Course outline: Screenwriting
The MA in Screenwriting is a specialism within the broader MA in Film and
Television.
The 1st year of the course establishes the basic principles of screenwriting and
visual storytelling, and introduces writers to many of the different forms of writing
they’ll encounter throughout the course, including short fiction films and animations,
short stage plays, film treatments, original formats for TV series and Games. Ideas
for longer form projects will be developed, both for film and TV, and different forms
and genres explored: realism, fantasy and sci-fi, non-linear narrative, adaptation and
fiction derived from fact. The groundwork is set for developing a feature screenplay
and in the Autumn term, the writers will tackle a full-length screenplay.
The 2nd year is devoted to further workshops, another full-length screenplay and an
hour long television script and bible, plus any collaboration on Fiction or Animation
graduation films or on a graduation project with the Games Department.
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, understand the ecology of the wider industry and their
potential place in it.
Year One
Assessed Modules and more informal Workshops will cover these issues:
Telling the Story in Pictures - general introduction to all the different kinds of
writing that will be covered in the course.
Developing ideas with directors and producers
Animation 1 exercise with Animation Directors
Beginning, Middle & End practical filmmaking exercise with Documentary
Directors
Developing ideas with Fiction Directors for First Year Films
Beyond Time - writing a short script for fiction directors to shoot
Without Images radio workshop with Sound, Composing and Editing
Writing an original format for TV series with Producing
Theatre - developing a short play and practising the essential difference
between writing for stage and screen
Animation 2 exercise with Animation Directors
Further development of feature film projects
MA Screenwriting
Commencing January 2019
Courtroom exercise in collaboration with Documentary – visiting a courtroom
as the inspiration for a treatment for a film or TV show
Completing the short play which will be rehearsed with two professional
theatre directors and performed at the Soho Theatre (or similar venue) with an
ensemble cast of professional actors
Movie in a Month - writing a full-length feature film script
Originating and developing a dramatic monologue for TV with the TV
Entertainment Directors
Games design - multi departmental collaboration on a short sequence
Grad animation development
Year Two
In the 2nd year of the Screenwriting MA, the curriculum is more tailor-made for the
individual writers, from within the range of activities in the NFTS curriculum, with the
aim of compiling an individual and varied graduation portfolio.
Development and completion of TV pilot script & bible
Development and completion of feature script
Potential collaboration with Fiction Directors on digi-fiction film
Potential collaboration with Animation or Fiction Directors on graduation films
Potential collaboration with Games on graduation project
Development of film and TV treatments
Development and completion of Dissertation
Meet the Industry and Life After the NFTS sessions with visiting professionals
- writers, agents, producers, commissioners, etc. - and NFTS Screenwriting
graduates
Graduation Screenings – Industry screenings of all NFTS Directors’ finished
films, animations and games, many of which writers will have scripted
Screenwriters’ Graduation Showcase – Industry showcase directed by two
theatre directors of short extracts from graduates’ work performed by a an
ensemble of actors at the Soho Theatre (or similar).
MA Screenwriting
Commencing January 2019
