ENGL70801
Genre and Theme
30
Semester 1
Postgraduate Taught
Level 7
1
FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 '
European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 15.0
<div><div><p>The module explores the sources of inspiration, the development, structure and critical analysis of the screenplay. It pays particular attention to genre and theme as foundations of the screenplay.</p><p> </p><p>Structure, genre and theme will be explored in (i) lectures, (ii) seminars based on students’ analysis of major feature screenplays and (iii) the development of both students’ short film screenplays and the initial exploration and development of feature screenplay ideas.</p><p> </p><p>Weekly assignments may include (i) reading secondary texts, (ii) reading, analysing and writing professional standard reports on feature screenplays, (iii) watching and analysing short and feature films and (iv) the pitching and development of students’ own creative work.</p><p> </p><p>There may be occasional industry guests scheduled 4.30-6pm on Mondays. You are encouraged to meet regularly outside class to discuss assignments and your creative work in development. You should also have two Academic Advisor one-to-meetings with the Programme Director/Course Leader during the semester.</p></div></div><p> </p>
<div><p>The module explores the sources of inspiration, the development, structure and critical analysis of the screenplay. It pays particular attention to genre and theme as foundations of the screenplay.</p><p> </p><p>Structure, genre and theme will be explored in (i) lectures, (ii) seminars based on students’ analysis of major feature screenplays and (iii) the development of both students’ short film screenplays and the initial exploration and development of feature screenplay ideas.</p><p> </p><p>Weekly assignments may include (i) reading secondary texts, (ii) reading, analysing and writing professional standard reports on feature screenplays, (iii) watching and analysing short and feature films and (iv) the pitching and development of students’ own creative work.</p><p> </p><p>There may be occasional industry guests scheduled 4.30-6pm on Mondays. You are encouraged to meet regularly outside class to discuss assignments and your creative work in development. You should also have two Academic Advisor one-to-meetings with the Programme Director/Course Leader during the semester.</p></div><p> </p>
<div><ul> <li>To give students a conceptual, critical and practical understanding of the principles of story structure and the practice of professional screenwritng, with particular reference to genre and theme.</li> <li>Students’ analytical, reflective, creative, development and professional screenwriting capacities will be enhanced, embedding informed and reflective professional practice. </li> <li>Students complete a professionally formatted, fully dramatised short film screenplay and a Feature Film PorUolio which encapsulates the initial exploration and development of a feature screenplay idea.</li></ul></div><p> </p>
<ul> <li>Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of story structure and the particular importance of genre and theme.</li> <li>Demonstrate an understanding of the principal conventions of major film genres.</li></ul>
<ul> <li>Demonstrate an ability critically to analyse professional screenplays, their conformity with or divergence from mainstream screenwriting conventions and their particular use of genre and theme.</li> <li>Demonstrate an ability to analyse how story world, character, narrative and dialogue articulate theme and operate differently in different genres and what those differences imply.</li></ul>
<ul> <li>Initiate, develop and write a short screenplay using professional screenwriting software.</li> <li>Initiate and develop a feature screenplay idea and explore its elements - and in particular, genre and theme - in a Feature Film Portfolio.</li> <li>Demonstrate a capacity to initiate, develop and write material in accordance with genre and other mainstream screenwriting conventions.</li> <li>Produce professionally formatted script reports.</li> <li>Understand the function of the screenplay in film and television industries.</li> <li>Analyse students’ own and contemporaries’ creative work in development and provide development notes to contemporaries.</li></ul>
<ul> <li>Develop a capacity for active listening.</li> <li>Develop a capacity to give, receive and respond to constructive criticism and to development notes in a professional manner.</li> <li>Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, including presentations.</li> <li>Collaborate constructively with contemporaries.</li> <li>Work independently on major projects.</li> <li>Demonstrate a capacity to conduct research.</li> <li>Manage time and workload effectively. Respect deadlines.</li></ul>
Analytical skills
Unit enhances employability by encouraging students to identify and understand a range of different viewpoints and/or critical approaches to screenwriting, mainstream screenwriting conventions and to the generation, development and expression of ideas.
Innovation/creativity
Unit is industry-focused and vocationally-oriented. Enhances student employability by developing students’ creative, analytical and reflective capacities in relation to screenwriting. Unit embeds professional screenwriting practice. Students analyse screenplays and films and produce both a short screenplay and a portfolio of work outlining development of a feature screenplay. Students master major screenwriting concepts in relation to story structure, story world, characterisation and especially, genre and theme.
Problem solving
Unit enhances student employability by giving students a range of transferable skills including: logical thought; construction of an argument supported by evidence; good oral and written communication and presentation skills; +me management and independent learning skills
<div> <div> <div> <p> </p></div> </div></div>
0
Other
50%
2
Written assignment (inc essay)
50%
<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Assessment task</td> <td>Formative or Summative</td> <td>Length</td> <td>Weighting within unit (if summative)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Extracts and full draft short screenplay and feature film portfolio</td> <td>Formative</td> <td>Various </td> <td>0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Short Film Genre Screenplay</td> <td>Summative</td> <td>10-12 pages</td> <td>50%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Feature Film Portfolio</td> <td>Summative</td> <td>10-12 pages</td> <td>50%</td> </tr> </tbody></table><p> </p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Feedback method</td> <td>Formative or Summative</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Written feedback via email and oral feedback in class or Academic Advisor 1-1 meetings relating to formative assessment above and to work in development.</td> <td>Formative</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Numerical grade and written comments on both Short Film Genre Screenplay and Feature Film Portfolio within 15 working days</td> <td>Summative</td> </tr> </tbody></table><p> </p>
N
<p>Patricia Cooper and Ken Dancyger, <em>Writing The Short Film</em> (Routledge, 2004), ISBN-10: 0240805887, ISBN-13: 978-0240805887</p><p>Syd Field, <em>Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting</em> (Delta, 2005), ISBN-10: 9780385339032, ISBN-13: 978-0385339032</p><p>Linda Seger, <em>Advanced Screenwriting</em> (Silman-James Press, 2003), ISBN-10: 1879505738, ISBN-13: 978-1879505735</p><p>Jule Selbo, <em>Film Genre for the Screenwriter </em>(Routledge, 2014), ISBN-10: 1138020834, ISBN-13: 978-1138020832</p><p>David Bordwell, Kristin Thompson and Jeff Smith, <em>Film Art</em> (McGraw-Hill Education, 11th edition, 2016), ISBN-10: 1259534952, ISBN-13: 978-1259534959</p><p>Julia Cameron, <em>The Right to Write</em> (Hay House UK, 2017), ISBN-10: 178180981X, ISBN-13: 978-1781809815</p><p>Lajos Egri, <em>The Art of Dramatic Writing</em> (Touchstone, 2004), ISBN-10: 0671213326, ISBN-13: 978-0671213329</p><p>Helen Jacey, <em>The Woman in the Story</em> (Michael Wiese Productions, 2017), ISBN-10: 1615932577, ISBN-13: 978-1615932573</p><p>David Mamet, <em>On Directing Film</em> (Penguin, 1992), ISBN-10:0140127224, ISBN-13: 978-0140127225</p>
Lectures
11
Seminars
22
0
267