57125 Screenwriting
UTS: Communication: Cultural StudiesCredit points: 6 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks
Handbook description
This subject is an introduction to writing for the screen and the short film in particular. The main focus of the subject is on storytelling for a visual medium, with an emphasis on imagination, structure and character development. Students view a wide variety of Australian and international short films, learn the three-act structure, as well as alternative structures, and workshop their first draft scripts. The process of writing a screenplay from initial concept through outline, treatment and various drafts is explored by developing an original work or adapting an existing piece of fiction.
Subject objectives/outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students are expected to be able to:
- write a short dramatic screenplay following the process of writing a step outline or treatment, a first draft and a second draft
- understand the principals of the classic three act dramatic structure as well as alternative structures and apply this knowledge
- understand the requirements of writing for an audiovisual medium including accepted screenplay layout
- critique their own work as well as their classmates.
Contribution to graduate profile
Through focusing on the particular nature and positioning of the short film, this subject provides both general and specific skills in writing creatively for the screen, as well as contributing to students understanding of Australian cultural traditions industries and institutions. It contributes to students' skill and knowledge base as creative and critically informed communications professionals through introducing students to both classic and contemporary approaches to screenwriting and to the global nature of the screenwriting industry.
Teaching and learning strategies
- Students are introduced to the short film form via lectures, screenings and class discussions. Students view a diverse range of films including narrative drama, experimental work, animation and adaptation. At the same time students begin to develop either an original script idea or an adaptation. The screenings are designed to stimulate and inspire students to explore their creative potential as well as to illustrate specific aspects of the screenwriting craft.
- This is a highly interactive class and students learn how to critique their own work as well as the work of their classmates through participating in both verbal and written feedback sessions.
- Students pitch their idea to the class and receive feedback from the lecturer and their classmates. These sessions are designed to help students learn to articulate their idea verbally in a clear and engaging way and to critique the work of their colleagues.
- The specifics of the screenwriting craft are explored via lectures, screenings, in-class writing exercises and class discussions. In particular character development, point of view, storytelling techniques, visual style, genre, screenplay layout.
- Classes are then devoted to workshopping student's first draft scripts. During these sessions students receive feedback from their classmates and the lecturer. Students then write a second draft for assessment taking into consideration the feedback they have received in the workshop.
- The last class is devoted to short film funding and markets and often takes the form of visiting industry professionals.
Content
The main focus of this subject is on the creative process and the acquisition of screenwriting craft skills. Students engage in a creative development process supported by the lecturer and by their classmates. At the same time they are introduced to the basics of writing for the screen via lectures and screenings.
Assessment
Assessment item 1: Step Outline/Treatment
| Objective(s): | a,b |
| Weighting: | 20% |
| Task: | Write a simple outline or a treatment for a short film. This should include an industry standard title page followed by three to five pages written in prose and broken into paragraphs according to either sequences for a step outline, or scenes for a treatment. This document should describe what happens in the film in chronological order and include some dialogue. |
| Assessment criteria: |
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Assessment item 2: Assessment item 2: The First Draft
| Objective(s): | a, b and c |
| Weighting: | 30% |
| Task: | Write a first draft screenplay. This should include an industry standard title page followed by a maximum of fifteen pages (ie 15 min) in industry accepted script layout. |
| Assessment criteria: |
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Assessment item 3: Assessment item 3: The Second Draft
| Objective(s): | a, b, c and d |
| Weighting: | 50% |
| Task: | Write a second draft screenplay taking into account feedback from the workshops. This should take the form of an industry standard title page followed by no more than fifteen pages (ie 15 min) of script in industry accepted script layout. |
| Assessment criteria: |
|
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 Scriptwriting Updated: New and Conventional Ways of Writing for the Screen. Australian Film Television & Radio School; Allen & Unwin. 2000
Blacker, I The Elements of Screenwriting Collier Books 1988
Crimmings, E and Graham, R (eds) Short Site - Recent Australian Short Film ACMI Australian Centre for the Moving Image 2004
Dancyger, K & Cooper, P Writing the Short Film Boston Focal Press 1994
Field, S The Screenwriters Workbook A Dell Trade Paperback 1984
Field, S The Screenwriters Problem Solver A Dell Trade Paperback 1998
Johnson, C.H Crafting short screenplays that connect. Boston Focal Press 2000
Halperi, M Writing the Second Act Building Conflict & Tension in Your Film Script. Studio City : Michael Wiese Productions. 2000
Lucey, P Story Sense: Writing story and script for feature films and television McGraw-Hill. 1996
Mamet, David Bambi vs. Godzilla : on the nature, purpose, and practice of the movie business New York : Pantheon Books, c2007
McKee, R Story - Substance, structure and style and the principals of screenwriting. Methuen 1999
Norman, Marc What happens next: a history of American screenwriting New York : Harmony Books c2007
Phillips, W.H Writing Short Scripts Syracuse University Press 1991
Seger, L Making A Good Script Great Dodd, Mead and Company New York 1987
Stempel, T Screenwriting. Tantivy Press, 1982
Trottier, D The Screenwriters Bible Silman James Press Los Angeles 1998
Fitzgerald Wolitzer, M Did It: The Writer's Guide to Mastering the Screenplay Penguin, 1999
Vogler, C The Writers Journey – Mythic Structure for Storytellers & Screenwriters A Michael Wise Productions Book 1992
Other resources
Screenplay formatting
Free screenwriting software for both Mac and PCs is available on the web at www.celtx.com A screenwriting template is also available free for students to use on the faculty's 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).
Note: 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, 3.433, 3.336. 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.
