Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Students seeking to write for the Stage, Screen, or New Media need to be able to write effective and compelling dialogue. If your dialogue is poor, the chances are your story will fail. Dialogue in storytelling must sound realistic and natural, however it is anything but; it must advance and support the meaning of a story whilst revealing character, motivation and back-story; it will help to establish tone or mood whilst developing the conflict; it may provide signposts of things to come or remind us of essential detail. It must do this succinctly and yet with subtext, richness and emotion.

Good dialogue appears to be real and conversational, has rhythm and flow and is easy for the actor to speak. An effective storyteller must be able to achieve and balance all of the above, yet make the end result seem real, entertaining and capture its audience completely.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide students with the skills to write effective and engaging dialogue suitable for use in stage plays, films, TV scripts, or New Media platforms.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Recognise the difference between good and bad dialogue and be able to write dialogue that appears realistic, conversational and has a rhythm and flow. Dialogue that is easy for an actor to speak.
2. Develop and write dialogue that explores/heightens conflict, character and emotions.
3. Apply the understandings and insights of unspoken dialogue/subtext to a more developed sequence of scenes. Write dialogue for a sequence of scenes that explores theme, concept, conflict and character and deals with the complexities of emotions and relationships.
4. Provide editorial insight to another writer, and be able to reflect on ones own work in an objective and competent manner.

Content

This unit comprises practical and theoretical engagement with the following key understandings of writing dialogue:

Theme, Concept, Conflict, Character, Construction, Action, Subtext, Tone, Emotion and Relationships.

It will also cover Technical aspects such as Editing, Drafting, Layout.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit will adopt practical and interactive lectures, screenings and tutorials. Individual/group work and class discussions, and your own readings will be required. Peer critique will be an important part of the process of assessment.

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information see the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Formative feedback will be given throughout the semester.
Weight 0%

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will be awarded a final grade on a 1 to 7 scale

Assessment name: Project (applied)
Description: (Formative and summative)
Writing Dialogue from a Scene Break Down: You will be given a detailed scene breakdown and set of characters descriptions from which you will then write the necessary dialogue.
Relates to objectives: 1 , 2
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Project (research)
Description: (Formative and summative)
Green Fields: You will devise and write a sequence of scenes in which conflict, character, and subtext are explored. The project may be devised for Stage, Film or New Media
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Late Semester

Assessment name: Peer Review
Description: (Summative)
Reflective Appraisal: You will supply written feedback (at least 300 words) to another student's submitted work in the previous assessment item. As well, you will participate in the class discussion in regards to this assessment item.
Relates to objectives: 4
Weight: 15%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Late Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Required Text(s): Nil

Recommended References

Aronson, Linda (2000) Scriptwriting Updated: New and Conventional Ways of Writing for the Screen. AFTRS. North Ryde, Sydney. Allen & Unwin. St Leonards, N.S.W.

McKee, Robert (1998) Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting. Methuen. London.

Mamet, D. (1994) Glen Gary Glen Ross: A Play. Grove Press. New York.

Mamet D. (1997) True and False: Heresy and Common Sense For the Actor. Pantheon Books. New York.

Marx, Christy (2007) Writing for Comics, Animation and Games. Focal Press. Boston.

Nicholas, Angela (1999) 99 Film Scenes for Actors. Avon Books. New York.

Shakespeare, William (1998) Richard III. Signet Classics. New York.

Steele, Alexander (2008) Writing Movies: A Practical Guide from New York's Acclaimed Creative Writing School / Written by Gotham Writers' Workshop Faculty. A. & C. Black. London.


DVDs

David, Larry (2000) Curb Your Enthusiasm. TV Series. HBO. USA

Glazer, Jonathan - Director (2000) Sexy Beast. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Australia.

Hillcoat, John - Director (2006) The Proposition. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Sydney NSW.

Lilley, Chris - Producer/Writer (2007) Summer Heights High. Village Roadshow Home Entertainment.ABC. Australia

Loncraine, Richard - Director (1995) Richard III.

Milch, David - Executive producer / Writer (2006) Deadwood. TV Series. HBO Video. USA.

Olivier, Laurence - Director (1955) Richard III.

Scorsese, Martin - Director (2006) The Departed. Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. Australia.

Screen West and Media World Features - Production Companies (2007) The Circuit. TV Series. SBS Television. Australia.

Tarantino, Quentin - Director (1994) Pulp Fiction. Village Roadshow Home Entertainment. Australia.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks in this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 28-Mar-2013