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Script Adaptation

Unit Code: LPW603




Duration

Contact Hours

Campus

Prerequisite

Corequisite

12 weeks or equivalent

3 Hours per Week

Lilydale

LPW600 Reading and Writing or equivalent

Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points

Related Course/s:

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Aims & Objectives:

This unit enables students to:

  • Develop an understanding of how to ‘read’, ‘write’, and ‘research’ the wide range of adaptations that are made for presentation on stage, cinematic screen and computer screen 
  • Learn how to act as ‘writerly-readers’ of scripts
  • Explore elements of scriptwriting
  • Develop their own script proposals for an adaptation
  • Understand concepts of laterality as well as linearity
  • Understanding various modes of information delivery on stage and screen, including strengths and weaknesses
  • Transfer information from print modality of information delivery to stage or screen information deliveries
  • Scope screen project timelines

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Teaching Methods:

Virtual lectures, virtual tutorials, electronic media, reading and practical exercises and e-tutors, e-mentors and e-peer groups.

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Assessment:

Adaptation of a written piece of work for stage, multimedia or film 60%, Participation in weekly Discussion Threads 40%

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Content:

  • Storyboarding
  • Thinking adaptation: from book to film
  • Adapting Frankenstein for the stage
  • Telefilm adaptations
  • Writing for TV soapies
  • The screenplay
  • Structure 
  • Substructure
  • Timing
  • Shots, scenes and sequences
  • Involvement
  • Tightening the screws

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Reading Materials:

Arnold, J. 2007 Practice Led Research: A dynamic way to knowledge, Rock View Press: Melbourne.

Aronson, L. 2000, Scriptwriting Updated: New and Conventional Ways of Writing for the Screen. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Dawson, J. 2000, Screenwriting: A Manual, Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Egri, L 1977, The Art of Dramatic Writing, New York: Simon and Schuster.

Giddings, R. & Sheen, E. (eds) 1999, From Page to Screen: Adaptations of the Classic Novel. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Howard, D. 2006, How to Build a Great Screenplay: A Master Class in Storytelling for Film. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Kitchen, J. 2007. Writing a Great Movie: Key Tools for Successful Screenwriting. USA: Billboard Books.

The Macquarie Dictionary.

The Macquarie Thesaurus.

The Macquarie website: http://www.macnet.mq.edu.au

Schwartz, M. E., 2007, How to write: a screenplay. New York: Continuum.

Seger, L. 1990, Creating Unforgettable Characters, Boston: Henry Holt.

Selbo, J. 2007. Gardner's Guide to Screenplay: From Idea to Successful Script (Gardner's Guide series), Washington, DC: GGC Publishing.

Strunk, W, The Elements of Style (any recent edition) or the online version: http://www.bartleby.com/141/

Trottier, D. 2005 Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting and Selling Your Script. Los Angeles: Silman-James Press.


And the following electronic resources:

The Electronic Labyrinth: http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/elab/elab.html
Exposition: Towards an Electronic Humanities: http://web.nwe.ufl.edu/~gulmer/expo.html
Hypertext or Anti-Linear Navigation: http://home.earthlink.net/~outlyr/hypertext/
Red Mona: http://www.purplefrog.com/~christy/red-mona/
CyberReader: http://www.abacon.com/vitanza/cyber/index.html
Lucid Mapping and Codex Transformissions in the Z-Buffer: http://www.iath.virginia.edu/~mgk3k/lucid/

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