SCREEN 201

Storytelling for Screen


Please note: this is archived course information from 2018 for SCREEN 201.

Description

A foundation-level core course for a major or minor in Screen Production introduces students to the conceptual and practical aspects of constructing a narrative for screen: word, image, sound and sequence. Drawing from various narrative forms both fictional and non-fictional, students will develop an understanding of the basics of cinematic narrative and how to best utilise a plethora of techniques to translate "story ideas" to time-based narrative forms.

The course comprises of lectures, discussions, screenings, exercises and three key creative projects demonstrating lessons learned. Assessment is based on participation, in-class exercises, work-in-progress assignments for credit and completed films.

The first five weeks of the course focus on formal/aesthetic elements of non-fiction storytelling in the digital realm. Along with creating your own digital stories, you will analyse digital stories in various genres. Weekly sessions will combine academic reading, discussion of your digital stories, as well as questions related to skills and techniques such as script writing, collecting and choosing images, sound recording, editing and music.

The last seven weeks of the course focus on creative approaches to cinematic narrative and using basic elements of composition and sequencing to convey story, theme, character and emotion. Various genres, techniques and skills are discussed and demonstrated.

Disclaimer- This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the professor contingent upon performance and overall class progress and special events.

Course Objectives

  • Students understand the fundamentals of narrative storytelling for screen
  • Students achieve basic familiarity with editing techniques and software
  • Students learn collaborative skills and ways to receive and provide constructive criticism 
  • Students develop three projects from concept to completion that expose them to different types of cinematic storytelling

Provisional class limits information for 2018: Enrolment is limited to 40 students. On-time applications will be selected on the following criteria, ranked in order of importance: 1) Completion of FTVMS 101 (MEDIA 101 from 2018) and either COMMS 100 or 104; 2) Grade in FTVMS 101; 3) The qualitative evaluation of the application including evidence of creative lateral thinking and personal statement of intent; 4) GPA.

View the course syllabus

Availability 2018

Semester 1

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s)  Brendan Donovan

Assessment

Coursework only

Points

SCREEN 201: 15 points

Prerequisites

30 points from COMMS 100, FTVMS 100, 101, MEDIA 101 and Academic Head or nominee approval