Teacher Notes
Week 1 - Getting to know scripts (celtx, reading and writing scripts). Students should watch a sci-fi film at home. It should also be encouraged for students to complete a writing challenge this week outside of class, with a table reading next week.
Week 2 - P1 - students should spend 2-3 lessons on this. Worth setting as homework too. If the third class is spare, students can do one of the writing challenges.
Week 3 - Genre and narrative - students spend the next week learning about their genre as well as narrative structures. Homework can be analysing a genre film and applying a narrative structure to an idea. It should also be encouraged for students to complete a writing challenge this week outside of class, with a table reading next week.
Week 4 - P2 - students should start completing their moodboards, ideas sheets and logline. This can be set as homework if not completed in the 3 lessons.
Week 5 - finish P2
P3 - Students should start writing. Every lesson, get some table readings and spitballing sessions going. You could set the students up with a writing buddy. It might also be worthwhile to show them clips of horror films as well as helpful scriptwriting videos to keep things fresh.
Week 6 - P3 - Students should continue writing. Every lesson, get some table readings and spitballing sessions going. You could swap the students with a new writing buddy. It might also be worthwhile to show them clips of horror films as well as helpful scriptwriting videos to keep things fresh.
Week 7 - P4/P5 - Students should finish up their drafted script. Compose an email for their feedback. If they are waiting, they could research shooting script, as well as watching other screenwriting videos to get their script to the next level. It might be worthwhile trying to get P4 in by the end of the week so feedback can be done over the weekend.
Week 8 - P5 - Students should work on their script. A table reading should be done before they submit.
Pre P1
This time should be spent:
- Understanding scripted elements (action, dialogue) by watching videos and being walked through by the teacher
- Setting up Celtx (practicing) - see the helpsheet
- Practice writing - see writing challenges
- Reading professional scripts - students can also annotate the scripts to highlight areas they don't understand - see script websites on the help sheets
- Analysing scripts
- Watch horror opening scenes
- Watch script-to-screen videos
P1
- It should be encouraged for students to continue watching horror films or horror intros throughout P1, if time allows.
- It should be encouraged for students to continue practicing writing in scripts in Celtx out of class during P1.
- Student should be walked through what they have to do in P1
- If time allows, the teacher could organise table readings for the first script
- The students should be doing either 1 or 2 scripts by themselves and sharing the rest with their partner/group. The students will need to summarise the work which has been shared with them.
P2
- It should be encouraged for students to continue watching horror films or horror intros throughout P2, if time allows.
- It should be encouraged for students to continue practicing writing in scripts in Celtx out of class during P2.
- Students should be encouraged to create ideas for entire films, not just the opening sequences. This should allow them to create stronger projects.
- Students should be encouraged to share and give feedback on others ideas - this could be done in a round-table spit-balling session
- Students should be shown how to write effective loglines, this can be found on this video.
- Students must avoid using college locations when creating ideas
P3
- It should be encouraged for students to continue watching horror films or horror intros throughout P3, if time allows.
- Students should peer assess during this time, however, they still will need feedback from the teacher, so there script should feel like a draft not their final submission
P4
- Students should be shown what is included in a professional email (this can be done by showing them previous work - see Nadia)
P5
- Students should read through the feedback given, depending on the teacher, fill out the feedback form.
- All students should be encouraged to make their script into a shooting script as this will allow them to get their D1.
- Information on how to make a script into a shooting script can found here
Week 2 - P1 - students should spend 2-3 lessons on this. Worth setting as homework too. If the third class is spare, students can do one of the writing challenges.
Week 3 - Genre and narrative - students spend the next week learning about their genre as well as narrative structures. Homework can be analysing a genre film and applying a narrative structure to an idea. It should also be encouraged for students to complete a writing challenge this week outside of class, with a table reading next week.
Week 5 - finish P2
P3 - Students should start writing. Every lesson, get some table readings and spitballing sessions going. You could set the students up with a writing buddy. It might also be worthwhile to show them clips of horror films as well as helpful scriptwriting videos to keep things fresh.
Week 6 - P3 - Students should continue writing. Every lesson, get some table readings and spitballing sessions going. You could swap the students with a new writing buddy. It might also be worthwhile to show them clips of horror films as well as helpful scriptwriting videos to keep things fresh.
Week 7 - P4/P5 - Students should finish up their drafted script. Compose an email for their feedback. If they are waiting, they could research shooting script, as well as watching other screenwriting videos to get their script to the next level. It might be worthwhile trying to get P4 in by the end of the week so feedback can be done over the weekend.
Week 8 - P5 - Students should work on their script. A table reading should be done before they submit.
Pre P1
This time should be spent:
- Understanding scripted elements (action, dialogue) by watching videos and being walked through by the teacher
- Setting up Celtx (practicing) - see the helpsheet
- Practice writing - see writing challenges
- Reading professional scripts - students can also annotate the scripts to highlight areas they don't understand - see script websites on the help sheets
- Analysing scripts
- Watch horror opening scenes
- Watch script-to-screen videos
P1
- It should be encouraged for students to continue watching horror films or horror intros throughout P1, if time allows.
- It should be encouraged for students to continue practicing writing in scripts in Celtx out of class during P1.
- Student should be walked through what they have to do in P1
- If time allows, the teacher could organise table readings for the first script
- The students should be doing either 1 or 2 scripts by themselves and sharing the rest with their partner/group. The students will need to summarise the work which has been shared with them.
P2
- It should be encouraged for students to continue watching horror films or horror intros throughout P2, if time allows.
- It should be encouraged for students to continue practicing writing in scripts in Celtx out of class during P2.
- Students should be encouraged to create ideas for entire films, not just the opening sequences. This should allow them to create stronger projects.
- Students should be encouraged to share and give feedback on others ideas - this could be done in a round-table spit-balling session
- Students should be shown how to write effective loglines, this can be found on this video.
- Students must avoid using college locations when creating ideas
P3
- It should be encouraged for students to continue watching horror films or horror intros throughout P3, if time allows.
- Students should peer assess during this time, however, they still will need feedback from the teacher, so there script should feel like a draft not their final submission
P4
- Students should be shown what is included in a professional email (this can be done by showing them previous work - see Nadia)
P5
- Students should read through the feedback given, depending on the teacher, fill out the feedback form.
- All students should be encouraged to make their script into a shooting script as this will allow them to get their D1.
- Information on how to make a script into a shooting script can found here