Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting) (B-FASCWRI)

Bachelors DegreeYear: 2020 Delivered: On Campus (Southbank)

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Overview

Award titleBachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
Year & campus2020 — Southbank
CRICOS code093587J
Fees informationSubject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & typeUndergraduate Coursework
AQF level 7
Credit points300 credit points
Duration36 months full-time

The BFA (Screenwriting) provides an immersive and experiential studio-based education, focusing on the origination and development of stories for the screen. There is a strong emphasis on developing the student’s individual creative voice, while underlining the need to speak effectively and freshly to an audience. The course provides training in writing for different screen-based mediums and genres, as well as the creative adaptation of work originated in other literary genres.

Housed in the School of Film and Television, this degree lives alongside the school’s other degrees in directing and producing for live-action fiction, animation and documentary. This provides screenwriting students with the unique opportunity to develop professional-practice collaboration skills.

This happens while developing creative concepts alone or in collaborative teams, while being on-set during productions, and through script readings and critical self and peer assessment.

Undertaking elective subjects offered by other VCA schools, or by the wider University community, gives the student the opportunity to investigate the generation of original creative work in other arts disciplines, or the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge of current issues and debates in non-arts based fields.

The BFA Screenwriting graduates complete a deeply personal, artistically transformational, and highly professional course of development. With their creative, collaborative and technical skills they are optimally placed to make significant impact in the national and international creative industries.

BFA Screenwriting graduates may also elect to undertake a 4th year of study in the honours programme, or 2 years of further study towards a Masters degree.

Entry requirements

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue successfully the course using the following criteria:

· successful completion of the VCE (or an equivalent qualification) with a study score of at least 25 in Units 3 and 4 English/English Language/Literature, or a study score of at least 30 in Units 3 and 4 ESL. Minimum ATAR is not applicable.

· performance in the selection test process leading to possible short listing for interview and folio presentation.

2. The Selection Committee will conduct interviews with those shortlisted and may call for referee reports or employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to providingsupport to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Intended learning outcomes

  • Work independently or in ensemble in a wide range of careers and performance or production opportunities;
  • be well-trained and knowledgeable in their own and related fields;
  • be committed to continuous learning and production in their discipline;
  • have a local and international perspective on their own arts practice;
  • excellence in practising their own art form;
  • have good academic literacy skills in expression, argument and research;
  • be proficient in the use of appropriate modern technologies.

Generic skills

  • Artistically excellent:
    • demonstrate a flexible and innovative approach to the national and international challenges for the professional artist/practitioner in the 21 Century
    • have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of artistic practices and scholarship
    • have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s)
    • reach a high level of achievement in artistic practice, writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication
    • be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning
    • be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies
  • Knowledgeable across disciplines:
    • examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a range of disciplines
    • expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
    • have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems
    • have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment
  • Leaders in communities:
    • initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces
    • have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations
    • mentor future generations of learners
    • engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs
  • Attuned to cultural diversity:
    • value different cultures and their cultural forms of practice
    • be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work
    • have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community
    • respect indigenous knowledge, cultures and values
  • Active global citizens:
    • understand their relationship with and responsibility to their cultural environment and society
    • accept social and civic responsibilities
    • be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment
    • have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equity and ethics.

 

Course structure

300-point program:

  • 275 points of compulsory subjects
    • 87.5 points at Level 1
    • 87.5 points at Level 2
    • 100 points at Level 3
  • 25 points of electives

Subject options

Year 1

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FLTV10012 Screenwriting Practices 1A
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 25
FLTV10013 Industry Perspectives
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV10014 Pictures, Sounds, Words
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV10015 Screenwriting Practices 1B
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 25
FLTV10009 Screen Culture and Aesthetics 1
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5

PLUS

Students choose one VCA Elective Subject (see list below)

Year 2

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FLTV20012 Screenwriting Practices 2A
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 25
FLTV20017 Screenwriting Practices 2B
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 25
FLTV20011 Gaming and the Writer
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV20010 Screen Culture and Aesthetics 2
July (Online)
 12.5
FLTV20018 Writing for the Youth Screen Market
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5

PLUS

Students choose one VCA Elective Subject (see list below)

Year 3

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FLTV30011 Screen Culture and Aesthetics 3
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV30014 Screenwriting Practices 3
Year Long (On Campus - Southbank)
 50
FLTV30015 Screen Adaptation
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV30016 Attachment or Research Project
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV30017 Screenwriting Business
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5

VCA Elective Subjects

Students wishing to take subjects offered as breadth options on the Parkville campus should seek permission from the Course Coordinator

Code Name Study period Credit Points
MUST10012 Alexander Technique for Daily Function
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
THTR10019 Clear Speech and Communication
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FLTV10021 Interactive Art Media 1
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI10202 Jazz: The Improvisatory Spirit
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
MUSI10179 Making Music For Film And Animation 1
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI10184 Pop Song Writing 1
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
THTR10007 The Actors Process
Winter Term (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FINA10035 Still Life: Nature Morte
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FINA10036 Life Drawing: The Body
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
AIND10003 Ancient & Contemporary Indigenous Arts
Summer Term (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
AIND10004 Art and Indigenous Voice
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
DNCE10027 Dancing the Dance 1
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI10222 The Wellbeing Orchestra
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUST10009 Music Theatre: From Chorus To Ensemble
Winter Term (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
UNIB10011 The Secret Life of the Body 1
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
DRAM10026 Up Close and Personal with MTC
Semester 1 (Off Campus)
June (Off Campus)
Semester 2 (Off Campus)
 12.5
CCDP10002 The Electronic Arts: Vision and Sound
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
CCDP10003 Video Games: Remaking Reality
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FINA20044 Art and the Botanical
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
February (On Campus - Parkville)
Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
DNCE20032 Body Works Not available in 2020 12.5
DPSS10007 The History of Cool: Fashion & Attitude
Semester 2 (Online)
 12.5
 
Code Name Study period Credit Points
MUSI20190 Advanced Recording Studio Techniques
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI20167 Creating Music For Advertising Not available in 2020 12.5
THTR20043 Design and the Moving Image
June (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI20164 Free Play New Music Improvisation Ensem
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
June (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUST20010 Singing and the Power of Pop Music
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
THTR20022 Improvisation: Text, Space and Action
Winter Term (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUST20011 Intimate Acts: Inside The 'Fourth Wall'
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FINA20033 Introduction to Printmaking Processes
Summer Term (On Campus - Southbank)
February (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
July (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUST20008 Music Theatre: Singing Sondheim Not available in 2020 12.5
MUST20009 Music Theatre: Singing the Golden Age Not available in 2020 12.5
FINA20026 Painting Techniques
Summer Term (On Campus - Southbank)
February (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
Winter Term (On Campus - Southbank)
July (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
THTR20042 Puppets as Storytellers
Summer Term (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI20192 R&B, Soul & Gospel Choir
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI20163 Samba Band
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
April (Online)
June (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI20173 The Art of Game Music
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
THTR20023 The Artist's Toolbox
February (On Campus - Southbank)
July (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI20174 The Laptop Recording Studio
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
DNCE20031 Dancing the Dance 2: Create & Perform
Winter Term (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FINA20035 Drawing with Anatomy
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
February (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
AIND20011 Indigenous Art and Changing the Nation
Semester 2 (Online)
 12.5
CCDP20001 Street Art
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
MUSI20206 The Business of Music
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FINA20036 Under Camera Animation
Summer Term (On Campus - Southbank)
February (On Campus - Southbank)
Winter Term (On Campus - Southbank)
July (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
FINA20044 Art and the Botanical
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
February (On Campus - Parkville)
Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FINA20045 Introduction to Screenprinting
Summer Term (On Campus - Southbank)
February (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
June (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
DNCE20032 Body Works Not available in 2020 12.5
MUST20007 Bollywood: a cross-disciplinary study Not available in 2020 12.5
 
Code Name Study period Credit Points
DRAM30020 Acting for Camera
Winter Term (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
THTR30042 Hashtag Cyberstar
Summer Term (On Campus - Southbank)
Winter Term (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI30236 The Music Producer: From Brass to Beats
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
THTR30039 Understanding Masks
Winter Term (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUST30012 Music Theatre: Singing Rock Musicals
Summer Term (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5

Further study

Qualified graduates may progress to an additional year to qualify for Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting) (Degree with Honours), and/or to a range of master degrees leading to research programs.

Reassessment is available in this course

Reassessment is a second attempt at passing a compulsory subject if a borderline failure in a single subject has a significant impact on the student's progression through their course. A borderline failure is usually a mark of 45% or more. Reassessment is not available if failure in the subject is a result of a finding of student academic misconduct; or a student was awarded a NH grade due to failure to participate in a component of assessment that was a hurdle requirement or failure to attend or participate in the subject as required. 

Refer to Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326): https://policy.unimelb.edu.au/MPF1326

Last updated: 18 December 2020