Screenwriting: From Pitch to Screen

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

We aim to develop a personalised understanding of the film industry, its roles and opportunities in the context of student screenwriting project aims. Emerging screenwriters are encouraged to complete a series of short films, the first draft of their feature film screenplay or TV bible, building on guidance from their tutor and peers.

Course Objectives:

• Express your film idea within the limitations of the screenwriting form and practise the application of dramatic writing techniques.
• Evaluate screenwriting in terms of formal and dramatic achievements, and communicate your evaluation, including areas of achievement and those requiring further development, in a constructive manner.
• Exploration of filmmaking opportunities arising from observation of film and TV output, as well as wider cultural developments in the context of rapidly changing media industries.

Guided discussions and student presentations applying lecture content to their own creative work. Accordingly, the sessions require active student participation through both specific personal screenwriting projects and general industry observation. Each class will begin with seminar discussions, followed by reading of student work. 

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

• develop an awareness of screenwriting as part of a larger filmmaking process, including its opportunities and limitations in relation to their personal aims;
• critically analyse both their own creative work and the media products they embrace;
• be aware of how a more detailed understanding of media products can support their own project development process;
• write creatively within the limitations of the screenplay form and talk concisely and effectively about their work.

Based on their identified project needs and the research, materials and conclusions, students are required to submit for summative assessment

either

Option A: a 1000 word (+/- 10%) portfolio including a project summary, sample scene / screenplay fragment, development plan, and reflection on learning, as well as a final pitch presentation in week 10.

or

Option B: a 1500 word (+/- 10%) portfolio including a project summary, sample scene / screenplay fragment, development plan, and reflection on learning.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

This course will build on knowledge and understanding provided by the course 'Screenwriting from Pitch to Screen 1'. Joining 'Screenwriting from Pitch to Screen 2' without having completed 'Screenwriting from Pitch to Screen 1' or a similar course is not advisable, as some knowledge of concepts and techniques will be assumed.

- 'Screenwriting 1: From Film Idea to Pitch'

or

– other industry practice informed workshops delivered by practitioners

or

– independent learning resulting in a pitch including genre, approach, 'hook' and story for a feature length screenplay, a TV series 'bible' or series of short film scripts.

Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)