Television Writing

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

140 Hours

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

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.

This subject will also introduce students to a variety of methods through which writers can access information and inspiration necessary for both their academic and creative work. Students will chose and research a topic of interest for their creative work and present their work to the class.

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.

Television Series Development documents (equivalent to 3000 words) 65%
Research paper or class presentation on topic (equivalent to 1500 words) 25%
Class Participation 10%

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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.