Course Title: Script edit a feature film
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2023
Course Code: COMM7357C
Course Title: Script edit a feature film
School: 515T Creative Industries
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6160 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting
Course Contact: Alan Woodruff
Course Contact Phone: +61399254307
Course Contact Email: alan.woodruff@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Neil Triffett
Nominal Hours: 140
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
Enrolment in this elective course at RMIT requires you to have completed all first year courses.
Course Description
In this course you will generate a market appropriate feature film screenplay to an advanced stage, develop the appropriate accompanying short documents as well as a plan for what to do with the project once you graduate. You will also develop the knowledge and skills required by a script editor to work with a writer, either through a film production company or independently, to edit and develop a feature length script.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
PSWFFS605 Script edit a feature film |
Element: |
1. Establish script editing requirements |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Identify purpose and requirements for script editing with the producer or other relevant people 1.2 Clarify development schedule and specific requirements for development of script reports with screenwriter 1.3 Establish and confirm timelines with producer or other relevant people |
Element: |
2. Lead the development meeting |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Clarify concept and story with screenwriter, producer and other relevant people. 2.2 Review script's themes, conventions and style ensuring that the story is strong and the characterisation is credible and compelling 2.3 Evaluate flow of the narrative and the management of narrative point of view as well as the overall execution of plot and sub-plots 2.4 Identify any structure and character problems against the requirements of the production and suggest strategies to address these 2.5 Build consensus with screenwriter and other relevant people about the strengths and development needs of the script |
Element: |
3. Assist screenwriter to develop the script |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Support and encourage screenwriter through the process of redrafting the script in accordance with the outcomes formulated in the development meeting/s 3.2 Review script rewrites and provide constructive feedback on the new draft 3.3 Suggest strategies to address any issues and difficulties that the screenwriter may be experiencing 3.4 Determine workable goals for subsequent drafts with screenwriter |
Element: |
4. Report on the script |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Write a script report to provide a clear and balanced assessment of the script's potential 4.2 Estimate work required to develop the script's story, theme, style and character development 4.3 Format report to company or agency requirements and deliver to agreed timelines 4.4 Participate in follow up meetings with the screenwriter to provide face-to-face feedback as required |
Learning Outcomes
Your goal is to not only finish the year with a market ready feature film screenplay, but also a plan on how to drive the project into production and the skills to operate within the creative team.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course, you learn through:
1. In-class activities:
- lectures
- teacher directed group activities/projects
- class exercises to review discussions/lectures
- peer teaching and class presentations
- group discussion
- class exercises to review discussions/lectures
- analysis/critique of students’ writings
2. Out-of-class activities:
- independent project based work
- writing and reading assignments
- online and other research
- independent study
Teaching Schedule
Semester 1
Week |
Class Content |
Assessment |
Competency and Elements |
1 |
Introduction and Overview of Semester and Assessments Weekly Writing exercise Assigned viewing to discuss following week: Jason and the Argonauts (1963) |
|
PSWFFS605 1, 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
2 |
Discussion of assigned viewing Originating ideas with a log line exercise Scene structure exercise Assigned viewing to discuss following week: Harold and Maude (1971) |
|
PSWFFS605 1, 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4 |
3 |
Discussion of assigned viewing Character conventions and workshopping Sharing of loglines Script editor pairing Assigned viewing to discuss following week: Get Out (2017) |
Initial Assessment Task (quiz) due |
PSWFFS605 1, 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4 |
4 |
Discussion of assigned viewing Genre conventions and role of genre in film structure Locations: Where is your film set? Assigned viewing to discuss following week: Parasite (2019) |
|
PSWFFS605 1, 2, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3 |
5 |
Discussion of assigned viewing The role of theme in writing and structure The role of setting Assigned viewing to discuss following week: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) |
|
PSWFFS605 1, 2, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3 |
6 |
Discussion of assigned viewing Structure, Part 1: The structure spectrum. Sequence approach plus other established Hollywood methods to film structure Assigned viewing to discuss following week: Proof (1991) |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3 |
7 |
Discussion of assigned viewing Structure, Part 2: Further approaches to structure: Joseph Campbell and beyond Homework: One Pagers |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3 |
8 |
Discussion of assigned viewing One pagers workshopping |
|
PSWFFS605 1, 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
9 |
Discussion of assigned viewing Sharing one pagers + script notes |
Assessment Task #1 Due |
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
Mid-semester break: Fri 7 – Fri 14 Apr, inclusive |
|
|
10 |
Discussion of assigned viewing Treatments Assigned viewing to discuss following week: The House (2022) |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
11 |
Anzac Day public holiday 25 Apr. The class will not run this week due to the public holiday. Material scheduled for this class will be covered in the surrounding weeks. Discussion of assigned viewing Alternative script structures |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
12 |
Beat Sheets revised Sharing Beat sheets + workshopping |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
13 |
Workshopping and sharing beat sheets |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
14 |
Workshopping and sharing beat sheets Writing exercise |
Assessment Task #2 Due |
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
15 |
No scheduled class: Semester review TBC |
|
|
Semester 2
Semester 2, 2022
Week |
Class Content |
Assessment |
Competency and Elements |
|
|
1 |
Introduction and Overview of Semester and Assessments
Principles of Script Reports
Dialogue and Dialogue Redrafting |
PSWFFS605 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
||
|
2 |
Discussion of Assigned Viewing
Script Feedback Continued: Analysing Character, Themes, Structure, and writing Synopses.
First Meeting with Script Editor to clarify requirements for Script Reports
|
|
PSWFFS605 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
|
3 |
Guest Speaker: Budget and Marketability |
|
|
PSWFFS605 4 PSWFFS606 3, 4, 5 |
|
4 |
Redrafting Strategies Second Script Editor Meeting. |
|
PSWFFS605 4 PSWFFS606 3, 4, 5 |
|
|
5 |
Coverage and Script Notes. Redrafting exercises. |
Assessment Task #3 Due Group 2: Scripts due. |
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 3, 4, 5 |
|
|
6 |
Redrafting Examples and Exercises Meeting Script Editors to clarify feedback. |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 3, 4, 5 |
|
|
7 |
Redrafting in class (Student doing own work with teacher present to answer questions) |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 3, 4, 5 |
|
|
Mid-semester break: Mon 28 Aug – Fri 1 Sep, inclusive |
|
||
|
8 |
Redrafting in class (Student doing own work with teacher present to answer questions) |
Group 2: AT3 Script report due |
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 3, 4, 5 |
|
|
9 |
Redrafting in class (Student doing own work with teacher present to answer questions) |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
|
10 |
Script Workshops: sharing first 30 pages of script and synopsis, aiming to complete 4 a class, and receiving feedback. |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 3, 4, 5 |
|
|
11 |
Script Workshops: sharing first 30 pages of script and synopsis, aiming to complete 4 a class, and receiving feedback. |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
|
12 |
Script Workshops: sharing first 30 pages of script and synopsis, aiming to complete 4 a class, and receiving feedback. |
|
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
|
13 |
Script Workshops: sharing first 30 pages of script and synopsis, aiming to complete 4 a class, and receiving feedback. |
Assessment Task #4 Due |
PSWFFS605 2, 3, 4 PSWFFS606 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
|
|
14 |
Assessment Task 5 Overview. What to do with your finished Screenplay. |
Assessment Task #5 Due |
||
15 |
Marking week - No class attendance |
|
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
You will require access to a computer and to the internet for this course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems and access to specialised facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources.
The University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through:
The Learning Lab
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab
The Study Support Hub
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is ongoing throughout the course. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing tasks.
This course addresses the following units of competency, clustered for delivery and assessment:
- PSWFFS605 Script edit a feature film
- PSWFFS606 Redraft a feature screenplay
Assessment Tasks
Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.
You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria.
Assessment 1: Short Documents
Due: Week 9, Sem 1
Like a screenplay, a successful synopsis has a strong basis in structure, gives the reader the feel and tone of the project and should leave them with a sense that they should absolutely read the screenplay instantly.
Assessment 2: Treatment
Due: Week 14, Sem 1
You are asked to write a 10 Page treatment/beat sheet for the proposed second draft, including the changes you wish to implement. The treatment/beat sheet must be written in prose and outline every single beat within the story.
Assessment 3: Script Editor's Report and development meeting
Due: Week 5, Sem 2
You will be required to submit a script editor’s report with a word count of 1500-2000 words. This report will be on the screenplay of a classmate (which means you will receive a script report on your project also). In conjunction with delivering your script report, you will also conduct a short development meeting with the writer of the screenplay for which you provided a report. In this meeting you will talk through your report, determine the strengths and weaknesses and present feedback in a positive manner.
Assessment 4: Third Draft Feature Film
Due: Week 13, Sem 2
For this assessment you will submit your feature film screenplay. It should be a third a full third draft feature film with a minimum of 85 pages and a maximum of 120. Although the script for the entire feature film needs to be delivered, only the first thirty pages will be assessed.
Assessment 5: Knowledge Assessment
Due: Week 14, Sem 2
To complete this assessment task, you must answer 10 short answer questions.
Once you have achieved competency for all assessments in a unit of competency, you will receive an overall result. If you have not completed an assessment task to a satisfactory standard, you will be given an opportunity to resubmit that task within one week of receiving feedback from your teacher. If the resubmission is deemed unsatisfactory, the matter will be referred to the Program Coordinator.
Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:
CA: Competency Achieved
NYC: Not Yet Competent
DNS: Did not Submit for Assessment
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.
Other Information
Attendance
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises
It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.
Information about your studies
You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc.
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students
Assessment
Information on assessment including Special consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time):
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.
Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer or RPL for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit
Course Overview: Access Course Overview