October 2018 |
Delivery of Written Second Draft Sequences (cont'd) |
|
|
Week 14 18 October 2018 |
Delivery of Final Script |
Table reads of Final Scripts |
Assessment 4: Edited Script Due: Thursday 18 October (all script submissions via Canvas)
|
Week 15 25 October 2018 |
No scheduled class: assessment |
|
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
To be supplied by teacher.
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 all of the following assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment (refer to Canvas for assessment criteria) and where indicated, you will receive a grade.
Assessment Task #1: Script Editor Visit (Due date: from Week 4, as scheduled with your teacher)
Host a visit from a Script/Story Editor active in the industry, and discuss their role and working methods, using at least 3 scripted and/or visual examples of their editing work.
Assessment Task #2: Story Conference (Due dates: Weeks 6 and 7, 9 and 16 August)
Play your part in a story conference with other students at which episode stories will be plotted. You will each lead the group in plotting a sequence, take meeting notes, and oversee the progression to scene breakdown and first draft script.
Assessment Task #3: Working With Writers (Due dates: Weeks 10 and 11, 6 and 13 September)
On delivery of first draft sequences, you are to participate in a meeting with the writers, at which the writers' intentions are clarified, and the strengths and weaknesses of each writer’s sequence are discussed. Story restructuring and any other changes are negotiated. Your job is to make each writer’s task as clear and effective as possible, with particular regard to the sequence you plotted.
Assessment task #4: Edited Script (Due dates: Week 14, 18 October) graded
Submit a fully-edited final draft of your group's complete episode, including the sequence you plotted and progressed. Your fully-edited script will be presented and discussed in a class debrief, and should be accompanied by a brief synopsis, character notes and location lists, and contain both individual and cumulative scene timings.
Assessment Submission
All material is to be formatted in Final Draft, and submitted in hard copy as well as digital attachment via Canvas.
Once you have demonstrated competency, your final assessment (#4) will be graded (refer to Canvas for grading rubric). Your individual contribution to the group process will be taken into account.
The grades used in this unit are as follows:
CHD 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 from the course contact person (see above).
Other Information
Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters.
Attendance
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises. It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.
Assessment Feedback
You will receive spoken and written feedback on all your work. Where relevant, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy designed to assist you in achieving your learning potential.
Adjustments to Assessment (eg. applying for an extension of time):
If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment satisfactorily by the due date, you can choose to apply for an adjustment to your assessment. RMIT University offers a range of adjustments designed to support you in your studies, including an extension of time to complete the assessment.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences
Course Overview: Access Course Overview