Course syllabus

SCREEN 302. Creating Serial Narratives (for the Web).

SEMESTER 1, 2019

15 points

Seminars: Thursday 10am - 1pm    

Location:   HSB 149 (15 Wynyard St, “The Black Box”)                      

Convenor:    Brendan Donovan| bc.donovan@auckland.ac.nz

                      x82074 | Rm 520, level 5, HSB | Please email to make an appointment.

Snr Technician:   Martin Hansen | m.hansen@auckland.ac.nz x84596 (Arts 1)

Technician/gear:  Tim Signal| t.signal@auckland.ac.nz x86224 (HSB, level 5)

Course Outline

Screen 302 is a course about creating scripted narratives for the WEB. We conceive, write, and produce a narrative of three episodes – each episode being a maximum of 5 minutes long.

Students will be introduced to the processes of idea generation, pitching, script development, casting, set etiquette, lighting, shot selection and composition (with limited work on directing actors). This is an intensive, workshop-style production class. All assignments are in groups, just as all industry-generated web series and television shows are created by groups. Creative collaboration is a key skill that this course encourages you to develop. For the final group assignment, however, you will be graded on your individual contribution.

From the first class you are divided into three groups. Each group will develop and pitch ideas for a web series, to industry professionals. ONE series idea will be chosen (please note this key point, we can only make ONE show!). It will be chosen with class input - and each group will then write, cast, direct, and edit one 5min episode for this chosen show.

The course convener, Brendan Donovan, will then act as showrunner across all three groups (please research the term “showrunner” if you are unclear what this means) for the show. Because of the compressed time we have to develop a story and scripts, the course convenor will, most definitely, be involved in your story development - this is a normal part of how shows are developed in the real world. Be prepared for this. Students are expected to audition and cast actors from outside the course, find locations, develop production schedules, and commit to weekend shoots. The course convenor will attend your test shoots, but not your final shoots, being able to problem-solve ON YOUR OWN is another key part of this course. Editing and post-production may continue beyond the end of lectures.

It is not a requirement, but be aware that your group MAY choose to pay for small costs for props, costumes, locations etc.

The three hour weekly seminar, along with the need to collaborate outside class, will mean you will use your full ten hours per week for this 15pt course.

You are encouraged to be creative, self-starting, self-motivated, and **collaborative**. While 70% of your mark is for your individual efforts, you are always working within your team - so your commitment to working well with others is essential. Brendan is an experienced industry professional and trusts students to bring a strong work ethic, openness to constructive criticism, and a willingness to learn by doing.

In terms of time, roughly one third is development and pitching, and two-thirds involves writing, production, and post-production.