Course Title: Develop self as artist

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2022

Course Code: BUSM8837C

Course Title: Develop self as artist

Important Information:


Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities. 

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption. 

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus 

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance. 

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

School: 515T Creative Industries

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6160 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting

Course Contact: Alan Woodruff

Course Contact Phone: +61399254307

Course Contact Email: alan.woodruff@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher:

Tim Marshall

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 learn through:

1. In-class activities:

  • lectures 
  • teacher directed group activities/projects 
  • class exercises to review discussions/lectures 
  • peer teaching and class presentations 
  • group discussion 
  • class exercises 

2. Out-of-class activities:

  • independent project based work 
  • writing and reading assignments 
  • online and other research 
  • independent study


Teaching Schedule

Week

Content

Assessment due

1

Overview of content and discussion of course content

Finding your voice in the screen industry

Rejection - methods for coping

Thinking about pitching – yourself and your work

New Screenwriters 2021 – briefing and planning your page

Graduate showcase website New Screenwriters 2022 explained and discussed

Formation of groups for Assessment Task #1

 

2

Further discussion of Assessment Task #2: Your New Screenwriters 2021 page 

Creative development in-class exercises

 

3

Exploration of Proof of Concept Films as a Strategy for Emerging Filmmakers/Writers

Guest Q&A : Olivia Horner (Links to an external site.) - graduate Screenwriting student/runs New Screenwriters website - Q&A on career life after RMIT & further info on New Screenwriter's website.

4:30pm - Industry Q&A: Writer/Director TBC

 

4

Exploration of Pitch Documents

 

 

5

Pairing up for Assessment #2 Part 2

Exploration of Assessment #4 Pitching - what to expect when pitching to industry.

3pm - Industry Q&A: Writer TBC

Assessment #2 Part 1 Due

 

6

Pitching Q&A with producer TBC

Your work, your voice presentations

 

Assessment task #2 Part 2 Due

Assessment task #1: Your work, your voice 

7

Your work, your voice presentations

 

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

 

8

Remaining AT1 Group presentations

Assessment #3 Part 1 Individual Consultations

 

Assessment #3 Part 1: Individual Consultations

 

 

Mid semester break – Monday 29 August to Friday 2 September

 

9

Guest lecture - Australian Writers’ Guild - Bryant Apolonio: Contracts and industrial clout 

Assessment #3 Part 1 Individual Consultations

Assessment #1 Part 3: Individual Report Due

Assessment #3 Part 1: Individual Consultations

10

Pitching Practice Session

Final AT3 Consultations

Assessment #3 Part 1: Individual Consultations

11

Pitching to the professionals (Day #1) - Guest TBC

 

Assessment task #4: Your pitch

 

12

Pitching to the professionals (Day #2) - Guest TBC

Assessment task #3 due: Pitch Document

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

13

Pitching to the professionals (Day #3) Guest TBC

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

14

Debrief from Pitches - overview of learning and next steps in your career.


 

15

NO CLASS

 

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

None


References

Resources available on Canvas.


Other Resources

You will require access to a computer and to the internet for this course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems and access to specialised facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources.

The University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through:

The Learning Lab
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab

The Study Support Hub
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub 


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

Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.


You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria.

Assessment 1: Your work, your voice

(Due Weeks 6–8)

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 following week 4.

Assessment 2: Self-Promotional activities

(Due Week 5 & 6)

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

Assessment 3: Proof of concept

(Due Week 12)

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 4: Your pitch

(Due Weeks 11 to 13)

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.

Once you have achieved competency for all assessments in a unit of competency, you will receive an overall result. If you have not completed an assessment task to a satisfactory standard, you will be given an opportunity to resubmit that task within one week of receiving feedback from your teacher. If the resubmission is deemed unsatisfactory, the matter will be referred to the Program Coordinator.

Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:

CA: Competency Achieved
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 matrices are available through Program Administration.

Other Information

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.

Information about your studies
You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students

Assessment
Information on assessment including Special consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time):

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/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.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity

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.  

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer or RPL for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit

Course Overview: Access Course Overview