Master of Screenwriting

Students will be introduced to the imperatives and practices of writing for longer form television series.

Students will be made familiar with contemporary TV program development practices and gain an understanding of essential development documents such as the TV series ‘Bible’.

Students will also gain insight into the nature of television as a collaborative writing medium as well as an understanding of the current television landscape. Students will read, analyse and discuss television scripts and attend screenings of TV programs.

Students will chose and research a topic of interest for their creative work and present their work to the class.

This workshop examines some of the elements that constitute universal principles of effective storytelling. Students are required to write short prose or script format exercises which are shared with the class and discussed. Emphasis is put on examining how an audience’s engagement is impacted by a writer’s creative choices in areas such as point of view, narrative structure, authentic detail and content. Much attention is also paid to word craft. Students practice the skills of precise, economical and evocative writing, as required by the screen media.

Students will also read, analyse and discuss feature srcipts and attend film screenings.

Students will acquire an understanding of fundamental elements of feature film writing. Through craft based classes and workshops, students will gain knowledge of areas such as traditional screen narrative structure, character development and writing for a visual medium. Students will be introduced to writing short documents, such as synopsise and treatments, and learn professional script formatting.

This subject also introduces students to a variety of methods through which writers can access information and inspiration necessary for both their academic and creative work.

Students are expected to write a complete first draft long-form script project, most likely a feature film script or equivalent length television script(s) plus ‘Bible’. Students will take part in regular small group tutorials where work in progress will be discussed/presented and feedback given by the tutor and peers. Written and verbal feedback on first draft will be given at end of the semester before proceeding to further drafts. Students will also attend complementary craft and industry based classes/workshops.

Through working with actors directors and tutors this short intensive workshop (with follow up sessions) enables students to make significant progress in the development of their first draft script. Run intensively over 2 days, with 3 one day follow up sessions, students learn how to work with actors to workshop a scene from their script. Students will be required to be on site during daytimes to write intensively during the hothouse.

Following on from ‘Major Script Project’ the previous semester, students undertake to write subsequent drafts of their script.

Students are expected to submit as a minimum a completed second draft long form script; (most likely a feature film script) plus accompanying short documents, or television script(s) of equivalent length plus a ‘Bible’.

Students attend regular small group script tutorials where work in progress will be discussed/presented and feedback given by tutor and peers. Students also undertake complimentary craft and industry classes during the semester.

Students may, on their own initiative, organise script readings and/or actor workshops for script development and feedback purposes.

The Business of Screenwriting is a subject that combines both the creative necessities and the ability to generate income through writing. The focus of this subject is the business behind the screenwriting industry in both national and international arenas. Delivered by industry professionals including representatives from funding bodies, professional writers, distribution companies, new media creatives, directors, and producers, this subject will enable students to define the business aspects of the industry.