Course Title: Develop self as artist

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2018

Course Code: BUSM8837C

Course Title: Develop self as artist

Important Information:

This course will be delivered through face-to-face classes, interaction with industry mentors, and the learning support material and resources in Canvas. 

School: 345H Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6160 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting

Course Contact: Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email: mcvet@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Tim Marshall
Phone: 9925 4514
Email: timothy.marshall@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 60

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

None. You are advised to complete the Semester 1 course Screen Industry so as to build your industry knowledge prior to enrolling in Screen Practice.

Course Description

In this course you will consider and develop plans for your own screenwriting practice. You will focus on a particular project from your growing slate of material, aiming to create a visual proof of concept and an oral pitch for your original feature film, TV series, webseries or other project.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUAPPR404 Develop self as artist

Element:

1. Refine arts practice skills

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Plan strategies to improve own arts practice skills 1.2 Identify and use relevant practice, feedback, discussion and evaluation opportunities to continuously improve own technical and creative skills 1.3 Identify and use relevant sources of information to keep up-to-date with industry trends and issues 1.4 Identify and use a range of opportunities to develop own arts practice

Element:

2. Develop own style or voice in arts practice

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Explore a range of creative thinking techniques to generate ideas and integrate them into own arts practice 2.2 Discuss ideas with relevant people and apply knowledge gained to inform own practice 2.3 Use practice time to experiment safely and sustainably with new ideas in a range of genres and interpretations 2.4 Study the work of others to stimulate own conceptual and technical skills and consider intellectual property implications 2.5 Explore and use technology where appropriate to expand own practice

Element:

3. Evaluate own work

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Seek and apply constructive feedback from relevant people to improve own work 3.2 Evaluate work against planned strategy for developing own arts practice 3.3 Identify place of own work in relation to other artists in own area of practice 3.4 Adjust processes, techniques and practice as necessary to improve technical, conceptual and commercial outcomes

Element:

4. Pursue work opportunities

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Identify and review sources of information on work opportunities 4.2 Identify and access industry networks and events to generate work opportunities 4.3 Develop and distribute promotional material about self as required


Learning Outcomes


On completing this course, you will have added to and enhanced your slate of original projects, created a proof of concept item for a particular project, and gained experience in pitching your own material.


Details of Learning Activities

In this course you will consider and develop plans and tools for your own screen practice. You will focus on a particular project from your growing slate of material, aiming to create a visual proof of concept and an oral pitch for your original feature, TV series, webseries or other project.


Teaching Schedule

 

Screen Practice 2018: Teaching Schedule

Week
 

Content
 

Assessment due

1

July 6

Overview of content and discussion of course content

Finding your voice in the screen industry

Rejection - 3 methods for coping

Thinking about pitching – yourself and your work

New Screenwriters 2019 – briefing and planning your page

Graduate showcase website New Screenwriters 2019 explained and discussed

Formation of groups for Assessment Task #2

 

2

July 13

Workshop with industry guest

Discussion of Assessment Task #3: Proof of concept

Speed pitching: an exercise

 

3

July 20

Pitching yourself and your work via social media.

Further discussion of Assessment Task #1: Your New Screenwriters 2019 page

 

4

July 27

 

Your work, your voice (1): TBA

 

Assessment task #1: Your work, your voice

5

Aug 3

Your work, your voice (2): TBA

Proof of concept

Speed pitching

Assessment task #1: Your work, your voice

 

Assessment task #2 (Part 1) due: New Screenwriters 2019 draft page

6

Aug 10

Your work, your voice (3): TBA

Without Lying Down

Face-to-face discussion, feedback and review

Assessment task #1: Your work, your voice (cont’d)

 

Assessment task #2 (Part 2) due: New Screenwriters 2019 draft page report

7

Aug 17

Guest speaker to discuss Proof of concept.

Proof of concept: workshopping

 

8

Aug 24

Your work, your voice (4): TBA

Proof of concept: workshopping
 

Assessment task #1: Your work, your voice (cont’d)

9

Aug 31

Your work, your voice (5): TBA

Proof of concept: workshopping (cont’d)
 

Assessment task #1: Your work, your voice (cont’d)

10

Sep 7

Guest speaker - Australian Writers’ Guild

Part of the Union: Contracts and industrial clout, with the Australian Writers’ Guild

Your work, your voice (6): TBA

Assessment task #1: Your work, your voice (cont’d)

11

Sep 14

Your work, your voice (7): TBA

Your work, your voice (8): TBA

Proof of concept due

Assessment task #1: Your work, your voice (cont’d)

 

Assessment task #3 due: Proof of concept

 

Mid semester break – 17–28 September inclusive

 

12

Oct 5

Pitching to the professionals (Day #1)

Assessment task #4: Your pitch

13

Oct 12

 

Pitching to the professionals (Day #2)

Assessment task #4: Your pitch (cont’d)

14

Oct 19

 

Pitching to the professionals (Day #3)

Assessment task #4: Your pitch (cont’d)
 

15

Oct 26

No scheduled class: assessment


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

To be supplied in class.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course will be via group work, creation of original material for the screen and performance media, and oral pitching of your work to industry representatives.


Assessment Tasks

To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete the following assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive written feedback on all of the following pieces of assessment (refer to Canvas for assessment criteria). 

Assessment task #1: Your work, your voice (Due weeks following Week 4: 27 July)

As a group, research the career of a successful Australian screenwriter, contacting them with a brief list of questions, and deliver a presentation on their work and voice. Show a full-length episode of their work, and explore the reasons and strategies for their success. Your due date for the presentation will be negotiated with your teacher and will be scheduled in a time slot during weeks 4–6 and 8–11.

Assessment task #2: Your New Screenwriters 2019 page (Draft page due Week 5: 3 August; draft page report due Week 6 10 August)

Design your own entry for the graduate showcase website, including photo, contact details, project slate and other information as decided, and submit it both as hard copy and in an electronic format.

Assessment task #3: Proof of concept (Due Week 11: 14 September)

Create a “Proof of concept” document, sizzle reel or artefact that integrates and develops the characters, story, themes and ideas of one of the original screen projects on your development slate.

Assessment task #4: Your pitch (Due Weeks 12, 13 and 14: 5, 12 and 19 October)

After research, drafting and workshopping, present a 3–5 minute pitch for a particular project to industry personnel as if you were seeking to gain their involvement in the project. You will have 3–5 minutes to further discuss the project and field questions.

Assessment Submission

See individual assessment requirements on Canvas.

Grading

Once you have demonstrated competency in all assessment tasks, your overall work across the semester will be graded.


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
 

For further information on the assessment and grading criteria, please refer to the course Canvas site.


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. This is available through the course contact in Program Administration (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