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BATH SPA POSTGRADUATE PROSPECTUS / COURSES
They will learn how to pitch their ideas, to discuss their work engagingly and how to respond to notes and feedback constructively. They will be working with professional practitioners during the course to gain a real insight into what it means to be a professional writer in a variety of competitive situations. Students will also choose a particular market, research it and use that material to write a 2,500 word essay which reflects their knowledge and insight into that market. This essay is marked as part of the course assessment alongside a Pitch exam. Writing for the Screen This module is devoted to developing and workshopping students’ own work for TV and film. We pay particular attention to genre and the importance of visual storytelling. As before, students are expected to read and comment on each other’s work and to voice their thoughts and suggestions throughout the workshops. Students are assessed for this module on 30 to 60 minutes of a screenplay for TV or film. TRIMESTER 3 Final script In this module each student writes a full length play, a full length film script, or the equivalent in television or radio. This script can be a development and reworking of earlier pieces, but will often be completely new work. The final script can be for any medium. The students work together to organise a showcase for September where they each produce a short excerpt of their work, which can be for either radio, theatre, or TV/film. The pitch is done in simulated industry conditions and is usually for the students’ Final Script. TEACHING METHODS AND RESOURCES All courses are taught by workshop. In over 20 years of delivering learning in Creative Writing, we feel workshop is the most productive way to develop
writers. It is particularly suited to scriptwriting, which is a social and collective art. TUTORS AND VISITING PROFESSIONALS The MA in Scriptwriting is a professional training course taught at weekends by award-winning scriptwriters. All of our tutors are produced scriptwriters across the mediums of theatre, radio, film and TV. Our Professional Skills tutors and guest speakers are experts in their individual areas and have worked with organisations such as the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, The National Theatre, The Traverse Theatre and Soho Theatre amongst many others. We teach in small workshop groups where students receive individual detailed feedback on their scripts as they develop. All of our tutors are writers working in the industry. Among those working on the course will be: rsula Rani Sarma (Course Director): U Ursula is an award winning writer for theatre, radio, TV and film. Her plays include The Dark Things, Blue, The Spider Men, The Magic Tree, ...touched..., Orpheus Road, RIOT, The Ripple Effect and Yerma. Her radio drama includes Car Four, A Tiny Light in the Darkness and The Fisherman. Her TV writing includes Ecosse Film’s RAW for RTE from 2009–2012. Her film work includes Anywhere But Here, The Woodsand The Trial. Robin Mukherjee: Robin is an awardwinning writer for theatre, television and film. His film work includes Swara Mandel and Lore (Australian Writers Guild Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and Australia’s official entry for the 2012 American Academy Awards.) His writing for TV includes The Bill, Casualty, Eastenders, The Royal, Medics, Boon, Backup, Harry, Where The Heart Is and Combat Kids, a three-part original serial for CBBC, produced by Lime Pictures that was
nominated for a BAFTA in the category of Best Children’s Drama in 2011. Christopher William Hill: Christopher is an award-winning writer for theatre, radio and he is also a published novelist. His work for theatre includes Mister Holgado, Exotic Tastes, Heartbreak Beautiful, Inglorious Technicolour and Multiplex. His radio drama includes Angarrack, Fact to Fiction, Marmalade for Comrade Philby, Says on the Tim, and Tomorrow, Today.
STUDENT PROFILE KIRSTEN STODDART MA SCRIPTWRITING 2012/13
— “Having worked as a freelance live television producer for several years, I wanted to take some time to dedicate to scriptwriting, which was a passion of mine. After researching all the scriptwriting MA courses available, I felt Bath Spa was the best fit for me because it covered all aspects of scriptwriting (film, television, theatre and radio), rather than just one corner. Study and learning is always an important part of any career In the Professional Skills module development. I really enjoyed the during the second semester we have group workshops. Having a group of visits from several professionals in writers critique and comment on my the industry. Each conducts a work was an invaluable way of gaining one-day workshop with students, new perspectives, identifying strengths outlining the industry and giving and weaknesses, and being offered great them rigorous practise in pitching new creative ideas and options for my their work. Typically, we will have an own scripts. Since finishing the course, I’ve seen agent, a TV producer, a radio producer, a theatre director or literary my play, BRB, which I began working on for my MA, become a web film, and manager, and a film script editor. worked in production for television and film in the UK.”
ASSESSMENT METHODS Assessment is by coursework and practical presentation. In the first two trimesters work will be assessed as work in progress. The final submission will be examined on the script (60%), the practical presentation (30%) and the pitch (10%).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Most students accepted onto the course will have either a first degree or a thorough professional training in acting, theatre, television, or film. Some students, however, will be accepted on the basis of equivalent life experience. Applicants are asked to submit one or two pieces of scriptwriting with their application form, about 20 pages in all. This can be from work in progress; we are not looking for polished work but writing that best showcases your voice as a scriptwriter.