Developing a Feature Film Script

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Paul Gallagher (subject to change)
• Assessment: a feature film treatment (30%), outline (10%), script extract (40%) and 2000-word critical evaluation (20%)

Developing a film script is an ultimate in visual and narrative storytelling; the principles and practices then enable you to apply this knowledge in all other media of stories, including TV, novels, shorter films, and animation.

This module offers hands-on support for the development of student film scripts. We will look at what makes a film; the language and visual world of film and film scripting. We will look at industry practice, including having practical sessions pitching, and storytelling as ways to clarify and sell your project.

You will develop your own feature film project and script, through innovative narrative and research. We will be workshopping drafts and rewrites, and you will have personal tutorials. We will discuss the film industry - UK, EU, US and worldwide - and address ways of financing projects.

As a package at the end of the module, you will have a saleable project and script to pitch.

Indicative syllabus

• Film genres and audiences
• The film industry worldwide
• Ideas, stories, scope and scale for film
• Research, characters, story and project development
• Different story structures
• Writing film treatments and outlines in prose
• Script, drafts and rewrites
• Writing pitches, premises, synopses, and slug-lines
• Script development of students' projects
• Collaborations in writing film script
• Pitching and selling projects and scripts to the industry