Course Title: Adapt fiction and nonfiction work for the screen

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: COMM7358C

Course Title: Adapt fiction and nonfiction work for the screen

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: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6160 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting

Course Contact: Penny Johnson

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email: svdsc.mac@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Alan Woodruff

alan.woodruff@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

Enrolment in this elective course at RMIT requires you to have completed all first year courses.

 

Course Description

In this course you learn 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:

PSWSAD607 Adapt fiction and nonfiction work for the screen

Element:

1. Evaluate fiction or nonfiction work for screen adaptation

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Review original work based on established purpose and required outcomes for the screen adaptation with relevant people

1.2 Assess the strengths and weaknesses of story, characters and overall narrative structure in the source material for potential suitability as a screen story

1.3 Compare translations or editions together with any previous screen versions

1.4 Consider audience appeal of the work based on other translations or screen versions

1.5 Identify any ethical and copyright obligations and impacts in relation to adapting the source material and strategies to incorporate them

Element:

2. Develop film story

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify main storyline and characters for the adaptation

2.2 Develop the premise and themes in the film story

2.3 Define essential character arcs in the film story

2.4 Propose elements to be cut, altered or combined in the film story

2.5 Establish key turnings points in the main plot and map out any required additional story development

2.6 Identify any story and character problems and develop ways to resolve them

2.7 Write a story outline that identifies the essential story concept for adaptation to industry standards

Element:

3. Finalise story outline for adaptation

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Confirm story outline for adaptation is appropriate for the purpose, outcomes and intended audience

3.2 Ensure adaptation meets ethical and copyright requirements

3.3 Discuss and confirm any modifications to refine the adaptation with relevant people

3.4 Complete necessary amendments as required

Learning Outcomes


By taking this course, you'll acquire the skills and knowledge to evaluate works for screen adaptation, and to develop and finalise the adapted story in industry-appropriate documents.


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 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

Note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of resources.  

Week beginning

Class content

 Assessments

Week 1

 

Introduction to the course. Principles and problems in adaptation. Reconciling other story forms (and actuality) with screen stories. i.e. the suitability of material from theatre, prose, history, etc. for adaptation.

Discuss Assessment Task 1: Choosing your source material to adapt.

Exercise: Investigate the potential of the short story Cooper's Creek for adaptation into a short film.

  

Week 2

 

Review and discussion of some recent adaptations (The Crown, Call Me by Your Name, The Queen, Shine) including analysis of the strategies used and an evaluation of their success.

  

Week 3

 

Workshopping: Students will present their adaptation proposal (Assessment Task 1) to the class for feedback.
Assessment Task 1 due

Week 4

 

Workshopping (cont.): Students will present their adaptation proposal (Assessment Task 1) to the class for feedback.

 

Week 5

 

Finding the screen story in the source text. (Structure and characters.)

  

Week 6

 

 Show don’t tell. The primacy of image in screen stories. Tools and tricks - narration, flashbacks, etc. Adjusting stories and characters to suit screen story structure.  

Week 7

 

Adapting prose.

Exercise: Using the short story A Taste of Spring, map out a strategy that deals with the interior life of the narrator/protagonist, the dual time zones, backstories and metaphors.

  

Week 8

 

  Case study: From The Grandmothers to Adoration
 

 

 Semester break: Monday 6 – Monday 13 April inclusive  

Week 9

 

 Case study: From The Grandmothers to Adoration (cont.)
 		  

Week 10

 

 Workshopping: Students will present their 2-page treatment (Assessment Task 2) to the class for feedback.
Assessment Task 2 due 

Week 11

 

 Workshopping (cont.): Students will present their 2-page treatment (Assessment Task 2) to the class for feedback. 
 		 

Week 12

 

Individual feedback sessions: One-on-one feedback with your teacher.

 		  

Week 13

 

 Individual feedback sessions: One-on-one feedback with your teacher.  

Week 14

 

 Individual feedback sessions: One-on-one feedback with your teacher. Assessment Task 3 due 

Week 15

 

 Semester review. Re-assessment if needed.  

Week 16

 Semester review. Re-assessment if needed.  

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

None


References

Key references will be supplied by your teacher. You will need to source your own text for adaptation.


Other Resources

The University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through:
The learning Lab
www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab
The Study Support Hub
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub
English for uni workshops
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/workshops/english-uni-workshops 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment is ongoing throughout the course. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral presentation, evaluation of source texts and the application of learned skills and insights into your writing tasks.


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 Task 1: Evaluating the source text – due Week 3, Sunday 1 March

Write a 300-word description of the story in the source material you are choosing to adapt and a 300-word description of the issues you expect to confront in writing the adaptation and how you might deal with them. 

Assessment Task 2: Two-page outline – due Week 10, Sunday 26 April

Write a two-page outline of the proposed adaptation with all of the main structural issues resolved. 

Assessment Task 3: Beat sheet/outline – due Week 14, Sunday 24 May

Deliver a five-page beat sheet of your proposed adaptation. All issues identified in the developmental stages should be resolved so that the project is ready for the commencement of writing the first draft. You are also required to answer a series of questions related to your completed outline.

See Canvas for full details of all assessment tasks.

______

Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency based assessments are: CA - Competency Achieved
NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did not Submit 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