University of Technology, Sydney

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50309 Advanced Screenwriting

UTS: Communication: Creative Practice
Credit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Requisite(s): 50359 Screenwriting

Handbook description

This subject offers students an opportunity to develop advanced skills in writing an extended work for the screen. This may take the form of a feature film or a short feature. Through developing a treatment and workshopping key scenes with actors, students gain skills in visualisation, structuring a long-form project and developing three-dimensional characters. Students also improve their ability to read, develop and script-edit their own and the work of their colleagues.

Subject objectives/outcomes

At the conclusion of this subject students are expected to be able to:

  1. structure an extended work for the screen through writing a step outline/treatment, pitching and developing key scenes and sequences
  2. understand sequence and scene structure and write an opening sequence for a long form screenplay plus a key emotional scene
  3. understand subtext and sub-plots and put this into practice while developing scenes and sequences and a step outline
  4. critique and script edit an extended work for the screen.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject contributes to students' professional capacity to write creatively for long form drama. It contributes to students' intellectual capacity to critically analyse strategies employed in both classic cinema as well as more recent experiments in narrative structure, and it contributes to students' skill and knowledge base as creative and critically informed communications professionals. It also contributes to students' personal capacity to manage their work and to meet deadlines, and it contributes to their intellectual and professional capacity to use Australian cultural traditions industries and institutions.

Teaching and learning strategies

  • Students learn how to structure a long form screenplay through the process of pitching their idea and developing a step outline/treatment.
  • Students learn how to develop an opening sequence for a long form screenplay through viewing and analysing opening sequences in both classic and contemporary cinema, and through developing the first ten minutes of their script.
  • Students learn how to appreciate and analyse the use of subtext through viewing and analysing key emotional scenes from both classic and contemporary cinema and through developing a key emotional scene.
  • Students develop their writing style through in-class writing exercises, designed to enhance their awareness of style, dramatic tension and the ability to evoke time and space.
  • Pitching sessions are designed to sharpen students' skills in both pitching ideas verbally and critiquing the work of others.
  • The workshops with actors are designed to give students the opportunity to explore the role of performance in developing a work for the screen.
  • Students are advised to watch as many films and read as many original screenplays as they can. The library contains a rich and varied selection of films and screenplays for both film and television.

Content

The main focus of this subject is on developing advanced screenwriting craft skills for a long form project. It is assumed that students understand accepted screenplay lay out and the basics of dramatic structure and are ready to take on a larger project. Students engage in a creative development process supported by the lecturer and their classmates. At the same time they have the opportunity to analyse, debate and explore different approaches to the screenwriting craft.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Step Outline, Sequence

Objective(s): a, b, c, d
Weighting: 40%
Task: Students write their opening sequence in script form followed by the rest of their first act in step outline or treatment.
Assessment criteria:
  • Achievement in writing a set up that hooks an audience.
  • Structure and pace of the work.
  • Adherence to appropriate script or step outline format.
  • Technical understanding of sequence structure.
  • Achievement in writing a key emotional scene.

Assessment item 2: Script, Step Outline

Objective(s): a, b, c, d
Weighting: 60%
Task: Students write their first act in script form followed by the rest of the film in Step Outline or Treatment.
Assessment criteria:
  • Engagement of the reader.
  • Structure and pace of the work.
  • Achievement in developing sub-plots and subtext.
  • Response to critical feedback that includes rewriting.
  • Adherence to appropriate script or step outline format.

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Indicative references

Aronson, L 2000 Scriptwriting Updated: New and Conventional Ways of Writing for the Screen. Australian Film Television & Radio School ; Allen & Unwin.

Dancyger, K and Rush, J (1995) Alternative Scriptwriting Boston : Focal Press.

Dancyger, K 2001 Global Scriptwriting Focal press

Cole, Hillis R, 1983-1988 The complete guide to standard script formats CMC Publishing.

Halperin, M 2000 Writing the Second Act Building Conflict & Tension in Your Film Script. Studio City : Michael Wiese Productions.

Ondaatje. M 2002 The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing film. Bloomsbury Press.

Lucey, P 1996 Story Sense: Writing story and script for feature films and television McGraw-Hill.

McKee, R 1999 Story - Substance, structure and style and the principals of screenwriting Methuen

Seger,L 1992 The Art of Adaptation: Turning Fact and Fiction into Film. An Owl Book Henry Holt and Company New York

Seger,L 1987 Making A Good Script Great Dodd, Mead and Company New York

Stempel, T 1982 Screenwriting Tantivy Press

Trottier, D 1998 The Screenwriters Bible Silman James Press Los Angeles

Wolitzer, M 1999 Fitzgerald Did It: The Writer's Guide to Mastering the Screenplay Penguin.

Other resources

Screenplay formatting
Free screenwriting software for both Mac and PC's is available on the web at www.celtx.com
A screenwriting template is also available free for students to use on the faculty website: www.hss.uts.edu.au/departments/MAP/script_style_template_2006.doc
(this is a Word document and is better with Macs than PCs)
NB Students enrolled in all Screenwriting classes have automatic pin number access to the following labs, which have Final Draft software and Celtx installed. 3.439 (Mac), 3.433 (PC) 3.336 (Mac) If you have problems contact the Subject Coordinator.

Library
All screenwriting students may borrow films on DVD or VHS from Closed Reserve in the library. See HOW TO USE THE UTS Library in the Reader. The library also holds a large collection of screenplays. These collections are constantly being updated.