This module is designed as an introduction to the practice of writing for the film, television and radio industries. It will introduce you to ideas about the importance of storytelling and the many forms that takes in the media today. It deals in broad terms with the more technical and practical aspects of writing, touching upon a range of scriptwriting conventions, the technical requirements of writing for the small and large screen and for the radio, as well as the basics of writing fiction. It will introduce you to the cultural language widespread in the media and is designed to foster, at this early stage, an appreciation for the vital importance of editorial work, proof-reading and redrafting. Topics may include: basic editorial skills (proof-reading, punctuation, re-writing, polishing); Screenwriting basics (visual storytelling/dialogue/story and plot/setting/structure/characterisation); Familiarisation with various script formats (film, TV, radio); Television and radio formats/genre (series/serial/soap/sitcom); Ideas, themes, approaches (how to recognise and develop ideas).

There will be a series of workshops which will allow you to: familiarise yourself with media writing for different genres, set exercises, discussions, independent learning, formal exercises in various forms of media writing: journalistic writing, scripts and prose, with student presentations.

Library and online resources
Projector & playback facilities.
Screenplays

The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Library and online resources
Projector & playback facilities.
Screenplays

The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Field, S. (2007) The Screenwriter's Workbook, New York: Delta.
Grace, Y. (2014) Writing for Television Series Serials & Soaps, Harpenden: Kamera.
Hill, C. W. (2015) Writing for Radio, London: Bloomsbury.
Smethhurst, W. (2016) How To Write For Television, London: Robinson.
Yorke, J. (2014) Into the Woods, London: Penguin.
Rabiger, M. (2016) Developing Story Ideas, London: Focal/Routledge.

See module handbook for a full listing of reading texts.

1. IDENTIFY THE KEY SCRIPTWRITING TECHNIQUES FOR A PARTICULAR GENRE OF THE WRITTEN MEDIA AND REPRODUCE THEM IN CREATING A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE WITHIN SET CONSTRAINTS.
[APPLICATION]

2. PRESENT CREATIVE WORK IN SCRIPT FORMAT.
[COMMUNICATION]

3. CRITICALLY ANALYSE A RANGE OF MEDIA WRITING FORMATS TO DETERMINE THEIR KEY CONVENTIONS AND TO UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT STYLISTIC APPROACHES.
[ANALYSIS]

4. RECOGNISE THE COMMON CODES AND CONVENTIONS THROUGH WHICH AUDIENCES UNDERSTAND INTENDED MEANINGS.
[KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING]

5. LISTEN AND RESPOND CONSTRUCTIVELY TO CONTRIBUTIONS AND CRITICISM.
[COLLABORATIVE WORKING]

Script Prep 50%

Script 50%

This module is designed as an introduction to the practice of writing for the film, television and radio industries. It will introduce you to ideas about the importance of storytelling and the many forms that takes in the media today. It deals in broad terms with the more technical and practical aspects of writing, touching upon a range of scriptwriting conventions, the technical requirements of writing for the small and large screen and for the radio, as well as the basics of writing fiction. It will introduce you to the cultural language widespread in the media and is designed to foster, at this early stage, an appreciation for the vital importance of editorial work, proof-reading and re-drafting.