Film Production: From Script to Screen

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170

Admission to the Master of Arts and Cultural Management (Moving Image)

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None

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject will focus on the theoretical and practical elements involved in the production of screen-based content through advanced research, professional insight and contemporary practice. Students will gain specialised theoretical and practical grounding in the screen-based content production life cycle including: the ‘pitch’; script and story development; funding and financing; pre-production, principal photography and post-production; and transmedia production and distribution. The Australian screen production sector will be situated within the context of a highly globalised industry. Other areas under investigation include the role of industry and policy stakeholders; support for emerging content creators; forms of marketing and promotion; new technology and workflows; and cross-platform production strategies.

Students who undertake this subject will:

• acquire knowledge of the practicalities of content production in relation to the stages of script writing and story development;
• gain a strong understanding of the role of key funding and financing institutions for screen-based content production, distribution and exhibition
• learn about the function of key industry bodies and decision makers
• be able to understand the historical, cultural and theoretical context of public support for domestic content production
• Think creatively about the artistic process, develop advanced skills of communication and public speaking and demonstrate a comprehension and an advanced capacity for research
• be able to understand the varied and complex stages of development, production, distribution and exhibition of screen-based content

A 2000 word folio 40% (due mid-semester), and a 3000 word essay 60% (due in the examination period). Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% (or 10 out of 12) classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Any student who fails to meet this hurdle without valid reason will not be eligible to pass the subject. All required written work must be submitted in order to pass the subject. Essays submitted after the due date without an extension will be penalised 2% per day. Essays submitted after two weeks of the assessment due date without a formally approved application for special consideration or an extension will only be marked on a pass/fail basis if accepted.

A subject reader will be available.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• be able to demonstrate an advanced development of research skills;
• be able to define areas of inquiry and create relevant methods of research in the preparation of essays;
• be able to conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through essay writing, tutorial discussion and presentations;
• be able to demonstrate highly developed skills in multimedia presentations;
• to be able to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay writing and seminar discussion; and
• be able to participate productively in team work through involvement in syndicate groups and group discussions.