Training
OC2 Screenwriting Foundation Workshop: CONCEPT TO SCRIPT
- About Concept to Script
- OC2 Advanced Diploma Foundation Program
- Commencement Dates 2008
- Course Structure
- Facilitator and Tutors
- Units
- Assessment
- Entry Requirements
- Cost & Enrollment Form
- Student Information
This workshop is nationally accredited training issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
About Concept to Script
The Screenwriting Foundation Workshop - Concept to Script is aimed at students who wish to pursue a professional career in writing and/or directing film and television drama, and offers the opportunity to develop and write a treatment/script over a 5 month-period supported by industry professionals.
Students are guided through the development of a concept into a script/ screenplay for a feature film, telemovie or television pilot episode, as well as engaging in comprehensive script analysis and editing.
At the Graduation Night for the 2007 Concept to Script students, course facilitator and screenwriter Marilyn Tofler highlighted the significance of the Concept to Script course:
"It is so important for us as a culture to develop great Australian stories that entertain as well as enlighten. Congratulations must go to OPEN CHANNEL for having the foresight to run such a course which I think is the only one of its kind running in Australia.
"For a long time many of our film schools have been teaching the auteur theory of filmmaking, whereby a director writes his/her script. Filmmaking is a collaborative art and however good a director may be, it is unlikely the script will be as good as it would be if written by a screenwriter...Our course puts screenwriting back in the screenwriters' hands."
A full transcript of Marilyn's speech (PDF)
Check out our story about Concept to Script in The Age Green Guide
OC2 Advanced Diploma Foundation Program
OC2 is OPEN CHANNEL’s Advanced Diploma of Screen program (CUF60101), developing new independent feature film projects. Participants completing an OC2 Foundation Workshop may apply to the OC2 Extension Program to complete an Advanced Diploma of Screen. The extension program involves working in the capacity of Writer, Director or Producer during the making and marketing of a teaser film for an independent feature project.
Students in this workshop may also apply for OPEN CHANNEL’s innovative OC2 Advanced Diploma Foundation Program offering the chance to learn while working on a real independent drama or comedy project. Whether working independently and wanting to form a creative team, this unique blend of training and production support will give your project the kick start it needs. This initiative supports the making of a teaser to sell an independent feature film project - a model used for the horror film ‘Saw’ which spawned a multi-million dollar franchise.
Commencement Dates 2008
OC2 Screenwriting Foundation Workshop – Concept to Script
Start Date: 22 August 2008
Finish Date: 19 December 2008
Duration: 16 consecutive weeks with 1 month writing SWAT
Time: Fridays - 9.30am to 4.30pm
Course Code: CTS208
Enrollment Deadline: 8 August 2008
Interviews: 12 & 13 August 2008
Maximum 12 students per Concept to Script workshop.
Course Structure
The OC2 Screenwriting Foundation Workshop – Concept to Script is part-time (Fridays) taught over 16 consecutive weeks with 1 month writing SWAT, totalling 102 contact hours.
This workshop is designed for people who wish to pursue a career in writing for film and television drama. The minimum entrance requirement for the course is "Certificate III in Screen" or equivalent writing or filmmaking experience. It provides an opportunity to learn in a practical training environment with leading industry professionals.
The workshop follows the path from idea, through development of the concept to a first draft script. The workshop will initially cover the basics of screenwriting: theme, story structure, characterization, format, dialogue, and scene description. A character profile and short treatment will be written. Students will look at what makes writing for the screen different to other forms of writing, the art of adaptation, and look at how to write cinematically considering aspects of screen style. This will be followed by a series of practical writing and review sessions as students create and develop their scripts. A practical pitching exercise will give students first-hand experience in promoting their idea to others to generate further support and funding. Finally, students look at the business of being a screenwriter.
Facilitator and Tutors
The 2007 Concept to Script workshop was facilitated by screenwriter Marilyn Tofler, who has worked as a script assessor and script consultant for ABC Television, Village Roadshow, Film Victoria and in Los Angeles for Twentieth Century Fox and NBC Entertainment searching for new writers for Seinfeld, Mad About You, Frasier and E.R. under NBC's 'New Voices Writer Program'. Other guest speakers included John Ruane (That Eye the Sky, Death in Brunswick, Feathers, Dead Letter Office), Kevin Carlin (The Extra, Boytown, Little Oberon, Always Greener), Ben Michaels (Neighbours), Kris Mrksa (Sparky D Comes to Town, Horace and Tina, Wilfred, Kick, The King), Colin Mowbray (Happy Little Vegemites) and Ian Dixon (Crushed). Students also had the opportunity to pitch film concepts to a major film distributor.
Units
Concept to Script Foundation Workshop utilises five units from the Advanced Diploma of Screen (CUF60101). Selected from the Film, Television, Radio & Multimedia Industry Package CUF01. Endorsed by the National Training Quality Committee 2004.
CUFADMO1A Prepare a proposal
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare a proposal, formal tender or submission document for a project in the cultural industries.
- Analyse the project requirements
- Determine ability to meet the requirements of the brief
- Estimate the costs and availability of resources
- Prepare the proposal/tender submission
- Present the submission where appropriate
- Obtain confirmed agreement where appropriate
CUFRAD01A Originate and develop the concept
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assess, analyse, edit and refine a script, in collaboration with the writer, to final draft ready for production for any production cultural industry.
- Clarify creative ideas
- Investigate approaches to the realisation of the idea
- Evaluate possible approaches
- Develop the concept to an operational level
CUFWRT02A Write the script
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop a narrative or story which may include a treatment, outline or a storyline for any production within the cultural industries.
- Plan and prepare to write the narrative
- Develop the narrative
CUFWRT03A Edit the Script
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assess, analyse, edit and refine a script, in collaboration with the writer, to final draft ready for production for any production cultural industry.
- Assess the script for the edit
- Analyse the script
- Obtain approval from relevant personnel
CUSGEN05A Make presentations
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to make effective presentations for many different purposes using a range of media.
- Plan and prepare for the presentations
- Make presentations
- Evaluate presentations
Assessment
Students will be required to provide evidence, within duration of the workshop that demonstrates a high level of skills as a Producer, including preparation of:
- self assessment
- complete written First Draft – First Act for a film, or a television drama or comedy pilot episode
- prepare and deliver a practical pitch to a panel of industry professionals
- compile a short portfolio of the process providing evidence of working notes, research notes, rewrites and script/character development notes and other related tasks as instructed by the assessor
Entry Requirements
The Concept to Script Workshop is open to all Australian residents 18 years and over. Applicants must have completed a Certificate III in Screen qualification or OPEN CHANNEL Screenwriting Introduction short course or have equivalent industry or writing related experience.
All applicants are interviewed.
Once an application form is completed and a deposit is paid an interview time will be given. The interview is an opportunity to clarify any issues about Accredited Training at OPEN CHANNEL and to determine applicants’ suitability for enrolment.
Cost & Enrollment Form
The course fee is $1,500
A $1000 course deposit is payable on enrolment to secure an interview, and fully refundable if you are not selected for the workshop.
Accredited Training Enrollment Form
Student Information
Please read the Student Information page
For more information contact the Accredited Training Coordinator
Phone: (03) 8610 9304
Email: accredited@openchannel.org.au
