Carver, Raymond: `The Stories of Raymond Carver', Picador 1983.
Campbell, Joseph: `The Hero with a Thousand Faces', Sceptre 1997.
Mosley, Walter: `Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned', Serpents Tail 1998.
Polanski, Roman: `Chinatown' (DVD), Paramount 1974.
Towne, Robert: `Chinatown' (original Screenplay), 1974

NB: other texts to be used as required.

Twelve (12) two-hour (2-hr) workshops, in which students will engage in a variety of group-based activities, including:

Analysis of the scriptwriter's contribution to film and television productions;

Group writing tasks on such areas as dialogue, character, and plotting;

Script read-throughs;

Discussions.

The onus throughout the workshops is on group work and the sharing of ideas, opinions, and developing skills as they emerge.

Assessment is in two parts, each of 50% weighting:

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS of 750 words, of the contribution of one particular scriptwriter to a chosen film or television production. (L.O. 1, 2, 3)

A SCRIPT of 750 words approx., consisting of a story outline for a projected short film or television script. This is to be accompanied by one scene from the outline, presented in orthodox industry-standard screenplay format. (L.O. 2, 4, 5)

The module will introduce students to the art and craft of screenwriting for film and television;

Provide students with the opportunity to commence writing short narrative story outlines and scripts for film and television, and subsequently start to develop their own ideas and style in the process;

Provide students with the opportunity to gain an initial understanding of the contribution of the scriptwriter to film and television productions, particularly with regard to their crucial importance in the creative process.

DVD and VHS playback facilities.
Professional scripts.
Workshop classroom to house a maximum of fifteen (15) students.