Writing for Television

Subject FLTV70043 (2013)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2013.

Credit Points: 18.75
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 50
Total Time Commitment:

140 Hours

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Contact

Faculty of the VCA & MCM Student Centre
Ground Floor, Elisabeth Murdoch Building (Bldg 860)
Southbank Campus
234 St Kilda Road, Southbank, 3006

Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Email: 13MELB@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Students will be introduced to the imperatives and practices of writing for longer form television series. Students will be made familiar with contemporary TV program development practices and gain an understanding of essential development documents such as the TV series ‘Bible’. Students will also gain insight into the nature of television as a collaborative writing medium as well as an understanding of the current television landscape. Students will read, analyse and discuss television scripts and attend screenings of TV programs.

Students will chose and research a topic of interest for their creative work and present their work to the class.

Objectives:

This subject will enable students to:
• develop skills in writing short development documents for television;
• develop an understand of working collaboratively as a writer;
• gain an understanding of contemporary television development processes;
• be introduced to the contemporary television writing landscape;
• develop skills that will enable the student to research, write and present a paper on a topic of their choice.

Assessment:

Television Series Development documents (equivalent to 5000 words) 90%
Class Participation 10%

Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On completing this subject students will have:

• strong technical and creative writing skills;
• ability to select and work through a topic;
• ability to work collaboratively as part of creative team.

Links to further information: http://vca.unimelb.edu.au/ftv/about
Related Course(s): Master of Screenwriting

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