SCREEN 301 : Screenplay Writing

Arts

2022 Semester One (1223) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A practical screenwriting course in which students work individually to write screenplays for dramatic short films.

Course Overview

Though this 15-point limited entry  paper is prioritised for those majoring in Screen Production, it is also available to students who are not screen production majors but are interested in a practice-based course that focuses on fictional storytelling for screen.  The course meets once a week for consecutive hours as a combination of lectures and workshops. Across 12 weeks students learn how to transform an idea into a short screenplay. To assure success and maximize learning, the course takes writers through various stages of development: from pitch, loglines, synopsis, stepoutlines to finally, the screenplay.  The course develops a practice-based understanding of the principles of dramatic writing, including story, theme, plot, scene design, and dialogue. While writing assignments are individual, the course focuses on cohort building, creative collaboration, and critical engagement with peer-work. English language proficiency is expected due to the fair amount of writing through the semester.   If you are not  a screen major or do not meet the prerequisites for the course but believe you have a suitable background please apply via concessions or contact the Screen UG Advisors Jake Mahaffy or Peter Simpson

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: SCREEN 200, 201 and approval of Academic Head or nominee Restriction: FTVMS 303

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Learn and apply fundamentals of and principles of dramatic writing for screen (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 4.2, 4.3 and 6.2)
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of effective modes of storytelling within fictional shorts
  3. Apply practice based 'industry formats' essential for a screenplay writer
  4. Demonstrate various professional aspects of screenplay writing. This includes working collaboratively, collegially, and maintaining deadlines.
  5. Be able to understand and explore the dynamics of constructive criticism also known as the ‘development process’ in the film and television industry.
  6. Develop an understanding screenplay writing as a potential career, or further field of study. This includes learning about experience-appropriate opportunities for writers and filmmakers.
  7. Analyse screenplays and short films
  8. Evaluate peer work based on the principles of screenplay writing demonstrated and learnt during the course
  9. Identify what makes storytelling effective, emotive, and persuasive. Learn to apply those principles in your own work and peer-critiques.
  10. Create a cohort based on trust and collaboration to aid growth outside the classroom

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 100% Individual Coursework

Next offered

Semester 1 2022

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, EACH WEEK, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours of work on assignments and exercises.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

This course is not available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2022.

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including workshops to complete and receive credit for components of the course.
Due to the sensitive nature of creative writing courses, personal information shared, and copyright issues around screenplays, lectures/workshops will not be available as recordings UNLESS due to public health reasons we have to pivot to online teaching. 
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.


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.

Prescribed & Recommended Texts:
Reading List, Handouts, Peer-work

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.

Other Information

This screenwriting course  course does not rely on campus-based equipment. In the unfortunate eventuality that we have to deliver it online half-way through the term, it will not hamper your learning or your ability to complete the course.  Since 2020 many professional writer's rooms around the world have been working online across geographical locations. Having said that, cohort building works best when we are co-located so every effort will be made to enable that experience. 

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 against online source material 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 31/10/2021 04:05 p.m.