Module: Screenwriting

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Screenwriting
Module Code	CM531 (ITS) / LIT1015 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Communications
Module Co-ordinator	Declan Tuite
Module Teachers	Ferdia MacAnna, Mark O'Brien, Roderick Flynn
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None
Array

Description

The course explores screenwriting in its various forms. The form and structure of feature films and short films are studied and analyzed. The course assignment (writing an original short film script) enables students to discover a story they want to tell in their own unique style using various writing assignments, screenings of films, and story telling. The emphasis is on creating visual, cinematic pieces of work. The process of developing a script prepares students for future employment in writing for film and television, script development or production as well as aiding their understanding of the role of the script in film in academic studies.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the visual nature of screenwriting
2. Write a cinematic short film
3. Develop screenplays for either film or television production
4. Explain the narrative structure of both Hollywood and Art House films
5. Analyse and criticise completed scripts in a constructive manner

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	44	No Description
Assignment Completion	60	The nature of screen-writing means that the best way to learn is to do. Hence students are constantly revisiting the material that will form the basis of their final submitted screenplay.
Independent Study	21	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Lecture 1
Introduction to screenwriting in general and the short film in particular. What makes a short different from feature films? What are the qualities of a good short? The visual nature of the short film will be explored.

Lecture 2
Story, the nature of the beast. What are the possible sources of story? Can your story be original? The source and use of mythology and fairy stories in cinema.

Lecture 3
Story continued. Other sources of stories - real life stories, personal experiences. The process of developing an idea into a script. Look at action and plot. Conflict. How to bring an idea to an outline to a treatment to step outline to script. Breakdown of the dramatic scene.

Lecture 4
Structure. The classical three act structure. Turning points and pinch points. Can we apply this to the short film form

Lecture 5
Character. The transformational arc. Use of Voiceover. Watch The Squid and The Whale.

Lecture 6
Character - how to develop it for a short film? How to create a rounded character in ten minutes? Goal and motivation.

Lecture 7
Structure continued. The beginning. Where to start your script? Dramatic openings. Act One development. How to set up your story, main character, the central drive and engage an audience. The catalyst or inciting incident. Sound and how to use it dramatically.

Lecture 8
Dialogue. Subtext.Genre and the short film. Alternative forms of screenwriting – the minimalist script. Homework - First draft of screenplay.

Lecture 9
Act 2. How to keep the drama moving? Look at revisions of first draft. Class discussion

Lecture 10.
Act 3. The finale. The climax.

Lecture 11
Script workshop.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total
Course Work Breakdown
Participation	Continuous exercises and homework(including treatments etc of final original script)	45%
Participation	Final submitted script	45%
Oral Examination	Class attendance and participation	10%

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Aristotle (translated with an introduction and notes by Malcolm Heath): 1996, Poetics, Penguin Books, London, 0140446362
Pat Cooper and Ken Dancyger: 1994, Writing the short film, Focal Press, Boston, 0240801652
Linda Seger: 1994, Making a good script great, Samuel French Trade, Hollywood, 0573699216
Syd Field: 2005, Screenplay, Delta Trade Paperbacks, New York, N.Y., 0385339038
Christopher Vogler: 2007, The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 3rd, Michael Wiese Productions, 193290736X
Viki King: 1988, How to write a movie in 21 days, Perennial Library, New York, 0062730665

Other Resources

None