Screenwriting

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 4
• Convenor: Barbara Cox (subject to change)
• Assessment: character profile of 500 words (0%), a 10-minute script, which consists of a complete story in correct script format (75%) and an evaluation essay of at least 1000 words (25%)

In film and TV drama, everything starts with the script. Undergraduate Screenwriting modules from Birkbeck’s Department of Film, Media and Cultural Studies are designed to provide practical experience of creating, developing and writing script projects, so that you gain both screenwriting skills and a general insight into the development and production processes, as well as a wider knowledge of existing film and TV drama.

This introductory module aims to help you to understand the basic principles and practice of screenwriting, and to consider the dual function of a script as both a piece of creative writing and a set of instructions for the production team, actors and director.

Indicative module content

• What's different about writing for the screen? What does a script look like and why?
• Characterisation and character motivation
• The importance of a strong beginning to your story
• Using visual elements and sound
• Story structure and story order
• Planning a script
• Research
• Dialogue
• Genre and tone
• The script in production