Core Module Information
Module title: Writing and Screen Project Development (Global Online)

SCQF level: 11:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10

Module code: SCA11708
Module leader: Chris Neilan
School School of Arts and Creative Industries
Subject area group: Screen and Performance
Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added

Description of module content:

This module will introduce you to the language, concepts, skills and storytelling theory commonly used in the development of projects for the screen, with an emphasis on the fundamentals of story structure and how those fundamentals tend to be applied and discussed within screen industries, both by writers and by other development professionals (script editors, producers, executives, etc). You will develop the core skills necessary to succeed both as a writer and a development professional: an appreciation and understanding of the conventions of screen storytelling, where those conventions come from, how they tend to be applied, and how they are discussed and worked with within industry.The critical, analytical and inter-personal skills required for 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. Crucially, these assessments function to enable you to acquire an understanding of the structural norms underpinning the vast majority of work in the screenplay—an understanding which is essential to effective practice as a screenwriter as well as to all script development roles, and which will underpin your work on this programme.You also develop an understanding of the various jobs, roles and career opportunities across the screen industries. This work is carried across into the more practical Script Workshop modules, and applied to your own creative projects.

Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to

LO1: Critically assess screenplays using the core concepts of story structure as used in the script development process.

LO2: Analyse screenplays in terms of the organisational processes involved in script development and their impact on project viability.

LO3: Critically appraise and test projects in terms of their creative and commercial potential.

LO4: Create written story and script reports that demonstrate professional standards of analysis and presentation.

Full Details of Teaching and Assessment
2024/5, Trimester 1, Online (fully o,
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: Online (fully o
Location of delivery: ONLINE
Partner:
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Chris Neilan
Module Organiser:


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)NESH Description
Independent Learning Lecture 6 Pre-recorded mini-lectures (totalling 30mins each week) guide you through key issues in screenwriting practice, screenwriting labour, and industrial organisation of screen industries.
Independent Learning Seminar 24 Weekly 2hr synchronous seminars based around collaborative active learning provide you the opportunity to complete problem-based tasks together, and to test key ideas and issues through discussion, debate, presentations and creative tasks.
Online Guided independent study 170 You are provided set readings, set viewings and individual tasks to be completed asynchronously, and guided to develop your own independent research process.
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words Description
Report 50 1~2~3~4 Week 7 , WORDS= 2000 words You will write an industry-standard script report for a set script. You must assess the effectiveness of the script using industry-standard language and concepts, informed by key screenwriting literature.
Report 50 3~4 Week 13 , WORDS= 3000 words You will select source material of your choice and write a detailed, industry-standard Coverage report assessing its suitability for adaption to screen. Additionally, you will provide Analyst Notes, proposing how you would adapt the material for screen. Weighting circa 2000w for Coverage and 1000w for Analyst Notes.
Component 1 subtotal: 50
Component 2 subtotal: 50
Module subtotal: 100

Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
Contact your module leader