Training

OC2 Screenwriting Foundation Workshop: CONCEPT TO SCRIPT

This workshop is nationally accredited training issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

OC2 is OPEN CHANNEL’s Advanced Diploma of Screen program (CUF60101), developing new independent feature film projects.

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 is an 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.

OPEN CHANNEL offers a learning environment that reflects industry practice while maintaining the highest educational standards. Class sizes are kept small to maximise students' learning opportunities and interactions with tutors.

Maximum of 12 students per Concept to Script workshop.

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)

Accredited Training Enrolment Form
Training Enquiry form

Nationally Recognised Training

OPEN CHANNEL is a Registered Training Organisation, (RTO), authorised to deliver the nationally recognised training, Certificate III in Screen and Advanced Diploma of Screen.

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.

This workshop will:

* provide accredited training for people pursuing a career in film and television writing
* provide skills and knowledge to develop strong ideas and treatments/scripts which comply with Australian film & television industry standards
* provide skills and knowledge to independently pitch film and/or TV concepts
* provide skills and knowledge through professional mentorship through the process of writing a treatment/script for film and/or television production
* aim to support students to further develop their projects on completion of the workshop.

Commencement Dates 2008

OC2 Screenwriting Foundation Workshop – Concept to Script

Group 1

Start Date: March 2008 (TBC)
Finish Date: August 2008 (TBC)
Duration: 16 consecutive weeks with 1 month writing SWAT
Time: Fridays - 9.30am to 4.30pm
Course Code: CTS108
Enrolment Deadline: NOW ENROLLING
Interviews: TBC

Group 2

Start Date: 22 August 2008
Finish Date: 23 January 2009
Duration: 16 consecutive weeks with 1 month writing SWAT
Time: Fridays - 9.30am to 4.30pm
Course Code: CTS208
Enrolment Deadline: 8 August 2008
Interviews: 12 & 13 August 2008

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.

Description of units undertaken in OC2 Foundation Workshop - Concept to Script:
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.

Units:

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

OPEN CHANNEL is committed to providing students with assessment opportunities that are valid, reliable, flexible and fair. Assessment occurs throughout the Nationally Recognised Training programs. Students will be assessed on their skills and knowledge by industry professionals, their peers and will also have opportunities for self-assessment.  Assessment is based on units of competency taken from the Film, Television and Multimedia Training Package.
Students will be required to complete within duration of the workshop the following assessment tasks:

• self assessment
• complete written first draft – 1st 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

OPEN CHANNEL Accredited Students receive:

• A learning environment that reflects industry practice.
• Small class sizes to maximise “hands-on” opportunities.
• Tutors who are practising industry professionals.
• Opportunities for networking with peers and industry professionals.
• An EQUIPMENT VOUCHER that entitles graduates to a 50% discount for two days worth of equipment hire (valid for 6 months)
• Free OPEN CHANNEL Membership and benefits
• A venue and computer facilities (Note: There may be limited access to computers during class time, and participants in the writing program are encouraged to bring their own laptops to class where applicable, or to use home computers to complete writing work)
• Access to tea and coffee facilities

Student Support

Eligible students enrolled in the Certificate III in Screen – Documentary Production and Television Production may apply for Youth Allowance / AUSTUDY/ ABSTUDY through their local Centrelink. Both course deliveries satisfy the criteria for assistance.

People under employment case management programs may be eligible for government support in paying course fees. Contact your case manager for advice.

OPEN CHANNEL offers fee instalment options for courses over $3000.  For further information refer to the Payment Plan policy and procedure (Training Homepage) or contact the Training Manager on: training@openchannel.org.au

Entry Requirements

OPEN CHANNEL is underpinned by the principles of access and equity. OPEN CHANNEL does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of age, gender, sexuality, social or cultural background.
Please refer to OPEN CHANNEL’s Policies and Procedures for full details.

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

The course fees for the 2008 Scriptwriting Foundation Workshops are:

Concept to Script: $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.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Recognised Current Competency (RCC)

Prior to commencement of courses, applicants can request to be formally assessed on their existing knowledge. This assessment will comprise of a Self Assessment Questionnaire, followed by an interview and feedback session. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Recognised Current Competency (RCC) assessments incur additional fees.

OPEN CHANNEL recognises the AQF qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by any other Registered Training Organisation.

Career Opportunities

Many OPEN CHANNEL graduates are now working in the Australian film and television industry and others have chosen to go on to further study.

Graduates are working as freelancers, assistants and crew on network productions and within the independent film community.

Many have achieved entry to further tertiary level film and media courses at institutes including the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) and Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT).

Pathway Program

OPEN CHANNEL maintains a referral database for emerging crew and exceptional accredited graduates.  This database is utilized by OPEN CHANNEL Productions and clients looking for crew members and is a valuable opportunity to continue building skills through industry experience.

OPEN CHANNEL endeavors to prepare accredited students for the Victorian industry and continues supporting them through work experience opportunities and ongoing production advice.

If you are not able to enroll in the current course but would like to be informed of future dates for this course let us know.

OPEN CHANNEL gratefully acknowledges the support of the Australian Film Commission.

For more information:

Phone: (03) 8610 9304 - Accredited Training Coordinator
Email: accredited@openchannel.org.au

OPEN CHANNEL gratefully acknowledges the support of the Australian Film Commission and Film Victoria.