Module Descriptors
WRITING PICTURES
FTVR50226
Key Facts
Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies
Level 5
15 credits
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 18
Independent Study Hours: 132
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- RESEARCH FILE weighted at 50%
- SCRIPT weighted at 50%
Module Details
Module Indicative Content
A module designed to develop screenwriting students' understanding of film grammar and visual storytelling. By the end of the course students should have a greater understanding of how the techniques for efficient visual communication in cinema have developed, from the early silent film days up to the present day, as well as a greater command of writing cinematic visuals in screenplay form. The module also complements the sound modules we offer in the award.
Module Additional Assessment Details
The Research File will consist of a group seminar presentation contrasting the visual communication techniques at work in 2 films: a pre-sound era film and a contemporary film. Also it will contain a file on the preparation of the presentation (1000 words) [Learning Outcomes 1 and 2]
A complete short silent film script will contain (2000 words) [Learning Outcomes 3 and 4]
A complete short silent film script will contain (2000 words) [Learning Outcomes 3 and 4]
Module Learning Strategies
6 two hour seminars, incorporating lectures, screenings, workshops, and student presentations followed by 6 weeks of supervision.
Familiarisation with visual storytelling techniques through screenings, lectures discussion, independent learning seminar presentations of group analysis of silent films; formal exercises in scripting images; creative thinking/ideas workshops; tutorials.
Familiarisation with visual storytelling techniques through screenings, lectures discussion, independent learning seminar presentations of group analysis of silent films; formal exercises in scripting images; creative thinking/ideas workshops; tutorials.
Module Texts
Eisenstein, Sergei: 'The Film Sense' (Harcourt, 1969, ISBN: 0156309351)
Eisenstein, Sergei: 'Film Form' (Harcourt, 1969, ISBN: 0956309203)
Nowell-Smith, G. (Ed): 'The Oxford History of World Cinema' (Oxford University Press, 1996, ISBN: 0198112572)
Godard, J.L. & Ishaghpour, Youssef: 'Cinema: The Archaelology of Film & the Memory of a Century' (Berg Publishers, 2005, ISBN: 1845201973)
Linday, Vachel: 'Art of the Moving Picture' (Random House, 2000, ISBN: 0375756132)
Auiler, Dan: 'Hitchcok's secret Notebooks' (Bloomsbury, 1999, ISBN: 074754588X)
Brounlow, Kevin: 'Napoleon' (BFI, 2004, ISBN 1844570770)
Brounlow, Kevin: 'The Parade's Gone By...' (University of California Press, 1992, ISBN: 0520030680)
Bordwell, David: 'The Cinema of Eisenstein' (Harvard University Press, 1994, ISBN: 067413138X)
Everson, William, K: 'American Silent Film' (Da Capa Press, 1998, ISBN: 0306808765)
Naremore, James: 'Orson Welles's "Citizen Kane": A Casebook' (Oxford University Press Inc., USA, 2004)
Eisenstein, Sergei: 'Film Form' (Harcourt, 1969, ISBN: 0956309203)
Nowell-Smith, G. (Ed): 'The Oxford History of World Cinema' (Oxford University Press, 1996, ISBN: 0198112572)
Godard, J.L. & Ishaghpour, Youssef: 'Cinema: The Archaelology of Film & the Memory of a Century' (Berg Publishers, 2005, ISBN: 1845201973)
Linday, Vachel: 'Art of the Moving Picture' (Random House, 2000, ISBN: 0375756132)
Auiler, Dan: 'Hitchcok's secret Notebooks' (Bloomsbury, 1999, ISBN: 074754588X)
Brounlow, Kevin: 'Napoleon' (BFI, 2004, ISBN 1844570770)
Brounlow, Kevin: 'The Parade's Gone By...' (University of California Press, 1992, ISBN: 0520030680)
Bordwell, David: 'The Cinema of Eisenstein' (Harvard University Press, 1994, ISBN: 067413138X)
Everson, William, K: 'American Silent Film' (Da Capa Press, 1998, ISBN: 0306808765)
Naremore, James: 'Orson Welles's "Citizen Kane": A Casebook' (Oxford University Press Inc., USA, 2004)
Module Resources
Viewing facilities (video/DVD); book and video stock; screenplays available on internet.