Screenwriting Practices 2B

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

240 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

Through a series of workshops, screenings, readings, tutorials and creative practice, students build on screenwriting skills learned in Screen Practices 1A, 1B and 2A, with a focus on understanding and writing genre for the screen media. Students develop a basic working knowledge of the conventions used in various well known screen genres and how, and to what creative effect, they are used by screenwriters. Students are required to write at least one script that is anchored in the conventions a particular genre.

BFA (Screenwriting) students continue to undertake some filmmaking activities with the BFA (FTV) directing students, with a view to nurturing creative teams and promoting a pragmatic understanding of non-writing filmmaking practices.

The objectives of this subject is to give students:

• A basic knowledge of conventions employed by well known screen genres, and why and how they can be employed by the screenwriter
• Skills required to create and write a short film (or equivalent screen product) whose conventions are anchored in a particular genre
• A wider general knowledge of genre filmmaking and it historical and current context
• The opportunity to further develop creative relationships
• A greater understanding of non-writing specific industry practices

Pop Quizzes (examinations consisting of a few short questions) Weeks 2-11, worth 5%
Class Presentation (equivalent 1000 words) Weeks 2-11 (as scheduled) worth 10%
Genre Exercise (equivalent 1200 words) Week 5, worth 15%
Crewing and Edit Feedback Report (equivalent 600 words) Week 9, worth 5%
Genre Script Assignment (equivalent 4000 words) Week 11, worth 50%
Critical and Creative Reflection Blog (equivalent 1500 words) Week 12, worth 10%

Class Participation (Participation assessed on criteria of engagement, ability to discuss & give/receive feedback and teamwork skills)
Ongoing Assessment worth 5%

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

The learning outcomes of this subject will be:

• A greater understanding of key concepts involved in genre writing for the screen
• To introduce students to professional skills involved in writing and developing genre stories for the screen
• To allow students to explore their ‘voice’ through writing genre stories for the screen
• To broaden the students’ general knowledge of screen genres and to understand and apply the factors that makes a genre script successful
• To give students a deeper understanding of broader (non-writing) film and television industry practices
• The ability to reflect on their own learning and creative processes