MEDIA 341 : Writing Screen Stories

Arts

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Focuses on the fundamentals and principles of dramatic writing for screen. Encourages students to explore narrative strategies from film and television to understand the mechanics of screen stories and to write meaningful screenplays in their own voice.

Course Overview

Focusing on the fundamentals and principles of dramatic writing for screen, this course provides an immersive experience in the principles of screenplay writing with particular attention paid to visual language, narrative structure, characterisation and dialogue, script critiques and the process of rewriting.

The course comprises of weekly lectures and tutorials on narrative strategies, effective modes of storytelling for screen, formats and techniques of the screenplay. It also includes writing workshops, screenings, and three key projects that demonstrate experiential learning.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in English or Media and Screen Studies Restriction: MEDIA 241

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand fundamentals and principles of dramatic writing in screen stories (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  2. Appreciate diversity in storytelling for screen (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 8)
  3. Analyse, conceptualise and develop stories for short-form fiction content (Capability 3, 5 and 6)
  4. Progress from idea to story to screenplay (Capability 3 and 6)
  5. Employ techniques to enhance storytelling skills (Capability 3, 5 and 6)
  6. Inculcate professional aspects of writing stories for screen: respectful collaboration, constructive criticism, verbal pitching, and punctuality (Capability 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Coursework 100% Group & Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point point course for students are expected to spend 10 hours per week.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures and a 1-hour tutorial/lectorial/workshop each week.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance at lectures and tutorials/lectorials/workshops is expected.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Due to the sensitive nature of personal (life) discussions in a creative writing workshop, lectorials will not be recorded

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This is the first time the course is taught

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 07/11/2023 08:20 a.m.