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Course Tabs

Overview

Course Prescription

A practical course in which students work on original features and analyse the work of writers. Students develop a better sense of structure, plot, characters, dialogue, genre and understand the dynamics of constructive feedback and rewriting, known in the screen industry as the ‘development process.’ Combines lectures and workshops and builds upon SCREEN 700.

Course Overview

This class is an introduction to feature film screenwriting and feature film development.  Taught concurrently with a combination of lectures and workshops, it builds upon the foundations of SCREEN 700.  The course appeals to students interested in writing a feature-length screenplay (writers) and those who are interested in learning and analysing the structure and principles of feature writing from a developer's perspective (developers).  Three times a semester, the last hour of the three-hour lecture is exclusively dedicated to script developers. All other times the lecture material applies to both writers and developers.
  As you work on your own original feature (writers) and analyse others’ work (developers), a better appreciation of structure, plot, characters, dialogue, genre, and nuance must emerge. This course will also enable you to understand and explore the dynamics of constructive feedback and rewriting for feature films, also known in the film industry as the ‘development process.’ Each writer will be assigned one or more script developer/s. Developers will read and critically analyse writers' work at various assigned stages and profess honest and critical feedback. This symbiotic relationship between writer and developer almost always leads to improved writing. Developers’ skills of both identifying and communicating problems with the screenplay will progressively improve. The writer and developer are both learning their craft so while writers can lean on developers to give them feedback, they cannot hold the developer responsible for not pointing out all the issues with their story.  
You may decide on first class day which of the two cohorts are better suited for your individual goals and ambitions. If you do not meet the prerequisites for the course but are interested in enrolling in the writing or development strand, please get in touch with the SCREEN PG Advisor.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 20 hours per week involved in each 30 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, EACH WEEK you can expect 3 hours of lectures,  6 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 7 hours of work on longer assignments and shorter exercises.  Whether you choose Screenplay Writing or Screenplay Development, the workload will be the same. 

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities, including lectures and workshops, to complete and receive credit for components of the course.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Seminars are interactive and discursive with attendance essential. Assignments seek to expand your creative writing/screenwriting skills (and your ability to assess screenplays) through laddered work; each building on the other.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

The reading list on Talis and shorter documents on Canvas will be made available for students in the course. They will cover various aspects of the syllabus from critical coverage to story, treatments, plot, character, dialogue and so on.  Students will also be expected to read each other's work on a regular basis.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

Screen production, especially in the second semester, will require your full commitment - please enrol prepared to live and breathe the course.  The full 20 hours per week for the course will be used!

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123456

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Students will get an opportunity to officially evaluate the course if class is larger than 10. If not, there will be other mechanisms through which feedback on content and delivery is discussed and implemented.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.