In this course, students will come up with an idea for a film or short play. They will write a treatment, short story or synopsis based on this initial concept, and shape the story into a script. Through the workshop process, story ideas will be subject to critique, and students will be encouraged to develop their early drafts. Lectures will address theoretical and practical concerns involved in writing stories, screenplays, film and drama scripts, and will examine several relevant examples. The course will include some consideration of the practical processes involved in the production of screenplays and plays.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- write a screenplay treatment or play synopsis, and a screenplay or play utilising correct and effective style and formatting;
- develop the treatment or synopsis into a screenplay or short play script, integrating suggestions from writing workshops, and/or utilising analysis of published or other students’ creative work to modify their own;
- research and analyse a produced screenplay and film, or a work of drama;
- describe, analyse and make editorial suggestions for peers’ prose, screenplays and short plays; and
- reflect on your own creative work in relation to its translation of prose to script (either screenplay or short play), their writing process, and works (filmic or theatrical) in similar styles or genres.
Indicative Assessment
- Portfolio of creative work comprising drafts and rewrites of a treatment and screenplay or stage play (3500 words) (50) [LO 1,2,5]
- Reading journal (500 words) (15) [LO 4]
- Essay (1000-1500 words) (25) [LO 3,5]
- Draft story, treatment or synopsis (10) [LO 1]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact: 12 hours of lectures and 24 hours of tutorials.
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Prescribed Texts
Lill, Michael, Dreams in Crowded Rooms (short play)
Proulx, Annie, McMurtry, Larry, and Ossana, Diana. 'Brokeback Mountain: Story to Screenplay'
van den Berg, Dylan, 'Milk
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 12
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $3600 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $4980 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4245 | 20 Feb 2023 | 27 Feb 2023 | 31 Mar 2023 | 26 May 2023 | In Person | View |
