Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)

The BFA (Screenwriting) provides an immersive and experiential studio-based education, focusing on the origination and development of stories for the screen.

There is a strong emphasis on developing the student’s individual creative voice, while underlining the need to speak effectively and freshly to an audience.

The course provides training in writing for different screen-based mediums and genres, as well as the creative adaptation of work originated in other literary genres.Housed in the School of Film and Television, this degree lives alongside the school’s other degrees in directing and producing for live-action fiction, animation and documentary.

This provides screenwriting students with the unique opportunity to develop professional-practice collaboration skills.This happens while developing creative concepts alone or in collaborative teams, while being on-set during productions, and through script readings and critical self and peer assessment.Undertaking elective subjects offered by other VCA schools, or by the wider University community, gives the student the opportunity to investigate the generation of original creative work in other arts disciplines, or the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge of current issues and debates in non-arts based fields.The BFA Screenwriting graduates complete a deeply personal, artistically transformational, and highly professional course of development.

With their creative, collaborative and technical skills they are optimally placed to make significant impact in the national and international creative industries.BFA Screenwriting graduates may also elect to undertake a 4th year of study in the honours programme, or 2 years of further study towards a Masters degree.

Course structure

300-point program:

• 275 points of compulsory subjects
• 87.5 points at Level 1
• 87.5 points at Level 2
• 100 points at Level 3
• 25 points of electives

Entry requirements

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue successfully the course using the following criteria:

· successful completion of the VCE (or an equivalent qualification) with a study score of at least 25 in Units 3 and 4 English/English Language/Literature, or a study score of at least 30 in Units 3 and 4 ESL. Minimum ATAR is not applicable.

· performance in the selection test process leading to possible short listing for interview and folio presentation.

2. The Selection Committee will conduct interviews with those shortlisted and may call for referee reports or employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to providingsupport to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Intended learning outcomes

• Work independently or in ensemble in a wide range of careers and performance or production opportunities;
• be well-trained and knowledgeable in their own and related fields;
• be committed to continuous learning and production in their discipline;
• have a local and international perspective on their own arts practice;
• excellence in practising their own art form;
• have good academic literacy skills in expression, argument and research;
• be proficient in the use of appropriate modern technologies.