Course Title: Develop storylines and treatments

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2012

Course Code: COMM5909C

Course Title: Develop storylines and treatments

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6087 - Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media

Course Contact : Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email:mctafe@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

C6087DIGIT- ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF SCREEN & MEDIA (INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA)

Teacher: Kieran Doolan
Phone: 9925 4110
Email: kieran.doolan@rmit.edu.au


Nominal Hours: 50

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

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop storylines and treatments for media products in the creative industries. COMM 5909C Develop storylines and treatments is taught at the same time as BUSM 6217C Originate and develop concepts.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFWRT501A Develop storylines and treatments

Element:

1 Plan and prepare to write production material

Performance Criteria:

 1.1 Define appropriate script-writing construction, style and formats for given type of production and clients.
1.2 Define and develop ideas and concepts of the given production material, including analysis of genre , audience and purpose.
1.3 Develop elements of narrative, including visual and aural narrative components , dialogue, and other communication techniques, such as symbols and icons, to convey information in production material.

Element:

2 Develop storylines or treatments.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify components of script development required by concept proposals.
2.2 Develop concepts to synopsis stage or equivalent as required by type of production format or genre.
2.3 Develop treatment and scene breakdown as required by type of production format or genre.
2.4 Evaluate narrative development with relevant personnel as required and incorporate feedback.
2.5 Develop material in appropriate format for story conferencing or pitch presentation to client.

Element:

3 Finalise storylines or treatments.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Present materials for discussion to production team responsible for story conferences or pitching to clients.
3.2 Redraft materials incorporating feedback from production team.
3.3 Ensure that relevant production material is ready for next stage of production and is completed within agreed timeframes and budget requirements


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will have developed the skills and knowledge required to develop storylines and treatments for media products in the creative industries


Details of Learning Activities

In class learning activities include, but are not limited to:
lectures
peer teaching and class presentations
group discussion
teacher feedback
online research
independent project based work
teacher directed group activities/projects
workshopping of students’ own projects

Out of class activities include, but are not limited to:
online research
work shopping
independent project based work


Teaching Schedule

 

 Week  Class Content
COMM5909C Develop storylines and treatments is co-delivered with BUSM6217C Originate & develop concepts
 Elements

BUSM6217C
 Elements

COMM5909C
Week 1 A01 – Project 1 - Presentation –Three concept proposals
Project synopsis and treatment writing exercises
1, 2 1, 2
Week 2 A02 – Project 1 - Present finished synopsis and treatment
Elements of User Experience - Strategy & Scope
Subject, Action, Character - Three act structure - Heroes’ journey
 1, 2  1, 2
Week 3 A03 – Project 1 - First draft script – First draft IA document/Prototype
User profiles/User scenario - Character bios & backstory
 1, 2  1, 2
Week 4 A04 – Project 1 - Final draft script – Final draft IA document/Prototype
Project 1 pre-production workshop
 1, 2  1, 2
Week 5 A05 - Project 1 - Individual consultation. Final concept lock-off  1, 2, 3, 4  1, 2
Week 6 Project 1 production workshop and individual consultation
 1, 2, 3, 4  1, 2, 3,
Week 7 Project 1 production workshop and individual consultation
 1, 2, 3, 4  1, 2
Week 8 A06 – Project 2 - Presentation –Three concept proposals
Project synopsis and treatment writing exercises
 1, 2, 3, 4  1, 2
Week 9 A07 – Project 2 - Present finished synopsis and treatment
Project structure and development. Begin first drafts script/IA
 1, 2, 3, 4  1, 2, 3,
Week 10 Project 1 production workshop and individual consultation  3,4  1, 2, 3,
Week 11 A08 – Project 2 - First draft script – First draft IA document/Prototype  3,4  1, 2, 3,
Week 12 Project 1 production workshop and individual consultation  3,4  1, 2, 3,
 Week 13 Project 2 pre-production workshop and individual consultation  3,4  1, 2, 3,
 Week 14 A09 – Project 2 - Final draft script – Final draft IA document/Prototype
Project 2 pre-production workshop and individual consultation
 3,4  1, 2, 3,
 Week 15 Project 2 pre-production workshop and individual consultation  3,4  1, 2, 3,
 Week 16 Project 2 pre-production workshop and individual consultation  3,4  1, 2, 3,

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


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

Field, 1994, Screenplay: the foundations of screenwriting, Dell Publishing

Field, 2006, The screenwriter’s workbook, Delta Trade Paperbacks

Vorhaus, 1994, The comic toolbox: how to be funny even if you’re not, Allen & Unwin

Andrew Rollings, Ernest Adams, 2003, On Game Design, New Riders

Scott Rogers, 2010, Level up! : the guide to great video game design, Chichester : Wiley

Tracy Fullerton, Christopher Swain, Steven S. Hoffman, 2008, Game design workshop [electronic resource], Elsevier Morgan Kaufmann.

You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information. Students are expected to make full use of University library facilities, in researching and developing creative concepts.


Other Resources

None


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester and will involve class exercises and development of finished scripts (linear work) or schematics (interactive work)


Assessment Tasks

Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered as essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks.
To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete each one of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessments and a grade for the summative assessments.

Formative Assessments

A01 – Project 1 - Presentation –Three concept proposals
    Present 3 concepts for project 1. Due in class week 1.

A02 – Project 1 - Present finished synopsis and treatment
    Brief written synopsis and well developed project treatment.
    Due in class week 2.

A03 – Project 1 - First draft script – First draft IA document/Prototype
    First draft script (linear projects), first draft IA document/prototype     or interactive wireframe (games/web). Due in class week 3.

A05 - Project 1 - Individual consultation. Final concept lock-off
    Final concept lock off and approval. Due in class week 5.

A06 – Project 2 - Presentation –Three concept proposals
    Present 3 concepts for project 2. Due in class week 8.

A07 – Project 2 - Present finished synopsis and treatment
    Brief written synopsis and well developed project treatment.
    Due in class week 9.

A08 – Project 2 - First draft script – First draft IA document/Prototype
    First draft script (linear projects), first draft IA document/prototype     or interactive wireframe (games/web). Due in class week 11.


Summative Assessments 

A04 – Project 1 - Final draft script – Final draft IA document/Prototype
    Final draft script (linear projects), final draft IA document/prototype     or interactive wireframe (games/web). Due in class week 4.   

A09 – Project 2 - Final draft script – Final draft IA document/Prototype
    Final draft script (linear projects), final draft IA document/prototype     or interactive wireframe (games/web). Due in class week 14.

For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.

Grades used in this unit are as follows:

Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, but which also use graded assessment:
CHD - Competent with High Distinction
CDI - Competent with Distinction
CC - Competent with Credit
CAG - Competency Achieved - Graded
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

Feedback:
You will receive spoken and written feedback from teachers on your work. This feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Late Submissions:
Please advise teacher in advance if an extension of time or special consideration is required for submission of work. Refer to the course blackboard site for policy information including information on late submissions.

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.

Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:ˇ
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1

Plagiarism:
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview