production
Skip to Content

FS4012: THE ART OF SCREEN WRITING (2020-2021)

Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04


Course Overview

This course will focus on the theory and the practical techniques of writing screenplays for cinema and for television. It will encourage students to put together the tool kit of skills which they will require to write effective screenplays based on both adapted source material and on original material. The course will survey the established skills of creating effective narrative screenplays across genres, with an emphasis on contemporary dramatic cinema. The course will provide students with a versatile, practical skill-set of screenwriting abilities set within realistic industry expectations.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Alan Warner

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

By the completion of the course, the practical tool box of screenwriting skills acquired will allow students to engage in film adaptation, writing and doctoring, to produce a screenplay structured to an industry-compliant professional standard, and analyse different approaches to narrative form.

 

Learning Outcomes.

Knowledge and understanding of:

  • Different approaches to screenwriting and a selection of stylistic modes and approaches to the form.
  • An understanding of some of the differing approaches to, and theories of screenplay writing.

Practical skills:

  • An ability to recognize differing approaches in successful screenplay writing;
  • an ability to create, adapt and develop screenwriting skills to an acceptable industry standard.
  • The ability to doctor and change a script of other writers’ work.

Intellectual skills:

  • An ability to distinguish and use terminology in an appropriate and accurate way.

Transferable skills:

  • Approaches and arguments around film production in relation to screenplay writing.
  • Ability to adapt writing skills to meet specific requirements.
  • Ability to edit work and work in collaboration with other writers.
  • Express ideas clearly and succinctly both orally and on paper.
  • Present written work in scholarly form.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Report: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 17 Feedback Weeks 20

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Reflective Report on work completed in class each week.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks 12 Feedback Weeks 15

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback Word Count 2000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Screenplay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 45
Assessment Weeks 17 Feedback Weeks 20

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

30 page screenplay

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Tutorial/Seminar Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks 17 Feedback Weeks 20

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

A Seminar Assessment Mark which will be based on contributions (both written and oral) to the practical workshop discussions that will take place during the course.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Portfolio

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralEvaluateThe ability to doctor and change a script of other writers’ work.
ProceduralUnderstandKnowledge and understanding of different approaches to screenwriting and a selection of stylistic modes and approaches to the form.
ProceduralEvaluateIdentify approaches and arguments around film production in relation to screenplay writing.
ReflectionApplyto provide students with techniques for developing or extending their own creativity.

Compatibility Mode

We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.