Off Campus Provision of London Metropolitan University, Department of Humanities, Arts, Languages and Education The London Film School MA SCREENWRITING Course Handbook For admission in 2013-14. Contents (a) Introduction to the Course ............................................................................................ 4 (b) Using This Handbook ................................................................................................... 4 2. Postgraduate Study at London Metropolitan University ....................................................... 4 3 The course .......................................................................................................................... 5 (a) General ........................................................................................................................ 5 (h) Location and Facilities supporting the course .................................................................... 8 (i) Disability and Dyslexia........................................................................................................ 8 4. Being a Postgraduate Student ......................................................................................... 9 (a) Attendance and employment ....................................................................................... 9 (b) Studying ..................................................................................................................... 10 (c) Mobile Phones ........................................................................................................... 10 (d) Enrolment .................................................................................................................. 11 (e) Credit for previous learning ........................................................................................ 11 (f) Assessment ............................................................................................................... 11 (g) A two-way contract ..................................................................................................... 12 5. Communications ............................................................................................................ 12 (a) Contacting staff .......................................................................................................... 12 (b) Staff needing to contact you ....................................................................................... 13 (c) Course representative ................................................................................................ 13 (d) Course Committee ..................................................................................................... 13 (e) Feedback from students on modules and courses ..................................................... 13 (f) Complaints ................................................................................................................. 13 (g) Module/Award results and transcripts ........................................................................ 13 6. Sources of Information and Advice ................................................................................... 14 7. Course Timetable .............................................................................................................. 14 (a) Schedules .................................................................................................................. 14 (b) Term Dates and Calendar .......................................................................................... 14 8. Screenplay projects and journals ...................................................................................... 15 (a) Supervision Arrangements ......................................................................................... 15 (b) Submission ................................................................................................................ 15 9. Marking and Assessment .................................................................................................. 16 (a) Marking and grades ................................................................................................... 16 (b) In case of a fail ........................................................................................................... 16 (c) Your rights concerning Assessment ........................................................................... 16 (d) Assessment Board Decisions .................................................................................... 16 (e) Your responsibilities concerning assessment ............................................................. 17 (f) Handing in work ......................................................................................................... 17 (g) Mitigating circumstances ............................................................................................ 17 (j) Publication of Results ................................................................................................ 18 10. Study Resources and Facilities ..................................................................................... 18 (a) Libraries ..................................................................................................................... 18 North Campus ................................................................................................................... 18 Special Collections ............................................................................................................ 18 Catalogues ........................................................................................................................ 19 Photocopying and Binding ................................................................................................ 19 Access to other libraries .................................................................................................... 19 (b) Computers and IT Facilities ....................................................................................... 20 (c) Useful Links and Resources ...................................................................................... 20 (f) BFI Southbank Cinema ................................................................................................. 20 11. Regulations ................................................................................................................... 21 (a) University Academic Regulations ............................................................................... 21 (b) London Film School Regulations ................................................................................ 21 12. Directory of modules for the course ............................................................................... 22 2 13. Course Specification...................................................................................................... 23 Unit 1: The Screenwriters Craft ................................................................................................ 29 Unit 2: The Screenwriter‟s Practice .......................................................................................... 36 Unit 3: Writing the Feature Film ................................................................................................ 41 3 1. Welcome to the MA Screenwriting course at the London Film School This is the Course Handbook for the MA Screenwriting at the London Film School. The staff in the Department of Humanities, Arts, Languages and Education (HALE) at London Metropolitan University and that of the London Film School wish you a warm welcome to London Metropolitan University and the London Film School, and to the study of screenwriting. (a) Introduction to the Course The London Film School is one of a small group of exceptional internationally recognised film schools. The skills it teaches are at professional industry standards and its graduates are known across the world as leading directors, directors of photography, editors and so on. The course is intense and exciting. The School is the oldest film school in the United Kingdom and one of the pioneers of film education in the world. The MA Screenwriting course is aimed at developing screenwriting skills in the context of a filmmaking community where writing is an everyday practice and a collaborative process involving actors, directors, musicians, editors and producers. At LFS we explore the boundaries between writing and directing and stimulate debate through classes in film history, crosscultural approaches to dramaturgy and script readings with professional actors. Regular screenings of classic and contemporary films in our own film theatre and visits by contemporary filmmakers complement the core practical work of developing a feature screenplay. (b) Using This Handbook There is a considerable amount of information contained in this handbook, some of which will be of greater relevance to you as you work through your postgraduate studies than it is at the start of your course. Please keep it safely as you will need to refer to it through your course. We recommend that you read this Course Handbook through carefully. It is focused on your course, so you will find that from time to time you need to consult other more detailed sources of information, including the London Metropolitan Student Handbook, which contains the University‟s Regulations. It can be consulted on-line (at www.londonmet.ac.uk/student-