in partnership with MA Screenwriting Validated by the University of Warwick, United Kingdom Academic Year 2017/18 Student Handbook Version: September 2017 Table of Contents 1. Welcome _________________________________________________________ 1 2. About This Handbook ______________________________________________ 2 3. Introduction to the London Film School _______________________________ 2 4. Introduction to the University of Warwick ______________________________ 2 5. Quality Assurance _________________________________________________ 3 5.1. Higher Education Review (AP) 2016 ____________________________________ 3 5.2. 2017 Update ______________________________________________________ 3 6. Orientation, Induction and Enrolment _________________________________ 3 6.1. Orientation ________________________________________________________ 3 6.2. Enrolment _________________________________________________________ 3 6.2.1. Documents to Bring to Enrolment ______________________________________ 4 6.3. Induction _________________________________________________________ 4 7. Introduction to the Course __________________________________________ 4 7.1. Credit Points and Awards ____________________________________________ 4 7.2. Language of Instruction ______________________________________________ 4 7.3. The Course _______________________________________________________ 5 7.5. Course Structure ___________________________________________________ 6 7.6. Your Timetable _____________________________________________________ 6 7.7. Term Dates Academic Year 2016/17 ____________________________________ 7 7.8. Deadlines _________________________________________________________ 7 7.8.1. Work and Research Journals __________________________________________ 8 7.8.2. Short and Feature Film Project ________________________________________ 8 7.8.3. Formative Work ____________________________________________________ 8 8. Teaching, Learning and Assessment__________________________________ 8 8.1. Teaching and Learning Methods _______________________________________ 8 8.1.1. Lectures, Seminars and Workshops ____________________________________ 8 8.1.2. Mentoring _________________________________________________________ 9 8.1.3. Collaboration with MA Filmmaking Students ______________________________ 9 8.1.4. Screen Studies: Directing Strategies ___________________________________ 10 8.2. Assessment Methods _______________________________________________ 10 8.2.1. Scripts __________________________________________________________ 10 8.2.2. Work and Research Journal__________________________________________ 10 8.3. Evening Screenings ________________________________________________ 11 8.4. Supervision Arrangements ___________________________________________ 11 8.5. Submitting Coursework _____________________________________________ 11 8.6. Return of Assessment ______________________________________________ 12 8.7. Re-assessment ___________________________________________________ 12 8.8. Board of Examiners ________________________________________________ 12 8.9. External Examiners ________________________________________________ 12 8.10. Assessment Feedback ______________________________________________ 13 8.11. Your Grades ______________________________________________________ 13 8.12. Transcripts and Certificates __________________________________________ 13 9. Office Hours, Contact Details and Communication _____________________ 14 9.1. Office Hours ______________________________________________________ 14 9.2. Contact Details ____________________________________________________ 14 9.3. Communication ___________________________________________________ 14 i 9.3.1. Virtual Learning Environment _________________________________________ 14 9.3.2. LFS Student Email _________________________________________________ 15 9.3.3. University of Warwick Student Email ___________________________________ 15 9.3.4. Your Contact and Personal Details ____________________________________ 15 10. Policies and Regulations___________________________________________ 16 10.1. Student Complaints ________________________________________________ 16 10.2. Appeals _________________________________________________________ 16 11. Your Student Journey at LFS _______________________________________ 17 11.1. Studying _________________________________________________________ 17 11.2. A Two-Way Contract _______________________________________________ 17 11.3. Mobile Phones ____________________________________________________ 18 12. Attendance ______________________________________________________ 18 12.1. Attendance and Employment _________________________________________ 19 12.2. Tier 4 Visa and Attendance __________________________________________ 19 13. Mitigating Circumstances __________________________________________ 19 14. Deferring Your Studies ____________________________________________ 23 15. Withdrawal ______________________________________________________ 23 16. Student Services and Support ______________________________________ 23 16.1. Academic Support _________________________________________________ 23 16.2. Student Services and Academic Registry _______________________________ 23 16.3. Students with Disabilities ____________________________________________ 23 17. Student Engagement ______________________________________________ 24 17.1. Personal Tutors ___________________________________________________ 24 17.2. Students’ Union ___________________________________________________ 24 17.3. Feedback from Students ____________________________________________ 24 17.3.1. Student Feedback Surveys __________________________________________ 24 17.3.2. Other Surveys ____________________________________________________ 24 17.3.3. Student Representatives ____________________________________________ 24 17.3.4. Boards of Study ___________________________________________________ 25 17.4. Committees ______________________________________________________ 25 18. Health and Safety _________________________________________________ 25 19. Disclaimers ______________________________________________________ 26 20. Data Protection Information ________________________________________ 26 21. Appendix A: Course Information ____________________________________ 27 22. Appendix B: Module Information ____________________________________ 31 22.1. Module FI917-60: The Screenwriters’ Craft ______________________________ 31 22.2. Module FI918-60: The Screenwriter’s Practice ___________________________ 36 22.3. Module FI919-60: Writing the Feature Film ______________________________ 41 ii 1. Welcome The London Film School is committed to fostering exceptionally creative work, produced by a culture of thinkers and practitioners who are united in their wish and ambition for excellence in film production. From film history to its contemporary practices, we will provide you with an advanced knowledge of the art of filmmaking, while simultaneously providing you with a critical awareness of theory and form in film. We will undoubtedly prepare you well not only for joining the film industry, but also for equipping you with valuable skills that are needed in order to keep abreast with current knowledge and practices. Creating a liberal, generative and safe learning environment, where no ideas are trivial and no questions are naive, is a pivotal element in our teaching. We present learning to you not only through the process of practice and observation, but also by challenging you to be acute observers of life. Our learning environment is magnificently international. You will learn from and collaborate with people from all over the world. They are approaching similar concepts as yours but from entirely fresh perspectives and viewpoints. This allows for an environment that celebrates different understandings and ideas. It facilitates for you to grow as skilled and creative navigators of film who are socially aware individuals, and compassionate global citizens. The London Film School will allow you to proactively explore challenges in filmmaking with autonomy and collaboration. You will acquire a wide range of filmmaking skills and gain a comprehensive understanding of film narratives, appreciation of aesthetics, and the balancing of film form and content that are applicable and desired in the contemporary film industry. You are joining the legacy of highly successful graduates, such as Michael Mann, Mike Leigh, Iain Smith, Ann Hui, Roger Pratt, Tak Fujimoto, Ueli Steiger, Duncan Jones, Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir, Brad Anderson, and many others. Nurtured, supported and encouraged by our outstanding teaching staff, they lead by an informed understanding of film and filmmaking that is expressed through exceptional independent artistic work, creation and production. I sincerely welcome you to the London Film School. Gisli Snaer [email protected] Acting Director & Head of Studies MA Screenwriting Student Handbook 2017/18 1 Version: September 2017, Final 2. About This Handbook This handbook is designed to provide you with information about your programme of study, the London Film School (LFS) and the University of Warwick. Please read it carefully, and keep it safely as you will need to refer to it throughout your studies. Information provided is as accurate as possible at the date of production and the School will ensure you are informed of major changes to the information contained in this handbook in a timely manner. The handbook should be read in conjunction with relevant policies and regulations from the London Film