Scriptwriting

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• make literary judgements of scripts in an informed way
• independently evaluate and apply compositional methods
• demonstrate originality through your writing
• handle complex demands of script composition in an analytic manner
• interact effectively with audiences via the performance of a script

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• explore ways of realising your script in performance
• revise and edit your work effectively
• create the key structures needed for a script
• plan the development of a script towards a successful conclusion
• distinguish your aims as a scriptwriter

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the process of development and revision involved in creating scripts
• how scripts are developed into performance for different media
• how to achieve originality, linguistic versatility, and form in the handling of dialogue, action, visual effect and overall structural control in your script writing
• how to write a script

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• translate text into performance
• write fluently in a range of styles
• manage deadlines and make effective use of your time
• present ideas effectively in a script
• revise and edit creative writing to a professional standard

This module is an introduction to the basic skills and contexts of script writing. It is not aimed at any one specific medium but will offer introductions to the requirements of theatre, radio, television and film. You will be expected to engage in some practical drama workshops. Assessment will include an opening scene for a stage play with an outline of the rest of the play’s story; a script for stage, film, radio, or television, and a critical reflection, articulating the choices you have made with regards to the medium you are working in, and drawing on techniques learned in class and from scripts studied.

Teaching and learning methods

Classroom activity will be aimed at exploring the interaction of script and performance, as well as devoted to the basic analysis of how scripts work. Differences between the media of various types of theatre, television and cinema will be addressed both in set reading and through exploratory investigation in the seminars.

Teaching methods include

• Analysis of theatrical material for group discussion
• Practical drama work with both exemplary scripts from cinema, television and modern theatre, and with student drafts
• Managed discussion of student scripts
• Seminar discussion of the principles of script writing

Learning activities include

• Responding in detail orally to student scripts that have been read in advance and sometimes may have been presented in performance
• Studying published scripts & audio dramas for radio
• Writing drafts for both performance and seminar discussion

This module includes a Learning Support Hour. This is a flexible contact hour, 5 in total, designed to support and respond to the particular cohort taking the module from year to year. This hour will include (but not be limited to) activities such as language, theory and research skills classes; group work supervisions; assignment preparation and essay writing guidance; assignment consultations; feedback and feed-forward sessions.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Desperate Housewives (TV Pilot) by Marc Cherry. Script

The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh. Play

People Snogging in Public Places (radio play) by Jack Thorne. Script

Chinatown (Film Script) by Robert Towne. Script

Blackbird by David Harrower. Play

Misfits (TV Pilot) by Howard Overman. Script

Girls Like That by Evan Placey. Play

Random by debbie tucker green. Script

Betrayal by Harold Pinter. Play

Blasted by Sarah Kane. Play

Textbooks

Dancyger & Rush. Alternative Scriptwriting.

Evan Placey. Mother of Him.

Robert McKee. Story.

Steve Waters. The Secret Life of Plays.

David Edgar. How Plays Work.

Assessment strategy

Assessments designed to provide informal, on-module feedback

• Classroom presentation of work in progress in the form of both scripts and performance
• Tutorial discussion of drafts

Formal assessments

A 15-20 minute script (15-20 pages) for stage, film, radio, or television. While this may be a complete short work, it can (and likely will) be part of a longer piece. i.e. the beginning of a pilot TV episode; the opening of Act 2 of a stage play, etc.**

A critical reflection (1000 words), articulating the choices you have made with regards to the medium you are working in, and drawing on techniques learned in class and from scripts studied.

**If you choose to write a film or television script, it must be the opening 15-20 minutes of the film or pilot episode, setting up the tone, genre, and world of the story as studied in class. For theatre and radio scripts, you may write an extract from any part of the play as long as you provide a brief context as to what has happened in the play up to that point.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External