Masters Degrees (Screenwriting)

The LFS MA Screenwriting course is an intense one-year programme with the emphasis on developing the writer's original voice through small group and one-to-one mentoring from industry professionals.

Our most recent Annual Report for the MA Screenwriting from External Examiner Max Kinnings commented: “...the standards of student performance are at the very top end of the scale of similar programmes in the UK. The MA in Screenwriting at LFS is an impressive programme. The quality of work that is produced is of a very high standard with some truly outstanding screenwriting and critical commentaries being produced. The way that the course is structured over the three terms – or units – is both academically rigorous and also industry facing.” (sic)

The MA Screenwriting course focuses on feature film screenwriting, in an international context and benefits from taking place in a film school where writing is a collaborative process involving actors, directors, musicians, editors and producers. Each student is matched into a mentoring relationship with a working writer and has frequent and detailed meetings with them. You can read more on the MA Screenwriting course curriculum here - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-screenwriting/curriculum

Minimum qualifications for an application to be considered are a three year university degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant area. You may already have been working in a writing environment, though not necessarily in film. We actively support applicants who have a commitment to screenwriting and want to expand their skills and understanding. We are happy to take the right experience as equivalent to a first degree.

The need to follow and understand the intensive course of lectures, and the high pressure of group work make it imperative that all students must have a satisfactory knowledge of the English language. Read the requirements here - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-screenwriting/admissions/admission-requirements

The London Film School

Since 1956 the school has trained thousands of directors, cinematographers, editors and other film professionals now working across the globe. It is the most truly international school anywhere, with at least 60% of its students from outside Great Britain.
We have thousands of high profile alumni - http://lfs.org.uk/films-filmmakers/associates-london-film-school-alfs, including Michael Mann, Mike Leigh, Duncan Jones, Tak Fujimoto, Franc Roddam, Mark Goldblatt, Bill Douglas, Ho Yim, Anne Hui, Oliver Hermanus and Danny Huston.

LFS is based in Covent Garden two minutes’ walk from Soho, centre of the European entertainment industry. It is one of only three institutions accredited as a Creative Skillset Film Academy, recognised by the UK industry body as a Centre of Excellence.

We teach filmmaking, on stages, and in workshops rather than in classrooms - the building functions as a working studio. LFS is a living creative film community. The school is an independent non-profit establishment run by passionate and experienced filmmakers; full-time faculty and a varied and hugely talented group of visiting lecturers, technicians and artists.

Please get in touch for more information about our MA programmes in Filmmaking, Screenwriting, International Film Business, the Doctoral Programmes, as well as our expanding range of continuing professional development courses.

We have three intakes a year on May, September and January. We are currently operating a rolling process but please do apply as soon as you can for any intake. You can read more about the admissions process and deadlines here.

VISIT US

Choosing a film school is a big decision; you may want to visit us or talk to a student or a graduate. We have open afternoons every other Thursday during term time and we can show you around – please click here to sign up for a place - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/book-tour. If you cannot attend any of those days, please do get in touch on [email protected] to schedule an alternative time; our students are our priorities and as such the working studios are their space.

‘The beauty of a good film school is that it invites you to make mistakes, but never dampens your enthusiasm. At LFS I made plenty, and ignited a passion.’ Duncan Jones, Director of MOON (2009), SOURCE CODE (2011), WARCRAFT (2016)

Further Information

On our website you can view testimonials from recent LFS graduates (http://lfs.org.uk/films-and-filmmakers/testimonials), and we can put you in touch with one from your country. One recent alumni said of his experience: “I always speak very highly of the Screenwriting MA at LFS when prospective students email me. I learnt so much there and have it to thank for a lot, so thanks!” Ben Cleary, MA Screenwriting, 2016 Shorts Film Oscar Nominee for STUTTERER

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Create a portfolio of scripts, develop skills in writing, editing and project development and gain working knowledge of the film, television and digital fiction industries.

MA Screenwriting was launched at Edinburgh Napier in 2006 and has adapted and developed since to remain one of the strongest screenwriting Masters courses on offer in the UK. The degree is accredited by Creative Skillset and taught at Screen Academy Scotland - one of only three Creative Skillset Film Academies in the UK and the only one outside London.

While the course is primarily for aspiring screenwriters, it is also aimed at those interested in script editing, script development and creative producing.

Teaching staff are working screenwriters and producers and there are regular visits from professional writers, producers, directors and those working in script editing and development.

See the website http://www.napier.ac.uk/en/Courses/MA-Screenwriting-Postgraduate-FullTime

What you'll learn

The course has developed a strong international profile, attracting a diverse range of students and as a student at Screen Academy Scotland you will be part of a large and thriving film community.

Collaboration is encouraged and our MA Screenwriters work closely with students on the MA Film programme as well as students at Edinburgh College of Art.

The course will develop skills in screenwriting, creativity, analytical thinking, academic writing, professional writing for film (script reports, coverage), editing and developmental skills.

In summary, the MA Screenwriting:
• takes a general approach across film, television and other media
• develops the core craft skills for screenwriting
• enhances script editing and story development skills
• places teaching and student work in an industry context
• introduces students to staff and industry guests working as writers, producers, directors and in script development at a high, professional level

The course is taught two days a week (currently Thursdays and Fridays). Part-time students attend classes on Thursdays in Year 1 and Fridays in Year 2.

You may also take this course as a Postgraduate Certificate (distance learning). Details: http://www.napier.ac.uk/courses/pgcert-screenwriting-postgraduate-distance-learning-part-time

Modules

• Writing and Screen Project Development (craft skills)
• Business of Screen Project Development (industry context)
• Script Workshop 1 and 2 (practical screenwriting)
• Script to Screen (theory and critique)
• Interactive Media or Graphic Fiction
• Major Project (feature film or long form TV script)

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Careers

Our students have gone on to success in various competitions, winning the PAGE International Screenwriting Award for five years. Former graduates work as self-employed writers for television drama and have gone on to find agents. Others are working professionally in script development and production.

You can find more details on the Screen Academy Scotland website http://www.screenacademyscotland.ac.uk/

How to apply

http://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/postgraduate/how-to-apply

SAAS Funding

Nothing should get in the way of furthering your education. Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) awards funding for postgraduate courses, and could provide the help you need to continue your studies. Find out more: http://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/postgraduate/fees-and-funding/saas-funded-courses

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The NFTS screenwriting course has produced some of the outstanding writers of our generation. The course prepares writers for work in film and television. Taught by working writers, producers and commissioners, the course addresses the main aspects of the profession of writing. Recent students' work has been nominated for an Oscar, a Bafta, several Royal Television Society awards and countless other awards

-A Creative Skillset-Accredited Screenwriting MA course.
-Course covers film and television writing.
-Strong links with film and TV industry.
-Study in a collaborative filmmaking environment.
-Workshops with actors and directors.
-Opportunity to have a script filmed.
-Unlike other schools, all production costs are met by the School.

We welcome EU/EEA Students. Those accepted onto courses starting in 2018 will have their fees guaranteed at the UK rate for both years of the course. Postgraduate students can apply for a loan to help with their studies via the Student Loans Company Loans. A £ 10,000 loan is available to contribute to course and living costs. The Post Graduate Loan is only open to EU/EEA and UK Students who normally live in England. It is not currently available to Scottish, Welsh or Northern Ireland Students. Find out more here: https://nfts.co.uk/our-courses/masters/screenwriting

COURSE OVERVIEW

Graduating screenwriters will have had the opportunity to complete a range of work for their portfolio, demonstrating their talent and unique voice. Introductions are made to literary agents, broadcasters and film and television production companies. Unlike a Screenwriting MA based in an academic institution, this course is set in a working film and television studio. It covers all aspects of screenwriting, from the development of ideas through to production and post-production. Screenwriting students have their writing work-shopped by professional directors and actors. Working with student producers and directors, they have the chance to see their writing tested in production.

The NFTS programme also includes masterclasses from eminent practitioners in all fields, and regular previews of current film releases. Screenwriting graduates have access to feature and TV project development opportunities, set up by the School in partnership with broadcasters and film companies such as BBC Films and Vertigo Films. There are also extended industry–oriented script development workshops like Regards Croisés and Writers for Europe.

*There are a number of different scholarships that support this course, including the Wellcome Trust Science Media Studentship. For more information see Scholarships and the Wellcome Trust: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/Funding-schemes/Broadcast-games-and-film-awards/Science-Media-Studentships/index.htm

CURRICULUM

The first year of the course deals with the basic principles of storytelling, the craft of screenwriting for film and television, and the collaborative nature of production via exercises with other departments; some shorter writing assignments; and the formal groundwork for writing industry-length material. Writing for the expanding field of animation will be introduced via a series of practical collaborations. Writers also learn about writing for the stage and their short plays are performed to the school by a professional cast.

The second year is a project-based course focussing on longer writing assignments. Individual talents and interests will determine the content of the final portfolio, though this must include at least one full-length screenplay (feature film or television-hour), plus a short piece (a short fiction, animation, short stage play or sitcom). At the School’s discretion, one or more of the short pieces may be filmed. Writers may opt to write two feature screenplays. The second year will also feature specialist modules tailored to the interests of the students, e.g. comedy, horror, factual-based drama, radio. There is also an introduction to online drama and virals.

The course ends with extensive introductions to the industry with preparation on the practicalities and legalities of working. In this process, writers learn to pitch the projects in their portfolio. This has resulted in many graduating students securing agents either prior to graduation, or immediately following their studies.

The course is full time and requires a high level of dedication; a prolific output, and the ability to meet professional–style deadlines. Graduation is also based on completion of a tutored dissertation.

Unlike other schools, all production costs are met by the School. In addition you will be given a cash Production Budget. NFTS students are engaged in more productions as part of the curriculum than any of our competitors.

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The MA in Screenwriting offers an integrated programme in the history, theory and practice of screenwriting. The MA will develop practical screenwriting skills and techniques, with students developing outlines, treatments and scripts towards a portfolio of original projects. Projects may be for film or television and the programme will encourage students to write in different genres, and expect students to rewrite draft scripts with feedback and tutor support.

One distinctive feature of the programme is the Fast Track core module which will allow all students enrolling on the course, including graduates in other fields, to gain detailed knowledge of screenwriting theories, conventions, and formats, and develop the ability to apply these to writing practice. Subsequent modules will deepen writing skills and knowledge of screenwriting with assignments of increasing length designed to meet industry requirements, such as feature film script and television series writing, and students will also study the history of the discourse and practices of screenwriting.

Central to the programme is examining the working of the industry, and to this end there are six Autumn Industry Talks with guest speakers, and a 3-day Summer School, which includes pitching and storytelling workshops, as well as guest speakers.

Why study this course at Birkbeck?

Arts and humanities courses at Birkbeck are ranked third best in London and 11th in the UK in the Times Higher Education 2015-16 World University Subject Rankings.
Attain a high standard of screenwriting practice and a thorough understanding of how narrative works on screen.
Graduates in other fields can achieve professional standards of practice and understanding of the industry.

Our research

Birkbeck is one of the world’s leading research-intensive institutions. Our cutting-edge scholarship informs public policy, achieves scientific advances, supports the economy, promotes culture and the arts, and makes a positive difference to society.

Birkbeck’s research excellence was confirmed in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, which placed Birkbeck 30th in the UK for research, with 73% of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent.

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The Master in International Screenwriting and Production is a graduate program that aims at creating professional scriptwriters, story editors and producers, providing them with a thorough understanding of the audiovisual industry and a strong knowledge of the storytelling techniques, which are the heart of every project of feature film and television series.

The MISP is a full-time intensive course, with a maximum enrollment of 42 students. The diploma, issued by Università Cattolica, is recognized as a first level Master’s degree by the Italian Government.

Learning objectives

The MISP will allow students to acquire the required knowledge to work in the entertainment industry, both as writers and/or professionals working in production or distribution companies, TV networks, talent agencies or as production assistants.

Students will receive a comprehensive and high level training which effectively combines the academic expertise of university professors with the professional know-how of high-ranking professionals with international profiles.

Career opportunities & professional recognition

Graduates from the MISP are exposed to a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates have both the theoretical knowledge and the methodological tools suited to pursue professional and managerial careers as:

● Screenwriters or creative producers of television series and feature films;

● Authors of TV entertainment programs and documentaries, copywriters, creators of video games and web series, writers of comic books and novels and fiction editors in publishing companies;

● Story editors and script consultants;

● Supervisors of evaluation, acquisition and programming of TV shows;

● Professionals working in different areas of the television and film industry (physical production, distribution, acquisition, product placement, etc.)

Guest Lecturers

Here is a list of some Professors and Guest Lecturers:

● Eleonora Andreatta - Director TV series and TV dramas for Rai Fiction

● Luca Bernabei, CEO Lux vide, Rome

● Armando Fumagalli, Director of the Master, professor of Semiotics and History of Cinema, UCSC; script consultant for Lux vide

● Robin Lyons - Animation Writer and Producer – Calon (UK)

● Luca Manzi - Writer for novel, theatre and television, and co-founder of the Master Program

● Cristiana Nobili - Director, Original Live Action Production, Disney Europe, Middle East and Africa (London)

● Paolo Sigismondi, professor of Global Entertainment, Annenberg School of Communication, University of Southern California, Los Angeles

● John Truby - Screenwriter and script doctor for Disney, Universal, Sony Pictures, Fox, HBO, BBC

Curriculum

● Screenwriting theory (8 ECTS/ CFU)

● Script analysis and project evaluation (8 ECTS/ CFU)

● Writing techniques for audiovisual products (12 ECTS/ CFU)
- Screenwriting practice: treatments, scenes and dialogues, scripts, pitches.
- The writing of genres and adaptation.
- Writing for different formats: comic books, novels, documentaries, entertainment TV shows, advertising, the web, mobile media, and transmedia projects.
- Screenwriting and production of animation projects.

● The audiovisual industry (4 ECTS/ CFU)
- Industries and audiences.
- TV acquisition and programming and film distribution
- The physical production: pre-production, shooting, post-production, contracts and budgeting.

● Communication ethics (4 ECTS/ CFU)

Final project

Three months before the end of theoretical classes, the students will have to choose between one of the following careers: screenwriting or production. The students, who choose the screenwriting career, will have to write and deliver a final project from which the writing abilities developed during the program should emerge. Typically,the final project takes the form of a script for a feature film, which can either be an original idea or an adaptation.

The final project can be written in English, Italian, French or Spanish. The students, who choose the production career, will have the opportunity to undertake an internship within an established production or distribution company, a TV network, an advertising agency or on a film set.

Industry related

The MISP aims at providing its stu- dents with the adequate knowledge, wide-ranging skills and contacts to meet the requests of an increasingly global and varied audiovisual industry.

Alumni achievements

In previous years, alumni from MISP (which, until 2015, was taught in Italian: Master in Scrittura e produzione per la fiction e il cinema) have been working as writers and producers for top rating TV series and highly successful feature films, or as writers of best selling novels, published in many countries; many of them have been working in high-ranking audiovisual companies such as Cattleya, Disney, Endemol, Focus Features, Freman- tle, Lux Vide, Mediaset, RAI, SKY, among others. They work not only in Italy, but also in London, Los Angeles, Madrid, New York, Paris, etc.

Employment opportunities

The MISP aims at providing the students with a 360 degree education in the audiovisual field, so as to create pro- fessionals able to tackle both creative and organizational/managerial tasks and work in wide-ranging professional environments.

Scholarships

All scholarships are assigned on a merit basis and will be mostly given to students who apply by the priority deadline. Some scholarships may also target specific geographic regions.

Scholarship value: €4000

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Explore the creative potential of your narrative constructions, observations of character and the aesthetics of dialogue within the tradition and potentiality of Screenwriting as designed for the next generation of industry writers.

•This course runs on a biennial basis and the next intake will be 2016
•Part-time programme that can be completed alongside full-time employment in two years
•The £38million Redmonds Building provides state-of-the-art facilities for the Liverpool Screen School
•Skillset Accredited status ensures an exceptional quality course
•Liverpool Screen School is part of the BBC North Developing Talent Scheme


LJMU’s Skillset Accredited MA Screenwriting programme is designed to prepare screenwriters for the exacting demands of the industry.

The UK film and television industry is enjoying sustained growth and increasing international influence, and the demand for screenwriters with a distinct voice and original vision has never been greater.

Liverpool has established itself as a centre for regional film and television production both in the commercial sector, and increasingly through independent production.

This is a highly participatory course for committed writers of all ages who show originality and talent and is taught by experienced tutors with strong industry connections.

The course emphasises the development of practical screenwriting skills and the production of a portfolio of work, developed to the highest professional standards. An understanding of professional practice, pitching and marketing screenplays, and the critical analysis of films and screen texts are further key elements in the programme.

The course is regularly visited by industry professionals which means you will have great networking opportunities plus the chance to engage directly with leading practitioners in the field.

Throughout the two year programme, you will be engaged in the production of varied and increasingly challenging projects, beginning with short film scripts and culminating in the development of feature-length screenplays. All screenplays are developed in small group workshops.

What you will study on this degree

Please see guidance below on core modules for further information on what you will study.


Discovering the Screen as a Writer

Introduces practice creative, formal, research and technical skills appropriate to Screenwriting at masters level, allowing you to gain an understanding of the difference between writing for different mediums

Ongoing Narrative

Introduces the concepts behind writing something that has an ongoing narrative in order to create a dynamic world for stories to occur in engaging, complex characters

Writing the Feature Film

You will complete your first feature film draft and further develop research abilities, in particular, how to broaden your writing craft in order to have dramatic stories with a high level of realism or detail

The Importance of Rewriting and How to Do It

You will develop the ability to reappraise your own work, to enrich you with screenwriting concepts in order to write an accomplished second draft

The Third Act

Continue your growth as a feature film writer, deepening your creative voice and making you a more ambitious writer

Further guidance on modules

The information listed in the section entitled 'What you will study' is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal Academic Framework review, so may be subject to change. Students will be required to undertake modules that the University designates as core and will have a choice of designated option modules. Additionally, option modules may be offered subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Academic Framework reviews are conducted by LJMU from time to time to ensure that academic standards continue to be maintained.

Please email [email protected] if you require further guidance or clarification.

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The only course of its kind offered by a Russell Group University, our MA in Screenwriting is an intensive one-year training programme designed to professionalise writers and present a genuine gateway into the film and television industries. Over the course of the year, students will work with leading industry practitioners to develop their screenwriting, pitching and story-breaking skills. By the end of the programme, each student will have developed a full length feature film screenplay, a pilot TV episode and two short films. Like all courses at the Centre for New Writing, this programme is taught by practitioners and as such it is vocationally-oriented and industry-focused. Students will have access to individual career guidance and training in how to navigate entry-level work in both the television and film industries.

The course includes regular speakers from the industry which last year included Beth Pattinson BBC Films ( Brooklyn, We Need to Talk About Kevin, Philomena ), Chris Chibnall (writer and creator of Broadchurch) and Pete Czernin, producer of In Bruges and Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (1 and 2).

The course runs across two twelve week long semesters, during which students will attend weekly writing workshops in which they will study the very best of contemporary screenwriting, including shows such as Breaking Bad, True Detective, The Killing, Broadchurch, This is England, Rev, Transparency and The Sopranos. They will also cover British and American examples of charismatic film screenwriting from Goodfellas to The King's Speech via Alien.

In the second semester there will be a London industry day based at BAFTA with talks from agents, producers, and writers as well as a meeting with the BFI.

Students will study story design, visual story-telling and character arcs in both long-running television series and feature films. They will develop the tools to be able to analyse and critique screenwriting craft, and learn how to disseminate their own work. There will be weekly film screenings, and students will have access to an excellent lending library of films to watch at home. Through the duration of the course students will develop a broad and eclectic knowledge of cinema and television.

We intend to keep learning as specific to individual study as possible and study groups will be intentionally small in scale. The course capacity is limited to twelve students each year and you will be taught through a mixture of screenings, lectures and group discussion. Our `writers' room' ethos ensures an environment that encourages collaboration, sharing and creative risk-taking.

Importantly, each summer, we offer students a two week `hands-on' industry placement at a renowned film or TV production company either in London or the North West. Current partners include Film4 ( Room. Ex_Machina, The Lobster) , Wildgaze (Brooklyn) , Number 9 Films (Carol) , Left Bank (The Crown), Warp (This is England) , Red Productions ( Happy Valley, Scott and Bailey ), and Hammer Films ( The Woman in Black , Let Me In ). These placements are an excellent opportunity for students to make useful contacts, and to develop a practical and direct understanding of the professional context within which screenwriters ply their trade.

Coursework and assessment

To complete the MA, students are required to take 180 credits in total. They will take two semesters of courses consisting of workshops/tutorials and seminars. There are 60 credits in the first semester and 30 in the second with 90 for the dissertation.

-All writing workshops meet for three hours per week.
-Workshops will help students add to their portfolio by including adaptations, scenes, draft scripts, script reports, and genre presentations.
-Each workshop is assessed by a portfolio which will include pitches, treatments, scenes, draft scripts, script reports and notes on how to progress a draft.
-Seminars also meet for three hours per week.
-Students will also be offered two individual half- to one-hour tutorials per semester in order to discuss the progress of their writing.

Over the summer students complete a 'dissertation' which consists of a final revised version of a full-length screenplay. This is worth 60 credits.

Career opportunities

This programme is designed to train its graduates to work in the UK film and television industries. Some will work as professional screenwriters, others may take up other, related, positions.

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PLEASE NOTE: This course will run in September 2016

This is an innovative course, taught over four, week-long residential retreats over one year (full time) and will commence in September - some of these are in Central London, others in beautiful Egham Campus near Windsor.

Between retreats the course is run via distance-learning with a website, chat room and e-tutorials. This makes it possible for those living outside the UK, and those with busy working lives, for instance freelancers and those in the film and TV industries, to take time out to attend. We have a wide variety of students on the course including established actors, comedy writers, editors, producers, novelists and many others.

During the MASTFiR course (MA in Screenwriting for Televion and Film - Retreat) you will cover writing for feature film and television as well as new developments such as web drama. You will develop a range of ideas, then go on to write film and television outlines, and several drafts of a feature film screenplay, a TV single drama, or a TV series or serial bible and sample episodes. You will be immersed in a creative atmosphere conducive to concentrated learning and group interaction; a core unit is the Development Lab, where you will present your work in progress to the group for criticism and feedback, and experiment with co-writing.

You will also meet and work with industry and independent producers, directors, agents, writers and actors to provide a production context. We have recently had guests from Working Title, Channel Four, the BBC, Script Factory, Blake Friedmann Agency and many others.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/mediaarts/coursefinder/mascreenwritingfortelevisionandfilmretreat.aspx

Why choose this course?

- in the fast-changing world of digital drama, new media and new film markets, you will become skilled in producing strong and original fiction writing.

- the course director is Ivan Levene, a practising screenwriter and script editor with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He currently has two produced feature films, and has been involved in the development of numerous other film and TV projects, including a recent major international release. Before this he worked in acquisitions and development, advancing over £15m of film and TV production from inception to marketplace. Current commissions include a supernatural thriller with Matthew Rhys, and a biopic set in Gilded Age New York about Harriet Hubbard Ayer - socialite, proto-feminist, and the first person to create an international cosmetics business.

- teaching television is screenwriting lecturer Adam Ganz, whose TV credits include Pillow Talk and Murder Without Motive; and guest lecturing in television are Gillian Gordon and Jonathan Powell.

- despite the first students only graduating in 2008, we have already had a host of successes with many of our students finding success in the industry.

- you will meet and work with industry and independent producers, directors, agents, writers and actors to provide a production context. We have recently had guests from Working Title, Channel Four, the BBC, Script Factory, Blake Friedmann Agency and many others.

Department research and industry highlights

- the MA Screenwriting for Television and Film Retreat course (MASTFiR) only began graduating students in 2008 but already we have had a host of successes - Janice Hallett's feature screenplay Retreat is now being shot in Canada with a star cast; Olivia Wakeford has a writing credit on the feature film Baseline (2009) and several writers have gained agents and development commissions. Kay Stonham has work commissioned by the BBC and two of our younger writers are working on a C5 youth drama series. Adam Rolston has had a highly successful musical on Doris Day's life performed at a variety of London venues. Many students have won festival awards for their short films.

Course content and structure

You will study four core course units.

Core course units:
Script Craft
This unit will focus on the acquisition of basic writing skills, and is a gateway to the ‘Story and Theme’ unit. You will explore the specifics of scene and dialogue construction, formatting and issues around research and around adaptation from source materials – e.g. plays, novels and news stories.

Story and Theme
This unit teaches the essential components of story and structure, the specific language of film storytelling and genre. It will include lectures, screenings of films and extracts, and individual and group analysis of films. You will produce ideas, formal outlines and a feature-length screenplay or TV series bibles and episode.

Development Lab
This is a discussion forum to which you bring the work above, where it is critiqued and debated from a number of points of view including aesthetic, generic, marketing, audience and budget. Development Lab is interactive and is at the core of the course; it replicates many of the development processes you will face in the film and television industry.

Contexts: Current British Film and TV Practice
This unit covers current aesthetic and generic trends in British film and television. There will also be lectures and seminars on budget, schedule, commissioning, finance, contracts, casting and marketing, and you will explore the production and marketing implications of your own screenplay projects.

On completion of the course graduates will have:
- the ability to discriminate between project ideas, present ideas and drafts to others effectively, and both give and receive constructive criticism

- the understanding of the aesthetic and economic conditions of the marketplace, how their work may be viewed in terms of budget and audience, and the stages a screenplay will go through in development and production

- a broad and detailed understanding of the nature of the film and television screenplay- how it signifies, how it communicates meaning to the film producer, director, actor and to the audience

- advanced understanding of the processes of writing a screenplay, from initial concept to final draft

- advanced understanding of the various stages of script development and how each is documented- outlines, treatments, pitch documents and so on

- critical knowledge of the current genres and trends in film and television and how they have evolved in recent years, particularly in the context of economic and market developments in these industries

- an understanding of the UK film and television industries, including their structure, institutions and working practices

- a broad understanding of the group nature of writing and development, and how the roles played by the various parties- producer, script editor, director and so on- shape and influence the screenplay.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including script outlines and scenes, a completed feature film screenplay and/or TV series episode and ‘bible’, and marketing and pitch documents.

Employability & career opportunities

On graduating, you will be well prepared for careers in television and feature film screenwriting and script development.

Our recent graduate successes include:

Janice Hallett's feature screenplay Retreat is now being shot in Canada with a star cast; Olivia Wakeford has a writing credit on the feature film Baseline (2009) and several writers have gained agents and development commissions. Kay Stonham has work commissioned by the BBC and two of our younger writers are working on a C5 youth drama series. Adam Rolston has had a highly successful musical on Doris Day's life performed at a variety of London venues. Many students have won festival awards for their short films.

How to apply

Applications for entry to all our full-time postgraduate degrees can be made online https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/postgraduate/applying/howtoapply.aspx .

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MA Screenwriting London College of Communication is one of the UK’s leading film and TV scripting courses with a strong reputation in the industry.

Graduates of MA Screenwriting have gone on to win numerous UK and international awards, work on major film projects in active development, and are writing for a wide range of programmes currently being screened on UK television.
Leading the field, this industry-focused screenwriting course is aimed at developing writers for film, television and/or radio industries. The course will provide you with the opportunity to develop the abilities, knowledge and skills you will need for a career in scriptwriting.
What can you expect?
MA Screenwriting introduces you to the foundations of contemporary scriptwriting practice in a theoretical context. You will develop research methodologies that will become the basis for future practice and analysis.
The course offers you the opportunity to study feature film, television and radio narrative and the development of a script from a short story and research, which lays the foundation for your Major Project.

You will also complete a Collaborative Unit that reflects your specialist interests in scriptwriting and related topics, whilst engaging with the need to understand and communicate with the industry you wish to work in.
In the final term you will undertake a Major Project that allows you to focus on a specialist area of interest that you identified during your development on the course. You will write several drafts of an original screenplay for film or TV, or a TV pilot episode(s) with format documents. In addition, you will engage in peer-to-peer review and the writing of reader reports.

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The MA Screenwriting course equips you with professional skills to develop your own voice and produce marketable and commercially successful scripts for film, television and web series. During your studies, you’ll do a unique industry project for an external client.

- Work with professional actors who will perform your script in front of you, pitch your script to a panel of industry experts at the end of each key module, and receive professional script development support from leading UK film and TV production companies

- Learn about writing for different platforms: film, television, web, radio and games

- Learn from award-winning tutors and guest speakers with extensive professional experience as writers, directors, producers, showrunners and script developers for film, TV, radio, gaming and online

- Write a script for an external client while working together with other MA students on an industry-integrated project

- Receive real-life screenwriting experience and improve your communication, teamworking and pitching skills

The Met Film School is London's leading provider of practical filmmaking courses, based in Ealing Studios.

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We're excited to offer three new MA by Research postgraduate degrees. These will enable you to pursue a particular interest, whether in Screenwriting, Filmmaking or Theatre, alongside rigorous academic work. The degrees have no taught elements; instead the focus will be on independent learning and supervision culminating in a final project.

You will work from initial story idea to second draft feature film screenplay or fully developed pilot episode (45-60 pages) and series bible for a television project.

Graduate research at York

We're ranked 1st in England and Wales for Film Production and Photography in the Guardian's 2017 University guide.

We're a research-intensive university with a community of over 2,000 research students. We support our research students with skills training and a graduate research school.

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Most drama writers move between media so that's what we do; join us to learn about writing for theatre, film and television.

Who is it for?

This programme is suitable for writers who want to develop their practice and complete a full length piece of work, or for experienced playwrights who wish to gain a familiarity with writing for the screen, or experienced screenwriters who wish to gain a grounding in theatre writing. It is also suitable for writers who while continuing with their own practice, will work in development roles in the film, TV, theatre and related industries such as literary agencies.

The programme has been designed, with input from a range of playwrights and screenwriters, to provide the optimum environment for students to complete a full length play or feature film script to a high standard.

Objectives

Creatively stimulating, challenging and above all practical, this innovative two-year programme provides a supportive and thought-provoking environment for playwrights and screenwriters to explore their ideas, develop their craft and finish a full-length work to a high standard.

You will develop as a writer and sharpen your understanding of what's working and what isn't. No single style or genre is prescribed; the ethos of the programme is excellence and diversity. You will get to understand writing choices in the work of leading playwrights and screenwriters. You will work with actors and directors from London's new writing theatres, and receive guest talks from agents, producers and artistic directors.

By the end of the course, you will have taken a full-length play, screenplay or television pilot through a number of drafts, working as professional writers do. This play or screenplay will be your calling card. You will receive a performed reading of an extract of your work and a professional script report.

Teaching and learning

This course is taught and run by professional working writers. Teaching is based around a mix of practical workshops, seminars and lectures. All this is supported by one-to-one tutorials and by independent study: notably reading and preparing presentations on set texts and performing set writing exercises. As the course progresses, the emphasis shifts to independent study and is supported by workshops and one-to-one tutorials.

You will be mentored by a professional working playwright or screenwriter for the whole of Year Two.

Central to this Creative Writing MA course is the requirement to finish a full-length play or screenplay. The course culminates in a showcase of your work to an audience of industry professionals and other interested parties.

The biggest names in the worlds of film, television and theatre visit the course and visiting lecturers include:
-Dr Terry Bailey (TV Writer, director and producer. He has worked internationally and with the BBC. His play, Grave Men, Near Death, was staged last year.)
-Penny Gold (writer, dramaturg, director and producer. She has worked in theatre, television, film and radio).
-Jim Hill (writer and director of popular television drama and is perhaps best known as the co-creator of the successful series Boon).
-David Lane (professional playwright and dramaturg, and has been a Literary Associate to established London and regional new writing companies such as Soho Theatre & Writers' Centre and Theatre and Beyond in Brighton).

Assessment includes participation in lectures, seminars and workshops; of work on presentations; set exercises and own script proposal.

Modules

You will take three modules (Writing Workshop, Dramatic Writing and Storytelling) and be taught for six hours a week*. There will be tutorials alongside this in all 3 terms. You will create a 10 minute film as well as a 10 minute play.

In the second year you choose to write either a full length play, or screenplay, or a pilot for an original television series (along with the series "bible" and synopses for several episodes). In addition to this you will participate in workshops.

Year 1
-Writing Workshop
-Dramatic Writing
-Storytelling

Year 2
-Own Play or Script
-The Production Business

Career prospects

Many of our graduates go on to have their work performed professionally and have won many awards and nominations. Some examples from 2016 include:
-Aisha Zia, who received a grant from Brookleaze and her play ‘Besieged’ is on at the Arcola Theatre.
-Dianna Hunt, Her play ‘One Woman's Slide: A Blues’ has been programmed in the Talawa Arts Festival.
-Cheryl White, whose films include Before Babel (2013) which won Best Short at the Kent and Rye Film Festival International film festival 2015; Winner of Best Film and Most Innovative Film at WOW Festival 2014.
-Louisa Hayford, who did a ten week paid internship at the Coronation Street story department as part of the ITV Coronation Street Original Voices scheme.

Some of our first year students have also had their work picked up professionally.

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The MA Filmmaking course is very practical. It includes two years of training in Directing, Cinematography, Editing , Sound , Production Design, Screenwriting and Production. Please click here to view the full course curriculum - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-filmmaking/curriculum. There are 5 exercise films and a graduation work in the MA Filmmaking programme, shot on film and digital. One film is prepared, shot, delivered and screened in every 12 weeks of your work. Students normally work on quite a few more depending on their time and specialty.

Students are taught by working UK filmmakers. Exercise films are made on built sets, shot on professional level film and digital cameras, recorded on Nagra V, edited on Avid Composer and given a professional dub in Soho.

Our 2-year postgraduate multi-discipline MA Filmmaking course requires that you have a 3-4 year degree which does not have to be media related, or a minimum of 3 years relevant work experience. Read more about admissions requirements here - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-filmmaking/admissions. We have students who not only come from various geographical locations but also with varying media knowledge. What they do have in common is their love, passion and genuine interest in film and filmmaking as a craft. We have had lawyers, doctors, engineers, illustrators enrol on our courses so having an unusual background is welcome here.

The London Film School (LFS)

Since 1956 the school has trained thousands of directors, cinematographers, editors and other film professionals now working across the globe. It is the most truly international school anywhere, with at least 60% of its students from outside Great Britain.
We have thousands of high profile alumni, including Michael Mann, Mike Leigh, Duncan Jones, Tak Fujimoto, Franc Roddam, Mark Goldblatt, Bill Douglas, Ho Yim, Anne Hui, Oliver Hermanus and Danny Huston.

LFS is based in Covent Garden two minutes’ walk from Soho, centre of the European entertainment industry. It is one of only three institutions accredited as a Creative Skillset Film Academy, recognised by the UK industry body as a Centre of Excellence.

We teach filmmaking, on stages, and in workshops rather than in classrooms - the building functions as a working studio. LFS is a living creative film community. The school is an independent non-profit establishment run by passionate and experienced filmmakers; full-time faculty and a varied and hugely talented group of visiting lecturers, technicians and artists.
Please get in touch for more information about our MA programmes in Filmmaking, Screenwriting, International Film Business, the Doctoral Programmes, as well as our expanding range of continuing professional development courses.
We have three intakes a year on May, September and January. We are currently operating a rolling process but please do apply as soon as you can for any intake. You can read more about the admissions process and deadlines here - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-filmmaking/admissions

VISIT US

Choosing a film school is a big decision; you may want to visit us or talk to a student or a graduate. We have open afternoons every other Thursday during term time and we can show you around – please click here to sign up for a place - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/book-tour. If you cannot attend any of those days, please do get in touch on [email protected] to schedule an alternative time; our students are our priorities and as such the working studios are their space.

‘The beauty of a good film school is that it invites you to make mistakes, but never dampens your enthusiasm. At LFS I made plenty, and ignited a passion.’ Duncan Jones, Director of MOON (2009), SOURCE CODE (2011), WARCRAFT (2016), MUTE (2017)

Further Information

The need to follow and understand the intensive course of lectures, and the high pressure of group work make it imperative that all students must have a satisfactory knowledge of the English language. Read the requirements here - http://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-screenwriting/admissions/admission-requirements

On our website you can view testimonials - http://lfs.org.uk/films-and-filmmakers/testimonials from recent LFS graduates, and we can put you in touch with one from your country. One recent alumni said of his experience: “I always speak very highly of the Screenwriting MA at LFS when prospective students email me. I learnt so much there and have it to thank for a lot, so thanks!” Ben Cleary, MA Screenwriting, 2016 Shorts Film Oscar Nominee for STUTTERER


The MA Filmmaking has three intake dates: January, May and September

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The course is a unique opportunity to embark upon a detailed investigation into the intellectual currents and aesthetic concerns surrounding the study and practice of film. From the outset, questions of history, theory and context are brought to bear on issues of close analysis and interpretation. Elective modules in Screenwriting, Creative Documentary Practice and Editing allow students to balance film theory with practice. At every step of the way your progress will be informed by an emphasis on independent study and critical thinking. In addition, the course aims to develop the key transferable skills required for postgraduate study. These include dissertation preparation, time management and oral and written presentation.


The course consists of six taught modules and a Dissertation module that includes Research Methodologies.

Dissertation and Research Methodologies
This module prepares students for the formal processes of research and writing at M.Phil. level. Classes will cover library use, archival skills, electronic resources, use of Endnote, research skills, note taking, writing and oral presentation and power-point techniques. Students will write a dissertation of approximately 12,000-15,000 words on an approved topic to be supervised by an appropriate member of staff.

In addition, students choose six of the elective modules listed below:

Aesthetics of Digital Cinema
This course traces the history of the development of the digital image with specific reference to its application to filmmaking. We will look at the analogue origins of the digital image and discuss the aesthetic implications of the shift to digital film. Further we will discuss developing models of criticism and their application to the digital cinematic image. We will be drawing examples from Western (Hollywood, Danish, British) cinemas and non-Western (Iranian) cinemas as well as from other outputs, such as YouTube.

Cinema and Ireland

This course will explore the history of Irish cinema from the 1930s to the present. It will also cover such areas as state film production policies, film censorship, and the history of Irish film distribution and exhibition. In addition, it will trace how British and American cinemas have represented Ireland and the Irish, and it will examine representations of political violence, history, gender and the cinema of the Celtic Tiger years, as well as current trends in Irish film production.

Current Trends in European Cinema
This course will look at and examine the changes taking place in cinema in Europe in the latter part of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century. This was a period that saw enormous transformation throughout the continent - both East and West - when the post World War II political dispensation collapsed and Cold War divisions crumbled. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent overthrow of the remaining Stalinist regimes in Eastern and Central Europe, the emergence of the European Union as a transnational political entity in 1992, and the globalisation of the world economy all impacted on the way in which films were made and the type of themes they explored and topics they tackled.

Cult Cinema
This module will examine a number of films that have acquired 'cult status' for a variety of reasons. It will pay particular attention to the ways in which these films have circulated in popular and academic discourses and the various attempts to identify 'cult' qualities and qualifying practices.

Melodrama
This module will consider a wide range of variations on the ‘melodramatic mode’, including examples from early cinema, classical Hollywood cinema, as well as current American and European cinema.Â

Editing
This module will introduce students to the craft of editing, giving students an understanding of the essential technical and creative skills involved: how a scene is assembled and seamlessly put together, cutting dialogue, creating tension and drama using editing, using pacing, editing to rhythm, cutting to music and beats. It will also provide students with a through knowledge of the editing software, Final Cut Pro X, covering all aspects of the software, from capture and system-settings, editing tools and shortcuts, to effects, transitions and colour correction. The overall aim is to give students the knowledge, tools and confidence to complete their own work to a professional standard.

Creative Documentary Practice
The aim of this module is expose students to the possibilities of creative documentary film making with a strong emphasis on learning thorough practical application. The module will take a critical look at current practices in the genre with an emphasis both on the techniques of documentary filmmaking and the practicalities of how films are made.

Screenwriting
This module will introduce students to the techniques and conventions of screenwriting. Class exercises will involve the analysis of screenplays and short films, and the course will cover both the conventional three-act structure and other models of screenwriting.

Please note: all modules are subject to change and/or availability. Students must take three modules in Michaelmas term and three modules in Hilary term, subject to timetabling.

Assessment is by a combination of coursework and dissertation:

Each module will be assessed by a combination of written and/or practice based assignments as appropriate and class participation. Total ECTS: 60
Dissertation of approximately 12,000-15,000 words and Research Methodologies assessment. Total ECTS: 30
Postgraduate Diploma

A Postgraduate Diploma in Film Theory and History may be awarded in certain circumstances on the basis of coursework alone (60 ECTS). Entry is the same as for the M.Phil. programme.

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MFA Film/Creative Writing

The MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing Program is primarily a film production degree with an additional focus on screenwriting. The final thesis for the Joint MFA is a completed film which the student normally writes, directs and produces.

The degree is designed for students who already have a comprehensive background in filmmaking and some screenwriting who wish to pursue a specific creative or intellectual vision that includes screenwriting, in an academic environment.

The Program is very small. Normally only 2-3 students are admitted per year. This total includes students in the MFA in Film Production. There are normally 30-40 applications for these positions.

The MFA is a two-year course of resident study. However, many students find it may take 3-4 years to complete the thesis requirement, as students must fund their thesis films entirely on their own.

Applicants must first apply to the Film Program and be accepted by the MFA in Film Production Program. The Film Program will then arrange for the application and materials to be sent to the Creative Writing Program for consideration for the Joint Degree.

Please note: In order to be accepted for the Joint MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing, students must already be experienced filmmakers and have completed films on which they were a principal creator to submit as part of their portfolio.

Quick Facts

- Degree: Master of Fine Arts
- Specialization: Film Production and Creative Writing
- Subject: Creative and Performing Arts
- Mode of delivery: On campus
- Program components: Coursework + Thesis required
- Faculty: Faculty of Arts

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