MA Writing for Script & Screen
Falmouth University - Offered by CEG Digital, United Kingdom
First Year Course Fee
USD 7,872
Course Accredited By
PC
Gain the writing skills, industry know-how, professional skills and experience of collaborative working that the ever-changing screen-writing industry demands.
Learn how to function within a professional environment across different screen industries, and create work that stands out from the crowd.
Develop your portfolio across different platforms or focus on the mediums and genres that interest you through live briefs, collaborative projects and independent research.
You will:
- Learn the fundamentals of storytelling and how these can be applied to your chosen script medium
- Gain the professional skills needed to compete in the script writing industries, including how to write treatments, develop characters and setting, present your work in the correct format, and pitch your ideas
- Collaborate and network with other script professionals around the world
- Gain the research skills, critical and theoretical approaches needed to underpin your practice
- Gain an understanding of current trends and developments in the screen industries.
With Falmouth Flexible, you access your course content, interactions with other students and tutors, and learning resources, through Canvas, an easy-to-use online platform. You can access the course wherever you are in the world, and you can stop, pause and rewind lectures whenever you want.
Learning activities
Engaging learning activities will help you apply theory to practice. They could include:
- Concise online presentations to introduce key concepts
- Small group and class discussions and crits to facilitate interaction and dialogue
- Online critiques to test assumptions, ideas and to receive feedback from peers and tutors
- Individual and group tutorials throughout the course
- Independent study
- Self-evaluation and peer feedback.
Assessments
All assessments are taken and submitted online.
Assessment methods for the masters degree in Writing for Script & Screen can typically include:
- Coursework assessment with no formal examination Portfolios, projects, online presentations and pitches.
Enrollment Cycles
- May 2023
- September 2023
- January 2024
An honours degree or Level 6 equivalent qualification.
If your first language is not English, you'll need to take one of the following tests to verify your proficiency:
- IELTS - minimum overall score of IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening
- TOEFL iBT (online test) - minimum of 88 overall and at least 21 in all 4 components
- LanguageCert (online test) - a High Pass from the ESOL B2 Communicator test in reading, writing, speaking and listening (2 parts)
We also accept a range of equivalent recognised English language qualifications. Candidates without a degree or formal qualification are still encouraged to apply.
You will need to complete four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit project (180 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award
Module one Storytelling for Script & Screen (30 credits)
- In this module, you will examine, explore and practice the fundamental questions of storytelling and script writing: ‘Why do we tell stories and how do we tell stories?’
- You will learn specific script writing skills: script layout, visual storytelling, genre, setting, character, dialogue and the construction of scenes and sequences
Module two Individual Script Development Workshop (30 credits)
- In this module, you will develop an individually negotiated scriptwriting portfolio.
- More complex elements of scriptwriting will be rigorously explored, including: deep structure (scenes and sequences), in-depth character development, and sustaining narrative and theme in a feature film, television series, or a digital game
Module three Writer’s Room: Collaborative Script Development (30 credits)
- In this module, you will work collaboratively on a professional brief.
- In the first 10 weeks, working in Script Development Teams, you will develop industry practice project proposal documents.
- In the final two weeks, you will work in the roles of client/commissioner for each brief, assessing the project proposal of another team, and deciding whether to ‘green-light’ the project
Module four Screen Industries: Professional Development (30 credits)
- In this module, you will learn strategies for promoting yourself as a freelance scriptwriter.
- You will identify an area of special interest, and you will research contemporary practice in order to produce a case study that evaluates current markets and opportunities.
Final major project (MA only) (60 credits)
- In the final module, you will work on a major script development project for a platform/medium of your choice.
- You can either further develop work that you have produced on other modules, or you can develop a new concept.
- At the end, you’ll have a finished piece of work of professional quality
- May 2021 - £10,900
- September 2021 - £11,300