Writing And Screen Project Development

Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development MODULE TITLE: MODULE CODE: CREDIT VALUE: MODULE LEADER: MODULE TUTORS:

Writing and Screen Project Development SCA11100 20 James Mavor [email protected] JM and Nigel Smith [email protected] + Visiting Lecturers + video lectures by Mark Grindle (on webCT).

Location of Module:

Screen Academy Production Centre, Studio 2 (10-1, Thursdays)

Tutor’s room:

B30 Merchiston (by appointment)

Number of Groups:

This class is shared between students on MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development. The module is delivered as a combination of lectures, seminars, group work and tutorials.

Student Workload Lectures, Seminars and Workshops Tutorial Individual Learning Activities

36 hours 1 hour 163 hours

Total

200 hours

Assessments There are two assessments in this module: Script Report: Each student is required to submit a Script Report in Week 5 (Thursday 8th October) that will account for 50% of the overall module assessment. Story Report: Each student is required to submit a Story Report in Week 12 (Thursday 26th November) that will account for 50% of the overall module assessment.

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development What you will learn and what this module is about In this module, you will be introduced to the key tools, language and concepts involved in creating and developing projects for the screen - film, television and interactive/new media. Through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and screenings you’ll look in depth at the principal elements common to all forms of storytelling – character, structure, genre and tone. You’ll also explore the differences between the various media and debate the different opportunities and demands of each form. The module’s assessments – a story report and script – will help you develop your own critical faculties and gain an insight into the kind of documents and professional approach used in the film industry. Module content A series of lectures, seminars and workshops introduce students to the core tools, concepts and crafts skills commonly used in the development of projects for the screen whether in film or television, drama or documentary, or any of the various new media and interactive forms. Lectures examine the key elements, skills and terminology of dramatic screenwriting (premise, pitch, character, structure, theme, visual style, genre, dialogue, etc) and review the key documents generated in the development and commissioning process (idea, concept, premise, outline, proposal, detailed proposal, treatment, first draft, revised draft, etc). There is a critical exploration of the role and importance of research in screen project development – research as it relates to the project content of the project (e.g. documentary, adaptation, historical drama) but also research relating to the market potential of the project itself. The module aims to develop the critical and practical abilities needed in screen project development: an understanding of the language and terminology; personal and interpersonal skills; a critical understanding of the various roles in the creative and industrial process; a sense of the market place across the various forms and formats. Crucially, the critical, analytical and inter-personal skills required key personnel in the development process (writers, producers, script-editors, developers, and financiers) are examined and then developed and tested in a series of exercises, including the module’s major pieces of assessment – the story report and script report. -3-

Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development Students also develop an understanding of the various jobs, roles and career opportunities across the film, television and interactive/new media industries. Outwith the module itself, students across the Screen Academy programmes may attend a series of talks and seminars given by visiting speakers as part of the MFA Advanced Film Practice module, e.g. composers, editors, writers, producers, distributors, games developers, literary and casting agents, etc. Lecture content is interwoven with seminars, workshops, screenings and exercises which encourage students to reflect on how they might practice and apply these tools, concepts and skills to their own work and live projects: this work is carried across into the more practical Script Workshop and Project Workshop modules. This module is shared between students on the MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development programmes and encourages the development of collaborative skills across the creative disciplines and provides an opportunity to form creative teams. Learning Outcomes for module Upon completion of this module you will be able to: LO1: Critically explore the core concepts, language, documents and terminology used in screenwriting and screen project development LO2: Possess a systematic understanding of the creative, organisational and institutional processes involved in screenwriting and screen project development LO3: Possess a critical understanding of the nature of screenwriting and the process of collaboration within project teams and between project teams and external collaborators. LO4: Critically appraise and test projects in terms of their creative and commercial potential across various forms, formats and markets LO5: Develop the personal, inter-personal and professional skills required for script-editing and project development LO6: Produce written story and script reports to a professional standard

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development Assessment Guidelines Assessment 1: Script Report (50%) Submit a script report on a project you are assigned by the tutor. You will also be assigned a Readers Report template along the lines of those used currently by Scottish Screen. You should identify the overall strengths and weakness and in particular in the following areas: dramatic structure, characterisation, plot, genre, tone, dialogue, theme and visual style. What is original about the narrative and what is familiar? Indicate how the project might be further developed and identify the specific areas that should be addressed in the next stages of the screenplay’s development. How will this impact upon other aspects of the project (e.g. attaching another writer, director, script editor, storyboard artist, other screenplay development projects.) Typically, your report should be no more than 3-4 pages (with the synopsis coming in at one page or less). Further guidance will be given in class and on webCT.

Assignment 2. Story Report (50%) Identify a short story, novel, play, poem, game or biography etc. that you have read recently or are reading and do an appraisal of its potential for adaptation for the screen, identifying strengths and weaknesses in relation to: Story development potential What elements of the story make it suitable for development as a particular form of screen work? Can you identify the strengths and weakness of the original source in relation to its development for the screen, in particular relating to characterisation, location, period (if relevant) and theme? What is original and what is familiar about the story? Possible format – single TV drama, documentary, serial, sitcom, feature film, short film or interactive entertainment. What elements of the original source are likely to influence the form?

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development Writer suitability – level of experience required, number of writers needed, specialist knowledge (e.g. animation, comedy, team writing) or other factors. Other development input required – e.g. script editor, specialist researcher, director, etc. Casting Potential – Writers are encouraged to use actors and actresses as examples to illustrate how they see their characters. Producers will be expected to have more real world examples of how the project might be cast. Budgetary & market issues – e.g. very low budget; medium budget e.g. achievable within domestic film/TV economy or requiring international coproduction finance. Particular emphasis should be place on the story development potential, which should represent at least 70% of your story report. Your story report should be approximately 2000 words in length. You will receive feedback on the assessments within three weeks of submission though every effort will be made to reduce this to 1-2 weeks. Assessment Criteria Coursework in this module will be assessed by course tutors bearing in mind the following criteria: • Correct and accurate use of screenwriting terminology, language and core concepts • Evidence of appropriate research and contextualisation •

Professionalism in presentation of written and other materials

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Evidence of critical thinking

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Professional-level competence in producing script and story reports

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Evidence of creative thinking, particularly in relation to the processes of adaptation

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Ability to manage own time and meet deadlines

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development

Submission Of Work Students are expected to meet the submission deadlines. Work may be submitted up to two weeks late, with prior approval. After this, work will receive a mark no higher than P1 unless the student has applied for Mitigating Circumstances and these have been approved by the Mitigating Circumstances Board. Please consult the Programme handbook for further details. TWO HARD COPIES should be submitted in class or to the office and submitted online to webCT as a PDF document. Please make sure that all work carries a COVER PAGE with your name, matriculation number, module number and name of the assignment. Pages should also be numbered.

Reading List These are indicative references for background reading and reference. Parker, P. The Art and Science of Screenwriting (London: Intellect, 1998) Bernard, S.C. Documentary Storytelling (London: Focal Press, 2003) Miller, C. Digital Storytelling: A Creator's Guide to Interactive Entertainment (London: Focal Press, 2004) Howard and Mabley. The Tools of Screenwriting (New York: St Martin’s Griffin, 1993) Field, S. Screenplay (Delta, 2005) Websites: www.scottishscreen.com and www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/ Also see WebCT for web and other electronic resources. Please use the various Facebook sites to exchange comments, ideas and to share clips and film-links with fellow students: Edinburgh Skillset Screen and Media Academy – Buzz (for projects) Edinburgh Skillset Screen & Media Academy (for news etc.)

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development Timetable Screen Academy Production Centre, Studio 2 (except weeks 6 + 7) THURSDAYS 10-1. 1

10 Sept

Introduction to Module.

JM/NRS

2

17 Sept

JM/NRS

3

24 Sept

Premise, Outline, Synopsis, Treatments, Step-Outlines, Pitch Pages … the paper trail of project development. Character, Characterisation & Character Story

NRS

+ Prep for Script Report assignment 4

1 Oct

Structure, Plotting & Active Questions

NRS

5

8 Oct

Screenplay Formatting/Writing Shots NRS - Directing The Director ASSIGNMENT 1 – SCRIPT REPORT (50%)

6

15 Oct

Visual Style & Tone

NRS

NB. Change of Location for this week’s classes. Craighouse campus. Room NC 638 (tbc) 7

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Story Week Mon 19 October Tues 20 October Wed 21 October Thur 22 October Friday 23 October

Masterclass: Andrea Gibb (Napier) Short Films Screenings (ECA) Animation (ECA) Short Film (ECA) Documentary (ECA)

All day workshops, seminars and masterclasses

29 Oct

Theme and Genre

NRS

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development

9

5 Nov

Adaptation

JM

10 12 Nov

+ Prep for Story Reporting assignment Dialogue

11 19 Nov

Storytelling for Documentary

Prof Robin MacPherson

12 26 Nov

Developing ideas for Television

JM

13 Wednesday 2 December 1-5pm ECA Main Lecture Theatre 13 3 December

ASSIGNMENT 2 – STORY REPORT (50%) ECA Pitching Session ECA MA Directing and Napier/ECA MFA students pitch projects, looking for potential collaborators. Drinks!! Research for Drama and Documentary

14 10 December

Research, reading and tutorials

15 17 December

Research, reading and tutorials

24 December 14 January 2010

NRS/Aileen Ritchie (tbc)

Yvonne Baginsky

CHRISTMAS BREAK TRIMESTER 2 CLASSES RESUME

Please note: Each week’s class is fully supported by materials on webCT, including video lectures, background reading, weblinks and other materials. Week 6 classes will not be taught in the Screen Academy due to a competing workshop. Please note the venue for this week’s class is on the Craighouse campus: Craighouse campus NC 638

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development Week 7 classes are replaced by five days of activities devoted to Storytelling and screenwriting at the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA). There will be events on each day, Monday to Friday. The Monday session will be a masterclass with screenwriter Andrea Gibb; the Tuesday session will consist of screenings of short films; the Wednesday session will be devoted to Animation; the Thursday session will be devoted to a discussion and workshop on Short Films, followed by networking and DRINKS; the Friday session to storytelling in Documentary. Full details to follow. Week 13-15. There are no formal taught classes in these weeks in this module. These weeks will be set aside for research, reading and tutorials. On Wednesday 2 December, 1-5pm, we are invited to hear ECA students pitch their short film projects and outline what and who they are looking for in the way of help and collaboration. This session will be followed by another chance to mix with Screen Academy staff and students over Christmas Drinks.

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development Appendix: Assessment Brief and University Regulations

1. Module SCA11100 number 2. Module Writing and Screen Project Development title 3. Module JAMES MAVOR leader [email protected] 4. Tutors James Mavor and Nigel R. Smith with responsibilit y for this Assessment 5. 1: Essay (Script Report) Assessment 2: Essay (Story Report) s 6. Weighting 1: 50% of module assessment 2: 50% of module assessment 7. Size limits 1: 3000 words (4 pages) for 2: 2000 words assessment 8. Deadline 1: Thursday 8 October at 5pm of 2: Thursday 26 November at 5pm submission If you wish to apply for a short extension you must agree this Your with the module leader before the deadline. attention is drawn to the Assignments submitted up to 5 working days after the stated penalties for deadline will be capped at P1. Any assignments received after late 5 working days will receive a mark of F1 (Fail). submission If you have mitigating circumstances, you can apply for these to be considered by the University Mitigating Circumstances Panel at the end of the module. 9. Please upload assignments to webCT as a PDF file. Arrangemen ts for Your work must be submitted with the appropriate cover sheet. submission You will find this on webCT.

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Screen Academy Scotland MA Screenwriting and MA Screen Project Development 2009-10 SCA11100 Writing and Screen Project Development 10. All http://staff.napier.ac.uk/Services/studentaffairs/Student assessment +Administration/ s are Regulations+and+Policies/2009-10Regulations.htm subject to the University This website contains the current regulations and details of how Regulations. to apply for Mitigating Circumstances extensions. 11. Please see module handout. A copy of the assessment brief is Requiremen also on webCT. ts for the assessment 12. Special None instructions 13. Return of You will receive written feedback for coursework within 3 weeks work of submission. Every effort will be made to do this within 1-2 weeks. All marks are provisional until a sample has been seen by the External Examiner and final grades approved by the Module Boards at the end of each Trimester. 14. Please see module handout for assessment criteria for this Assessment module. criteria The assessment criteria relate directly to the Learning Outcomes for the module. You will find these in the module handout. Where relevant, written work should follow normal academic conventions for acknowledging sources.

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