This module will exercise your ability to translate prose into screenplay form using set texts, chosen for their narrative complexity and variety of styles. This is not so much a creative endeavour as a test of your professional skills and overall mastery of the craft of screenwriting. You will receive feedback, constructive criticism and technical guidance throughout the semester from your tutor.

At the initial Seminar/Lecture, which will provide an overview of the subject area, you will be given general guidance and provided with the set texts for Adaptation. Subsequently, you will work largely independently, meeting regularly by appointment with your tutor to keep them informed of your progress and to discuss problems you may have with your adaptation dossier.

The Project Evaluation is intended to give you a space in which to discuss the particular difficulties presented by the various texts and the ways in which you solved specific problems of adaptation.

You will be expected to undertake independent research and study in order to fulfil the brief.

Adapted screenplays available on internet.
Classic literature out-of-copyright available on the internet.
The Blackboard learning environment will be available ( if relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Hutcheon, Linda: `A Theory of Adaptation' (Routledge 2006)
Tierno, Micheal: `Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters: Storytelling Secrets from the Greatest Mind in Western Civilisation' (Hyperion 2002)
Stam, Robert: `Literature and Film: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Film Adaptation' (WileyBlackwell 2004)
Booker, Christopher: `The Seven Basic Plots' (Continuum 2004)
Campbell, Joseph: `The Hero with a Thousand Faces' (Princeton University Press, 1972)
Goldman, William: `Which Lie Did I Tell?' (Bloomsbury, 2001)
Rabiger, Micheal: `Directing - film technique and aesthetics' (Focal Press, 2003)

Writing Narratives (AM75462-4) or R.E.A.D. (AM75456-4)
or equivalent (AM25823-4 Introduction to Creative Writing).

Plus

Writing Pictures (AM75119-5)
or equivalent (Rewriting For Writers AM25826-5 or Introduction to Screenwriting ACTFSV75526-5)

1. A Screenwriting Portfolio weighted at 80% - A collection of scripts adapted from excerpts from literary sources (2000 - 2500 words)
(LO 1, 2, 3) (SP1)
2. A Project Evaluation weighted at 20% - 500 - 750 words (LO 4) (PJ8)