Course Title: Realise a body of creative work
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2018
Course Code: VART6474C
Course Title: Realise a body of creative work
School: 345T 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
Alan Woodruff
email: alan.woodruff@rmit.edu.au
ph: 9925 4307
Nominal Hours: 80
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.
Course Description
In this course you will learn the essentials of professional scriptwriting, developing the skills, knowledge and personal savvy required to write a screenplay as a commissioned script or an independent speculative project. Your completed work will convey a well-developed command of materials, process and technique. This course addresses the following unit of competency: CUAPPR501 Realise a body of creative work
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CUAPPR501 Realise a body of creative work |
Element: |
1. Develop ideas for a coherent body of creative work |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Establish and explore a developing range of sources to inform new ideas, including consideration of intellectual property requirements 1.2 Support professional practice by extending knowledge of historical and contemporary references 1.3 Evaluate developing ideas and options for creative work using critical and creative thinking approaches 1.4 Identify ideas that have professional potential 1.5 Refine own ideas through consultation with relevant people 1.6 Develop ideas or designs based on research and analysis, and their suitability for intended purpose |
Element: |
2. Plan and organise the production of creative work |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Confirm scope and objectives of the work based on the project concept 2.2 Evaluate and organise financial, physical and other resources based on in-depth knowledge of the creative form 2.3 Set up or gain access to an appropriate work space 2.4 Develop a realistic timeframe for the production of work 2.5 Evaluate and respond to project constraints 2.6 Monitor project workflow against the plan |
Element: |
3. Develop own approach to documenting the body of work |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Evaluate options for documenting and recording work and the ideas and research that inform it 3.2 Determine the type and amount of information for inclusion 3.3 Select and develop own approach and presentation style 3.4 Document production of work from initial ideas to realisation |
Element: |
4. Collaborate with others in producing work |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Seek and respond to critical analysis of own work by others 4.2 Participate critically and knowledgably in discussions that explore different ways of doing things 4.3 Experiment with ideas that come from collaboration |
Element: |
5. Create finished work |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Use safe and sustainable work practices to manipulate selected materials, processes and technologies with increasing skill when creating finished work 5.2 Challenge and test technical and conceptual aspects of the work during production 5.3 Finish work to professional standard within required budget and timeframes |
Element: |
6. Evaluate own creative work |
Performance Criteria: |
6.1 Review work in progress against personal, professional and artistic objectives 6.2 Identify and respond to opportunities for refinement and re-thinking 6.3 Evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of the work process 6.4 Evaluate finished work in terms of its coherence with the project concept, technical resolution and suitability for intended purpose |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate your competency in the above elements. You will be able to write a synopsis, develop a treatment and draft your screenplay.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course, you will develop the skills and knowledge required to write a screenplay as either a commissioned script or as a speculative venture. Semester 1 will introduce you to the basic elements of scriptwriting, including character development and plot. You will also consider what motivates a screenwriter and how to give and receive feedback.
Examples of learning activities:
- class exercises, both written and practical
- practical demonstrations
- film viewing and analysis
- research
- independent project based work
- workshopping of student projects, including peer/teacher feedback
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 resources.
Week beginning |
Class content |
Assessment |
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Week 1 5 Feb
|
Overview of semester – The screenwriter’s role, differences between writing scripts and prose, working with principal collaborators, format examples, organisations, etc. Summary of assessments, including due dates and times. The primacy of image. |
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Week 2 12 Feb |
Assessment Task #1 briefed: Write a Simple Scene. Introduction to Final Draft and Lynda.com.
Exploring influences – Favourite movies/television/books, past-times/hobbies, recurring themes in our lives, people around us and how they influence our stories. Using sensory triggers to create/influence a story or scene. |
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Week 3 19 Feb |
Writing dialogue and action – Functions of dialogue, character voices, exposition, etc. Next week: Assessment 1 drafts are to be brought to class for editing/workshopping. |
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Week 4 26 Feb |
Feedback and re-writing – The rules of feedback for the class are established. Readings of Assessment 1 drafts in groups. Editors to present feedback to writing partners. Scenes to be polished and submitted by due date and time. |
Assessment Task #1 |
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Week 5 5 Mar |
Finding characters – sourcing characters. The people around us. Archetypes. Finding character voices. Flaws and positive qualities. Using simplification, exaggeration and contradictions as tools. Incorporating backstory/history into action of story. Write a first person character breakdown. |
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Week 6 12 Mar |
Assessment Task #2 briefed: Write a first person account of an event. |
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Week 7 19 Mar |
Populating the screenplay – continuing on from Week 7. How story, function, genre and theme affect characters. The concept of the cast as an obstacle course. Allies, adversaries, mentors, etc. Readings of scenes. |
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Week 8 26 Mar |
Creating and generating a project. |
Assessment Task #2 |
Mid-semester break Friday 30 March to Friday 6 April |
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Week 9 9 Apr |
Cause and effect – The “what if?”. Your premise. The difference between a dramatic question and a thematic question. Causal links in story-telling. The ‘internal logic’ of your story. Group work – Freeform plotting and establishing the logic of the story. Presentations. |
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Week 10 16 Apr |
Writing a beat sheet – Defining story ‘beats’. Examining the process of breaking down a story into beats. Exercise – Following on from Week 9 group exercise to identify essential story beats. Exercise – Finding the story beats in your character’s journey. |
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Week 11 23 Apr |
Introduction to structure (1) – The major turning points of a story. Different ways of breaking down a story into multiple parts to create a screen story for film. Script reading and analysis – Film. Assessment Task #3 briefed – Write five scenes to a specified brief. |
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Week 12 30 Apr |
Introduction to structure (2) - The major turning points of a story. |
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Week 13 7 May |
Short form projects – Identifying the differences/similarities of various short form works. i.e. short films, web-series, etc. Viewing and discussion. |
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Week 14 14 May |
Outline feedback – Work in pairs to provide feedback (as specified by teacher) on each others’ outlines. Homework – Polish outlines for submission. |
Assessment Task#3 |
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Week 15 21 May |
No class. Semester review. |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Any prescribed reading material will be distributed in class and posted on Blackboard |
References
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information on relevant references. |
Other Resources
Any resources will be made available to you by your teacher.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is ongoing throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include participation in class exercises, oral presentations and practical writing tasks. Full assessment briefs will be provided.
Assessment Tasks
To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete all of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive written feedback on all assessment (refer to Canvas for assessment criteria).
Assessment Task 1 – Write a simple scene: You will write a simple, visually driven scene from a prompt supplied by your teacher. You will workshop a draft script with a partner in class and will provide feedback. You will submit a script in screenplay format not exceeding three pages, and your feedback on your partner's draft script. Due Week 4, Sunday 4 March.
Assessment Task 2 – Write a first person account of a real-life event: You will assume the persona of a real-life person and write an account of a major outward (i.e. physical) achievement in that person's life. You will decide the form of the account. It may, for instance, take the form of a monologue, or prose account, or perhaps a letter or diary entry (or letters/diary entries), etc., and should not exceed 1000 words. You will workshop a written draft with a partner in class and will provide feedback. You will submit your written pieces for assessment, and your response to your partner's feedback. Due Week 8, Sunday 1 April.
Assessment Task 3 – Write a script and a reflection: You will deliver a ten-page script according to a brief supplied by your teacher together with a one page reflection (12 point, single spaced) on the production of the work. The reflection will be an account of the production of the script (decisions made, difficulties, epiphanies, etc.) and will also include an appraisal of the completed script, and areas requiring future work. Due Week 14, Sunday 20 May.
Once you have demonstrated competency, your final assessment (Assessment Task 3) will be graded. More detail on assessments, assessment criteria, marking guides and graded rubrics will be provided in assessment briefs, available in Canvas.
Grades used in this course 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 through the course contact in program administration.
Other Information
Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students
How to submit work
Your assessment brief will specify how you should submit your work – as hard copy, digital copy or electronically through Canvas. When you submit your work, you must include a declaration of authorship.
For submissions on Canvas, you need to agree to an assessment declaration when you submit.
For all other submissions, you must complete and sign a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=x3ddsmsrwa1hz
Attendance
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises. We strongly advise 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.
We request that you speak to your teacher if regular attendance becomes difficult.
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.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qwxbqbg739rl1
Student progress
Monitoring academic progress is helps us to assist you in achieving your learning potential.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/acadprogress
Adjustments to assessment
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.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kehn9bz22r41
Academic integrity and plagiarism
Academic integrity is about the honest presentation of work that is your own. RMIT University has a clear policy on plagiarism (see web page for more detail).
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
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.
Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.
Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL, or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit
Course Overview: Access Course Overview