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  2. Scriptwriting: Feature Films [FAV3206]

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Communications and Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Scriptwriting: Feature Films

  • Unit Code

    FAV3206

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit builds on skills developed in previous scriptwriting units to prepare a major drama or documentary project for film, or television. Options include a screenplay for the cinema or television.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from FAV2203

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded FAV3202

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse scripts for different media and be aware of Australian programme requirements.
  2. Demonstrate the commitment, craft and creative skills necessary to produce a substantial script project.
  3. Generate ideas and concepts suitable for development into a film for cinema or television.
  4. Prepare a submission and script of a quality that may attract commercial or non-commercial development funding.

Unit Content

  1. Exercises in advanced scripting techniques.
  2. Preparation of a major script project for film or television.
  3. Screenings, script analysis and small group discussion on aspects of scriptwriting in Australia and overseas.
  4. Small groupwork with an experienced scriptwriter and individual consultation with a script-editor.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures. Workshops. Screenings.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentTreatment40%
Creative WorkScene breakdown60%

Text References

  • ^ Aronson, L. (2000) Screenwriting updated: new (and conventional) ways of writing for the screen Sydney: Allen & Unwin
  • Dancyer, K. (2013). Alternative scriptwriting 5th ed. Boston: Focal Press Inc./Butterworth-Heinemann
  • Drouyn, C. (1995). Big screen, small screen. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.
  • Field, S. (2006). The screen-writer's workbook. 2nd ed. New York: Dell Publishing.
  • Vorhaus, J. (1993). The comic toolbox. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.
  • Seger, L. (2010). Making a good script great. 3rd ed. USA: Samuel French.
  • Swain, D. (1988). Film scriptwriting, a practical manual. 2nd ed. London: Focal Press.
  • Vale, E. (1988). The technique of screen and television writing. 2nd ed. New York: Simon & Schuster Inc.
  • Vogler, C (1992) The Writer's Journey: mythic structure for screenwriters and storytellers. Studio City, C.A: M. Weise Productions.
  • Armer, A, (1993) Writing the screenplay: TV and Film 2nd ed. California: Wadsworth
  • McKee, R. (1999) Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting London: Methuen.

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

FAV3206|1|1

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Communications and Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Scriptwriting: Feature Films

  • Unit Code

    FAV3206

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit builds on skills developed in previous scriptwriting units to prepare a major drama or documentary project for film, or television. Options include a screenplay for the cinema or television.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from FAV2203

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded FAV3202

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse scripts for different media and be aware of Australian programme requirements.
  2. Demonstrate the commitment, craft and creative skills necessary to produce a substantial script project.
  3. Generate ideas and concepts suitable for development into a film for cinema or television.
  4. Prepare a submission and script of a quality that may attract commercial or non-commercial development funding.

Unit Content

  1. Exercises in advanced scripting techniques.
  2. Preparation of a major script project for film or television.
  3. Screenings, script analysis and small group discussion on aspects of scriptwriting in Australia and overseas.
  4. Small groupwork with an experienced scriptwriter and individual consultation with a script-editor.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures. Workshops. Screenings.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentTreatment40%
Creative WorkScene breakdown60%

Text References

  • ^ Aronson, L. (2000) Screenwriting updated: new (and conventional) ways of writing for the screen Sydney: Allen & Unwin
  • Vale, E. (1988). The technique of screen and television writing. 2nd ed. New York: Simon & Schuster Inc.
  • Vogler, C (1992) The Writer's Journey: mythic structure for screenwriters and storytellers. Studio City, C.A: M. Weise Productions.
  • Vorhaus, J. (1993). The comic toolbox. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.
  • Seger, L. (2010). Making a good script great. 3rd ed. USA: Samuel French.
  • Dancyer, K. (2013). Alternative scriptwriting 5th ed. Boston: Focal Press Inc./Butterworth-Heinemann
  • Drouyn, C. (1995). Big screen, small screen. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.
  • Field, S. (2006). The screen-writer's workbook. 2nd ed. New York: Dell Publishing.
  • McKee, R. (1999) Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting London: Methuen.
  • Swain, D. (1988). Film scriptwriting, a practical manual. 2nd ed. London: Focal Press.
  • Armer, A, (1993) Writing the screenplay: TV and Film 2nd ed. California: Wadsworth

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

FAV3206|1|2