SCREEN 714 : Screenplay Writing and Development

Arts

2025 Semester Two (1255) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A practical course in which students work on original features and analyse the work of writers. Students develop a better sense of structure, plot, characters, dialogue, genre and understand the dynamics of constructive feedback and rewriting, known in the screen industry as the ‘development process.’ Combines lectures and workshops and builds upon SCREEN 700.

Course Overview

This class is an introduction to feature film screenwriting and feature film development.  Taught concurrently with a combination of lectures and workshops, it builds upon the foundations of SCREEN 700.  The course appeals to students interested in writing a feature-length screenplay (writers) and those who are interested in learning and analysing the structure and principles of feature writing from a developer's perspective (developers).  Three times a semester, the last hour of the three-hour lecture is exclusively dedicated to script developers. All other times the lecture material applies to both writers and developers.

 
As you work on your own original feature (writers) and analyse others’ work (developers), a better appreciation of structure, plot, characters, dialogue, genre, and nuance must emerge. This course will also enable you to understand and explore the dynamics of constructive feedback and rewriting for feature films, also known in the film industry as the ‘development process.’
Each writer will be assigned one or more script developer/s. Developers will read and critically analyse writers' work at various assigned stages and profess honest and critical feedback. This symbiotic relationship between writer and developer almost always leads to improved writing. Developers’ skills of both identifying and communicating problems with the screenplay will progressively improve. The writer and developer are both learning their craft so while writers can lean on developers to give them feedback, they cannot hold the developer responsible for not pointing out all the issues with their story.  

You may decide on first class day which of the two cohorts are better suited for your individual goals and ambitions. 
If you do not meet the prerequisites for the course but are interested in enrolling in the the writing or development strand, please get in touch with the SCREEN PG Advisor.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: SCREEN 700 or 705 or approval of Programme Director

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop a comprehensive understanding of feature film writing: process and principles (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  2. Analyse texts to critically examine principles of storytelling, persuasive writing, and emotive engagement (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  3. Identify modes of effective feature writing across genre (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  4. Develop creative writing skills and critical analysis skills that could be applied other media industries (Capability 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of of the field of long-form screenwriting across platforms and the changing global media environment (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of of the development process in the film, television and streaming industries (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 100% Individual Coursework

Teaching & Learning Methods

Seminars are interactive and discursive with attendance essential. Assignments seek to expand your creative writing/screenwriting skills (and your ability to assess screenplays) through laddered work; each building on the other.

Exam Mode

There is no final exam for this course.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 20 hours per week involved in each 30 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, EACH WEEK you can expect 3 hours of lectures,  6 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 7 hours of work on longer assignments and shorter exercises.  Whether you choose Screenplay Writing or Screenplay Development, the workload will be the same. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities, including lectures and workshops, to complete and receive credit for components of the course.

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.

The reading list on Talis and shorter documents on Canvas will be made available for students in the course. They will cover various aspects of the syllabus from critical coverage to story, treatments, plot, character, dialogue and so on.  Students will also be expected to read each other's work on a regular basis.

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.

Students will get an opportunity to officially evaluate the course if class is larger than 10. If not, there will be other mechanisms through which feedback on content and delivery is discussed and implemented.

Other Information

Screen production, especially in the second semester, will require your full commitment - please enrol prepared to live and breathe the course.  The full 20 hours per week for the course will be used!

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, 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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 07/11/2024 10:20 a.m.