LEVEL 4

Semester 1

Foundations of Story

The aims of this module are to introduce students to some of the processes used in creating original screen-works through character design and ideas development. The module will also explore some of the key concepts of story and screenwriting theory, and focuses on the relationships between story, character, structure & plot. It aims to develop transferable skills in creativity and critical analysis.

New TV

This course assesses the recent changes in television culture and engages with key theoretical debates in the field of critical media research. Students will develop their understanding of television genres, audiences and transmedia interactions. Key themes are examined in critical, theoretical and analytical depth. It aims to develop transferable skills in writing, debating and presenting.

Practice Tool kit

This module is designed to provide a foundation ‘toolkit’ of practical skills to aid understanding of current creative media industries. Students will be introduced to a range of technical and procedural skills including audio, video, photography, web and digital design. These skills will develop their understanding of the processes involved in the manufacture and delivery of audio-visual presentations within the creative industries. It aims to develop transferable skills in information technology.

Theory Toolkit  

This module aims to support students in their transition into higher education. It aims to develop student understanding of some of the key concepts, issues, critical perspectives and methodologies that constitute our approach to learning, studying and teaching media. It aims to develop transferable skills in research and analysis.

Semester 2        

History & Theory of the Screenplay    

This module will introduce students to the history and theory of screenwriting and give students the knowledge that will strengthen their grounding for further study of screenwriting as a craft, and give them the vital awareness of how screenwriting works in the real world. The module will explore the beginnings of screenwriting as a blueprint for film, and its evolution as a craft over the years through to the present day and beyond. The module aims to develop a critical awareness of screenwriting as both creative endeavour and functional blueprint, and gain knowledge of how screenwriting has evolved, thus giving students a wholesome awareness of the industry into which they will study further in later modules.     

Screenwriting Structure

Students will be presented with a range of structural models to consider when creating a screenplay for film and television. This will range form traditional concepts such as 3 Act Structure and Hero’s Journey through to more contemporary approaches such as 22 Step Structure and the Five Sequence Approach. Students will also examine how Form, such as commercial TV Drama, SitCom & Advertising, can influence the structural choices writers have to make

Hollywood Film

This module aims to both explore and to problematise Hollywood films as textual and as cultural products, and place these products in a context which traces their aesthetic and formal development. This approach is designed to provide students with a firm grounding in film studies.

Journalism  

This module develops a critical understanding of the contemporary global, national and local work of journalists in different areas, from hard news journalism to niche interest writing and online presentation. The module considers different forms of writing style, such as reviewing or feature-writing, across a range of different media technologies. It provides a basic guide to the narrative structure of writing for news stories, magazines and on-line contexts, including blogs, podcasts and YouTube channels. Further issues explored are the shifting status of journalism as a form of employment, and a consideration of the legal and ethical issues of being a professional journalist.

LEVEL 5

Semester 1        

Writing the Short Film

This module aims to develop creative skills in audio visual storytelling through an exploratory approach to the methods, processes, styles and structures involved in the writing of a short (6-7 minute) narrative film. It will concentrate mainly on conventional, rather than avant-garde, approaches. It aims to develop transferable skills in pitching.

Psychology in Screenwriting  

This module will examine the academic writings by Professor of Psychology William Indick, in his book “Psychology for Screenwriters”. Exploring the psychology behind plot and characters, this module will explore psychologists Freud, Jung, Erik Erikson, Alfred Adler, Rollo May and Joseph Campbell in relation to character and narrative development for screen based content.

Writing TV Drama (30 credits across 2 semesters)

The module aims to introduce students to the process of development when creating a long form TV Drama series or serial. Throughout the module students will contribute to the creation of a Drama TV “Bible”, a package of materials that is used to inform writers, producers and directors of a show’s particular production criteria. The module will give students the opportunity to explore the industrial context of such documents and how to generate story ideas and scripts for such shows. It aims to develop transferable skills in packaging and selling creative work.

British Film

This module aims to develop student’s knowledge and understanding of British cinema. It examines a range of perspectives on the subject which build to form a comprehensive picture of a national industry.

OR

Factual Interview Techniques    

This module aims to explore the importance of the recorded interview in film and TV research and practice. Students will engage with a range of recorded interview techniques and styles as employed by researchers, documentarians and journalists. As such, the focus of the module is on ‘factual’ stories and those who can reveal them. Students will also examine the role ethics play in the development and presentation of filmed interviews.  

Semester 2        

Writing the Feature Film 

The module aims to introduce students to the process of research and development when creating a Feature Film concept for cinema release. Throughout the module students will explore the opportunities available to UK based writers when developing feature films ideas. The constraints and issues faced by screenwriters in this highly competitive market, and the need to be imaginative, original and distinctive in their work will also be a constant theme. The module will give students the opportunity to explore the industrial context of development and how to generate cinematic treatments for commercial exploitation. It aims to develop transferable skills in packaging and selling creative work.

Writing for Games 

This module examines the role of the screenwriter in the development of narrative based computer games. Students will explore the role the screenwriter plays in developing characters, dialogue and worldbuilding. Students will also be introduced to the debates around narrative vs Ludology and the tensions created between story and play.   

Writing TV Drama (30 credits across 2 semesters)

The module aims to introduce students to the process of development when creating a long form TV Drama series or serial. Throughout the module students will contribute to the creation of a Drama TV “Bible”, a package of materials that is used to inform writers, producers and directors of a show’s particular production criteria. The module will give students the opportunity to explore the industrial context of such documents and how to generate story ideas and scripts for such shows. It aims to develop transferable skills in packaging and selling creative work.

War Films

This module examines the historical, aesthetic, and thematic development of war films. It explores examples from contemporary American cinema, focusing primarily on WW II and the Vietnam War, and places these examples in the relevant historical context. The module will follow a thematic approach, exploring some of the major topics in war films while dealing with some of the core (theoretical) issues of representing war on screen. It takes a cross-disciplinary approach by drawing upon media and cultural studies, historical approaches and questions around cultural memory.

OR

Comedy   

This module provides students with a lively mix of content that explores the historical and critical elements of comedy while also providing a learning environment where students can integrate some of the basic skills of creating a short performance with a particular emphasis on stand-up comedy.

Completion of 240 credits by the end of Level 5

LEVEL 6

Semester 1        

Personal Study (Screenwriting)

This dissertation level project allows students to build on the practical skills and subject knowledge developed at Level Five. It gives students the opportunity to work as autonomous writers, deepening and enhancing knowledge and understanding of their chosen subject. Crucially, students are expected to work professionally to produce a script with high standards of content, presentation, and development. It aims to develop transferable skills in identifying commercial opportunities for creative practitioners.

Industry Engagement & Film Festivals

This module offers students the opportunity to learn about the dynamic and rapidly changing ways in which films are consumed in the public arena. Festivals are a key element of the filmmaking market place, where films are sold by independent producers and bought by distributors. But they also offer audiences the opportunity to experience a rich variety of cinema, such as animation, shorts and documentaries. This module will encourage students to engage with the world of the film festival, the industry networking opportunities they offer and apply analysis to both audio-visual content and Festival management.

American TV Dramas

The module examines contemporary American television drama, focusing primarily (though not exclusively) on HBO as a network with a distinct visual, thematic and narrative style that clearly demonstrates noteworthy developments within the television industry. The module will consider HBO and other series in relation to a variety of issues, such as a serial television, developments in television production, and shifts in reception. The module aims to critically examine and analyse the aesthetic and ideological content of some of these texts, focusing on a selection of series.

Horror

This module examines the history and development of the horror genre and explores examples from contemporary American cinema and beyond. It takes a cross-disciplinary approach by drawing upon film studies, historical approaches, and theoretical frameworks that have dominated critical responses to the genre, such as psychoanalysis. It aims to develop transferable skills in reflection on the learning process.

Semester 2

Campaign Writing

This module aims to provide a foundation knowledge of non commercial campaign writing and give students the chance to study alternative career paths post graduation. Exploring event and online content, the module will look at how to convey a client’s intent through narrative awareness. The module aims to inform and instruct writers on the opportunities for screenwriters in business, looking at recruitment campaigns, social awareness campaigns and company in-house communications.

Creative Portfolio

This Level Six module aims to build on the creative work done by students over the past 2 years and the strategic planning undertaken in Industry modules. Students will be expected to enhance their career prospects by producing creative artefacts that align their skills with their commercial and professional objectives. It aims to develop transferable skills in balancing creative and strategic career objectives.

OR

Shocking Text     

This module examines transgressive, controversial and subversive media texts from film, television, computer gaming and print media. It explores a variety of extreme texts in relation to the regulation of shock and disgust, taste and decency, censorship, transgression, and the impact of sex and violence in the media. It aims to develop transferable skills in effective group work.

Individual Project    

This module enables students to plan and execute an individual project over two semesters. It allows students to build on knowledge developed at Levels 4 and 5 and gives students the opportunity to work on a research project independently to pursue specialist interests and enhance their knowledge of media-sport relations.

Completion of 360 credits by the end of Level 6