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

john.reeves@rmit.edu.au

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