MA Screenwriting

In this module you will look at storytelling and screenwriting for film and television in various contexts - historical, social, cultural, scholarly and theoretical.

You will develop the skills to examine the practices and products of screenwriting from a critical perspective and to use this to inform your own work and practice.

The module is delivered as a mixture of lectures, seminars and screenings from Screen Academy staff and guest lecturers.

The module is broadly divided into two parts, each of which leads a written assessment:

The first focuses on considerations of genre. Student presentations will be used as the basis for seminar discussion. Students will consider genre from various perspectives – academic, commercial and (as screenwriters) practical. Students will produce a written essay on an aspect of genre that interests them.

The second part of the module focuses on screenwriting craft, technique and theory. The influence of screenwriting theorists (e.g. Robert McKee) will be considered and debated as will the work of individual screenwriters (e.g. William Goldman, Josh Weedon).

Technical aspects of screenwriting craft will also be studied with illustrative examples from screenings, handouts etcetera. Students will produce a case study at the end of the module focussing on either the work of a particular screenwriter OR screenwriting theorist OR the application of a particular screenwriting technique OR a critical study of a particular adaptation.

Further information

This module provides producers, publishers, ‘creative’ and ‘screen’-writers knowledge and first-hand experience of developing content for the professional interactive industries. On the module, students will identify current interactive concept development processes and practices; plan and present an interactive proposal at professional level; develop appropriate project management and research skills. Students develop knowledge of key roles within the interactive industry and an ability to critically evaluate interactive projects.

This module will introduce students to the world of ‘Interactive Media’, what it is and how to develop projects, independent work and, potentially find careers in this sector in the future. From developing games for a PC or platform, tablet or smartphone, to writing for an interactive exhibit for a museum, or creating an interactive website to writing the next big app, it’s up to the student enrolled on this module to explore, discover and think creatively. The module team share their knowledge of this sector with regular updates on changes in the industry with students, who should take full advantage of spaces like our “Class Blog”, to share some of their findings and add to the module’s growing knowledge base.

This class is made up of Creative Writers, Screenwriters and Publishers, they will bring their particular skillets to the class and will be expected to use these skills in the group work task.

An example topic: We look at IP (Intellectual Property) and what it means as content producers today, with a brief look at re- mix culture and its impact on copyright and how convergence is affecting the very way in which we consume media, whilst exploring what our expectations as both producers of and consumers of that media are.

We explore: The Gaming World, Writing for Games, Transmedia, Crossmedia, Alternate Reality Games, Augmented Reality, we also look at the Business World; Business Plans, Crowdfunding, Crowdsourcing, Marketing and Digital Distribution.

The weekly session runs for 3 hours, this is divided between:

1. short lectures on relevant topics over the duration of the module. On particular weeks, industry guests are asked to come in and discuss the professional context of their work in relation to interactive media, giving the students further understanding of certain roles and processes in the new media landscape. Students are given a weekly plan for the module in the module handbook, delivered on the 1st week of module commencement.

2.The second half of the session is given to weekly workshops where students will discuss the development of their individual projects in small groups, as well as presenting their work to colleagues and module tutors. These aspects are not formalised but do lay the bases for formative assessment.

a) Part of the workshop on the lead–up to the panel pitches held on week 11 (double session), are given over to focussing on ‘the pitch’ aspect of the students’ assessment for their major project. The Panel will give formal feedback, from which students are allowed to change their final project proposal hand-ins for assessment, the following week.
b) This module requires students to develop a secondary ‘group’ micro-pitch, working in teams over the course of the module. This pitch will be presented in class to colleagues and tutors on week 10. This collaborative task is designed to develop group-working skills and some technical competencies involved in the development of the team pitch, students will be required to use the group-work tool called ‘Slack’, which they will be expected to explore outside class. Students are tasked with this on week 2, and have between week 3 and 10 to develop a micro pitch of no more than 2 minutes.
c) The group work task falls under the formative assessment aspect of the module, students are expected to peer assess and review one another on aspects of their team working capabilities and competencies on assigned tasks. This will form an element of the secondary summative assessment and included in feedback.



3.In parallel to weekly sessions, students are expected to regularly update their blogs, they are given key tasks to undertake on a weekly basis, and on designated weeks, write reflections to be submitted to the class blog.

4.Studentship: Although not assessed on studentship, we encourage students to engage with as many of the activities as they can, and regularly.

a) We have a unique Facebook group for the Interactive module which we invite students to use to share all things interactive.
b) We have class blog, which we would really like students to engage with. I use aggregators to drive the latest posts on what’s happening in the Interactive arena today, with daily digests and more.
c) We use Moodle as a repository where students will find supporting material organised on a weekly basis, with web links, Prezi shows, PowerPoints, video and more, examples of previous years’ work and supporting text.
d) We have a Twitter #Hashtag (int ** (based on year)
e) We will be using Slack for group work

we hope that through using a task oriented approach at the beginning of the Trimester, which asks students to review, and write in their blog, that students will get into the habit of writing regularly, reading researching and developing their skills to write the projects down the line. We provide many videos and text for review and links to websites, students are encouraged to explore for themselves too.

The World of Interactive Media changes very rapidly, we cannot cover everything, however if there is anything that students feel students would like to explore in more detail, or, indeed is not on the list of topics we cover then we ask them to tell us, and we will see how we might best bring it into the learning context.

Further information

This module forms a significant element of the course and is your opportunity to undertake a major piece of creative work in the final trimester. Over the summer trimester, you will produce a substantial piece of written work in your chosen medium – for film, television or new media.

The completed work will provide the key element in the creative portfolio of projects you have built up over the course. In effect, this module allows you to utilise the tools, the techniques - and the confidence – that you have built up over the previous modules. It is your chance to write your ‘calling card’ script – the essential element for the un-produced writer in approaching future producers, developers or agents.

There is no formal teaching in this module: you will have access to your tutor (face-to-face, via email or online) at key points in the trimester. Students write and develop a substantial written project in one of the following areas:

Feature Film Screenplay
Single Television drama or Series Pilot Episode + Series Outline.
Detailed Interactive or New Media Project

Screen Academy students are encouraged to take up the offer of a heavily-discounted Industry Pass to the Edinburgh International Film Festival (in June, annually) which provides an excellent opportunity for a vast range of extra-curricular educational opportunities - viewing films, assessing the current market, attending guest lectures and industry-focussed sessions, networking, making contacts, pitching projects, etc.

The Major Project is the culmination of the work done in the other modules in Trimesters 1 and 2 resulting, ideally, in a significant and substantial piece of work which can serve either as a live project in search of development finance and partners/collaborators in the professional world - or as a 'calling card' spec script to attract further interest in the writer and his/her work or, for example, to secure the services of a literary agent.

This piece of writing is complimented by the final piece of assessment - an essay or Reflective Report of 2000 words - in which the writer can look back on their learning, identify areas for further work, study or development and look forward, with a real sense of self-knowledge and authority, on possible career paths.

The completion of the student's PDP forms an appendix to this Reflective Report and concludes the formal assessment for this module and the course.

Further information

Over a series of weekly workshops, students develop their own projects from idea to polished first draft.

The workshops are project-driven and student-centred with students presenting work on a weekly basis for peer review, comments and critique. Students read and, on occasion, write script reports on each other's work.

Students are encouraged to engage in project-driven research but also research of a more contextual nature.

The workshops may be interspersed with seminars, screenings, masterclasses, guest lectures and tutorials.

The module aims to develop students' understanding of the challenges of longer form screenplays in relation to subject, depth, complexity and audience appeal and there is an emphasis on sharing knowledge and practical and craft skills.

In relation to its partner module, SW2B, this module may have a greater emphasis on film over television.

Further information

Over a series of weekly workshops, students develop their own projects from idea to polished first draft.

The workshops are project-driven and student-centred with students presenting work on a weekly basis for peer review, comments and critique. Students read and, on occasion, write script reports on each other's work.

This module gives students on the part-time route the opportunity to write a new piece of work or to start development work towards the major project.

The workshops may be interspersed with seminars, screenings, masterclasses, guest lectures and tutorials.

The module aims to develop students' understanding of the challenges of longer form screenplays in relation to subject, depth, complexity and audience appeal and there is an emphasis on sharing knowledge and practical and craft skills.

In relation to its partner module, SW2A, this module may have a greater emphasis on television over film.

Further information

In this module, using the short film as a model, students are guided through a professional development process from idea to a polished first draft script.

In weekly workshops students follow a process which mirrors that of a professional screenwriter as they generate ideas and develop their projects producing a series of documents – premise, synopsis, outline, step outline or treatment and various drafts of a short 10 minute film script.

This written work is regularly circulated and work-shopped in small groups: If you are studying in blended form this will be achieved online, this process develops and enhances the projects, stimulates team-working and collaboration and helps develop the student’s own writing but also their story-, script-editing and inter-personal skills.

There is a research element in which students are encouraged to engage in original research (to generate material for their scripts) but also to critically appraise and assess the various types of research that a writer might undertake as part of their process.

This module encourages students to work collaboratively with other students on courses within Edinburgh Napier University, Screen Academy Scotland, Edinburgh College of Art, the wider Screen Academy network and, beyond that, to experience direct contact with professionals from the film, television and interactive/new media industries.
In weekly workshops students follow a process which mirrors that of a professional screenwriter as they generate ideas and develop their projects producing a series of documents - premise, synopsis, outline, step outline or treatment and various drafts of a short 10-15 minute film script.

This written work is regularly circulated and work-shopped in small groups: this process develops and enhances the projects, stimulates team-working and collaboration and helps develop the student's own writing but also their story-, script-editing and inter-personal skills.

There is a research element in which students are encouraged to engage in original research (to generate material for their scripts) but also to critically appraise and assess the various types of research that a writer might undertake as part of their process.

Occasionally, the workshop sessions are interspersed with visits from guest speakers - professional writers, producers and script developers - who will sometimes work alongside the students in set exercises or work-shops to develop specific aspects of the craft, e.g. character, dialogue or pitching. These events may occur out with the timetabled class.

This module also allows space for and encourages students to work collaboratively with other students on courses within Napier University, Screen Academy Scotland, Edinburgh College of Art, the wider Screen Academy network and, beyond that, to experience direct contact with professionals from the film, television and interactive/new media industries.

Further information

The module is delivered as a series of weekly sessions combining lectures, seminars and visits from industry guests. Introductory lectures provide students with a broad contextual overview of the various institutions, structures and key personnel in the film and television industries. You will examine the make-up of the film industry in the UK and internationally and critically explore how films are financed.

In television, you will examine the make-up of the industry and the relationship between broadcasters and independent production companies.

There will be sessions on legal affairs relevant to screenwriters and producers in development, examining copyright, option and assignment agreements.

Seminars and sessions with industry guests then provide students with case studies of current industry practice across a range of key areas – screenwriting in various contexts, script editing and development, the various producer roles, the legal framework in which development takes place. These will give you insight into how the industry works and will also inform your own professional development.

The assessments for the module require a high level of independent learning and are designed to help students develop a strong sense of the various contexts for their own creative and professional development. A Market Analysis encourages strategic research into the potential markets for their own work or skillset. Students also undertake either a Case Study or a Script Development Proposal, which informs their own personal, creative and professional development.

This module may be taken as an option by MA Film students.

Further information

A series of lectures and seminars introduce students to the language, concepts and skills commonly used in the development of projects for the screen whether in film or television, drama or documentary, or any of the various new media and interactive forms.

You will examine the key elements, skills and terminology of dramatic screenwriting (premise, pitch, character, structure, theme, visual style, genre, dialogue, etc) and review the key documents generated in the development and commissioning process (idea, concept, premise, outline, proposal, detailed proposal, treatment, first draft, revised draft, etc.).

There is a critical exploration of the role and importance of research in screen project development – research as it relates to the project content of the project (e.g documentary, adaptation, historical drama) but also research relating to the market potential of the project itself.

The module aims to develop the critical and practical abilities needed in screen project development: an understanding of the language and terminology; personal and interpersonal skills; a critical understanding of the various roles in the creative and industrial process; a sense of the market place across the various forms and formats.

Crucially, the critical, analytical and inter-personal skills required key personnel in the development process (writers, producers, script-editors, developers, and financiers) are examined and then developed and tested in a series of exercises, including the module’s major pieces of assessment – the Story Report and Script Report.

Students also develop an understanding of the various jobs, roles and career opportunities across the film, television and interactive/new media industries. Subject to available resources, students across the Screen Academy programmes may attend a series of talks and seminars given by visiting speakers as part of the Professional Practice programme, e.g. composers, editors, writers, producers, distributors, games developers, literary and casting agents, etc.

Lecture content is interwoven with seminars, workshops, screenings and exercises which encourage students to reflect on how they might practice and apply these tools, concepts and skills to their own work and live projects: this work is carried across into the more practical Script Workshop and Project Workshop modules.

This module is a core element of the MA Screenwriting programme and is offered as an option to MA Film students, encouraging the development of collaborative skills across the creative disciplines and providing an opportunity to form creative teams.

Further information