1. EMPLOY A RANGE OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION METHODS AND STYLES APPROPRIATE TO A DISCIPLINE.
COMMUNICATION

2. NEGOTIATE AND PLAN A BRIEF FOR A PROJECT. DEVISE A STRATEGY THAT ANTICIPATES THE MOST LIKELY PROBLEMS IN ADVANCE. DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS WITH SUPERVISION.
PROBLEM SOLVING

3. RECOGNISE THE COMMON CODES AND CONVENTIONS THROUGH WHICH AUDIENCES UNDERSTAND INTENDED MEANINGS.
KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING

4. LISTEN AND RESPOND CONSTRUCTIVELY TO CONTRIBUTIONS AND CRITICISM.
COLLABORATIVE WORKING

5. CONDUCT RESEARCH INTO THE WORK OF THE CREATIVE COLLABORATORS WORKING TO PREPARE A SCRIPT FOR PRODUCTION. CRITICALLY REVIEW THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES OF SELECTED CREATIVE SPECIALISMS. EXPLORE ARTISTIC AND ETHICAL ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE IN THE TRANSFER OF A SCRIPT TO THE SCREEN.
ENQUIRY

6. REVIEW PERSONAL SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT TO PREPARE FOR CAREER APPLICATIONS.
REFLECTION

A Portfolio 100%
A portfolio of work conducted either individually or in teams equivalent to 4000 words per student, including such items as:
An Adaptation Proposal (500 - 750 words) (LO 1)
An adapted screenplay (20 – 25 pages/equivalent to 2000 - 2500 words) (L.O. 1, 2, 4)
A pre-production folder, presenting work prepared as if by the primary creative production personnel of a film (Producer, Director, Art Director, Sound Designer, Cinematographer, etc.) exploring and demonstrating the creative planning of an actual production (1500 - 2000 words) (LO 3, 5)
Individual Evaluations of the process (250 - 500 words) (LO 6)

This module provides an overview of the film industry from the silent era onwards, primarily from the screenwriter’s perspective, using key films/film makers in order to explore the most important technical and artistic innovations that have led the art of cinema to its present form. Genres, styles, forms, theoretical approaches will be considered. This provides a framework for a module that also serves as an introduction to the realities of pre-production, from the finding of source material, through cinematic adaptation of literary work, to the actual preparatory work undertaken by the various creative personnel on a film before filming begins.

The module is run as a series of lectures and seminars designed to broaden students’ knowledge and understanding of cinema, with a view to strengthening their screenwriting skills. These sessions run in parallel to students working towards assessments requiring an adaptation of a short literary work, as well as a Production Folder covering all aspects of pre-production and planning of a film. In the final few weeks, students will work independently on their projects, with tutor supervision.

The early weeks will be concerned with the adaptation process: reading potential source material and writing proposals. Lectures and screenings will introduce the various creative production roles and, through the study of key films, enlarge upon students’ understanding of cinematic style and the development of modern cinema language. It will also introduce the idea of the equivalence of literary and cinematic style. Screenings will focus on the input of the major creative collaborators in a film production and the ways in which their work influences the meanings understood by audiences. Students work either individually or in small groups.

PLEASE DISREGARD THE FOLLOWING TEXTS


Kemp, P. (2011) Cinema: The Whole Story: Thames & Hudson.
Glebas, F. (2008) Directing the Story: Professional Storytelling and Storyboarding Techniques for Live Action and Animation, London: Focal Press.
Halligan, F. (2012) Filmcraft: Production Design, Lewes: Ilex.
Murch, W. (2001) In the Blink of an Eye, Los Angeles, Calif.: Silman-James.
Rabiger, M. and Hurbis-Cherrier, M. (2013) Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics, Oxon: Focal.
Stam, R. (2005) Literature and Film: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Film Adaptation, Oxford: Blackwell.
Taylor, R. ed. (2005) The Eisenstein Collection: Sergei Eisenstein, Calcutta: Seagull.

Please see the module handbook for a full listing of reading texts.

Library Resources. Silent films & Screenplays available on internet.

Extensive Blackboard content to direct learning.