Scriptwriting in Different Genres

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Ken Williams (subject to change)
• Assessment: three genre ideas (30%), a treatment (50%) and a critical evaluation of 1000 words (20%)

This is a practical module that requires you to engage and experiment with writing in different genres. You will be encouraged to explore developing ideas in genres that you do not normally write in, for both film and television.

The module aims to give you confidence in your professional and creative abilities as a screenwriter and you will be encouraged to explore, analyse, appreciate and produce work that is imaginative and at industry level.

Indicative syllabus

• Definitions of genre: genre as an element in the screenwriter's tool box; introducing the Genre Convention framework; differences between film and TV; and marketing and audiences.
• Genre, style and tone: image systems; visual metaphor; writing style; and comparison of written screenplay/completed film.
• Genre, dialogue and characterisation: dialogue types and tropes across different genres.
• Writing drama, adaptation, horror, rom-com and comedy, thriller, science-fiction, fantasy, action-adventure, family and postmodern.
• Working in genre scriptwriting: 'metagenre' and sub-genre; form informing genre; interacting with genre producers; and marketing and selling your screenplay.