| Unit name | Writing for the Screen |
|---|---|
| Unit code | FATVM0030 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Mr. Ben Bond |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Film and Television |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit explores the art and techniques of writing for the screen in order to equip students with a critical understanding of scriptwriting for a number of visual and aural art forms. Students will engage with theories of scriptwriting and examine examples of a variety of techniques and methodologies from relevant screen media including but not limited to feature films, short films, television, web-series, gaming, VR, and radio-plays.
Students will learn the craft of visual storytelling, character creation and development, be able to analyse and critique screenwriting craft, as well as learn how to disseminate their own work.
Through critical reflection on the creative process, students will be able to gain a deeper knowledge of the script’s expressive and narrative functions, as well as intellectual insights into the script’s relationship with the moving image.
Unit aims:
On successful completion of this unit, students will:
Weekly 2-hour seminar/workshop
Weekly 3-hour screening/workshop
How you will be assessed
Pitch Portfolio (30%) (ILOs 2;3)
Short Script (70%) (ILOs 1-4)
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. FATVM0030).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
