| CODE | MCS3200 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Intoduction to Scriptwriting | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Media and Communications | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | During this study-unit, students will analyse, discuss and write stories for various audio-visual production genres such as fiction full feature films (live action and animation), short films (live action and animation), documentaries (short and full feature) television dramas, sitcoms, dramedies, music videos, advertisements (traditional and for social media), etc. Students will also learn how to integrate sustainability principles, following EMAS guidelines, into their work by considering how scriptwriting choices and production planning can promote environmentally friendly and resource-conscious filmmaking. This will be achieved through the adoption of the planet placement approach, which emphasizes embedding sustainable practices and values within the storytelling and production process. Study-Unit Aims: The aim of this study-unit is to: - provide students with an in-depth understanding of the scriptwriting requirements for different production genre. - develop awareness of the key issues (creative, artistic, cultural, technological, and environmental ) associated writing fiction and non-fiction; - foster an understanding of the choices, purposes, and development of original ideas at the scriptwriting level; - introduce students to the idea of 'negotiated writing' (often encountered by professional screenwriters); a common experience for professional screenwriters. - explore genre conventions; - emphasise that green filmmaking begins at the storytelling stage, encouraging sustainable practices from script development onwards. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Plan and draft a professional proposal, treatment, storyboard, and script; - Appreciate Synthesize the importance of form and restraint in the audio-visual storytelling; - Appraise the distinctive demands of various audio-visual media and the nature of visual narratives; - Test artistic and artisan engagement and effectivley articulate complex ideas in written form . Critically evaluate how scriptwriting can influence sustainability, considering factors such as resource-efficient production design, use of locations, and collaboration with green production teams. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Literacy – Demonstrate proficiency in reading and writing across various of audio-visual production genres;) Demonstrate proficiency in writing across a variety of audio-visual production genres. - Exploring:I nvestigate, research and consider creative alternatives; Investigate, research, and consider creative alternatives to hone scriptwriting and storytelling. - Self-awareness & Reflectivity - `recognize their strengths, weaknesses, aims, and objectives as an individual and professional screen/scriptwriter; Engage, in critical self-reflextion, recognising strengths, weaknesses, aims, and objectives, both as an individual and as a professional screenwriter/scriptwriter. - Self-Management - Work indepedently in an efficient, punctual, and structured manner; plan, design and and execute work independently in an efficient, punctual, and structured manner, with minimal supervision. - Interpersonal Skills -Question, actively listen, examine responses,and interact sensitively with others. Demonstrate the ability to question, actively listen, critically examine responses, and interact sensitively with others. Employ principles of green filmmaking and sustainability to scriptwriting and production planning, identifying ways to reduce waste, energy consumption, and environmental impact at the story creation level Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Hilliard, R.L. (2015). Writing for television, radios, and new media (11th ed.). Boston’s, MA: Wadsworth Publishing. Supplementary Readings: - Aristotle. (1996). Poetics (M. Heath, Trans.). London, UK: Penguin Classics. (Original work published 335 BC) - Henry, O.C. (2023). From screenplay to screen. A comprehensive collection on writing your script and finding funding for a short film. Independent. - Gulino, P. J. (2024). Screenwriting: The sequence approach. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishers. - - Mackendrick, A. (2005). On film-making: An introduction to the craft of the director. London, UK: Faber & Faber. - Mamet, D. (1992). On directing film. New York, NY: Penguin Books. - Field, S. (1979). Screenplay: The foundations of screenwriting. New York, NY: Dell Publishing. - McKee, R. (1997). Story: Substance, structure, style, and the principles of screenwriting. New York, NY: HarperCollins. - Alison, J. (2019). Meander, Spiral,Explode: Design and Pattern in Narrative. New York, NY: Catapult. - Aronson, L. (2011). The 21st-century screenplay: A comprehensive guide to writing tomorrow’s films. London, UK: Allen & Unwin. - Dancyger, K., Keyt, J. & Rush, J. (2023). Alternative scriptwriting: contemporary storytelling for the screen. Boston, MA: Focal Press. - Chion, M. (1990). Audio-vision: Sound on screen. New York, NY: Columbia University Press. - Glowcka, M., Krymarys, A., Leszczyńska, A., & Mazepa, J. (2022). A green guide for the audio-visual industry. Polish Producers Alliance. - Nash, P. (2012). Short films: Writing the screenplay. Ramsbury, UK: Crowood Press. . Trottier, D. (2019). The screenwriter’s bible: A complete guide to writing, formatting, and selling your script (7th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Silman-James Press. - Yorke, J. (2014). Into the Woods. London: Penguin Boozks Ltd. Routledge. - Rabin, W. (2023). Writing the pilot: the streaming series. Independently published - Rosenthal, A. (2015). Writing, directing, and producing documentary films and videos (4th ed.). Southern Illinois University Press. - Bernard, S. C. (2015). Documentary storytelling: Creative nonfiction on screen (4th ed.). Focal Press. - Wells, P. (2007). Basics animation 01: Scriptwriting. AVA Publishing. - Sullivan, K., & Alexander, K. (2013). Ideas for the animated short: Finding and building stories (2nd ed.). Focal Press. - Marx, C. (2016). Writing for animation, comics, and games: A writer’s guide to television, video, and film. Focal Press. - Neilan, C. (2025). Beyond the monopoly: How to write unconventional films (and why we should). Bloomsbury. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Monika Maslowska |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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