This subject was very fun. We spent most of the semester producing a screenplay for a short film, with the opportunity to pitch our ideas and receive feedback from others. We also read quite a few screenplays and had to do an assignment in which we were to analyze a screenplay for a film we had never seen before. We also watched several short films and scenes from feature films throughout the semester. In general, if you enjoy creative writing, screenwriting, and/or film, you will probably enjoy this subject.

Writing for Screen primarily takes the form of writing a 10-12 pages short-film screenplay. Lectures cover the basics of formatting, pitching, and plot structure, supplemented by readings. Assessment if based of the end screenplay produced, a script report analysing a script for recommendation, and a verbal pitch for your screenplay. Weekly workshops took the form of viewing an excellently made presentation, courtesy of tutor Clem Bastow, and then reading either a script segment or workshopping a student’s piece. Whilst this course was entertaining, it would’ve benefited from a little more density and rigour, a little more to sink one’s teeth into. I recommend this class to anyone who would like to write a short film screenplay, and workshop and polish it.