Program Overview

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MA Screenwriting

Overview

MA Screenwriting is designed to enable you to develop the skills and understanding needed to work as a writer in today’s screen industries. You will gain advanced insight into the work of a screenwriter – deep understanding of screen storytelling and professional scripts, working across a variety of screen platforms and industry contexts, writing short form and feature length scripts, the writer’s role as initiator and enabler, professional working practices and employment strategies.

Why Take the Course?

• Practical: Pitch your script to a panel of industry experts, see your script performed by actors, and receive script development support from leading UK film and television production companies.
• Comprehensive: Learn about writing for different platforms, including film, TV, web, and branded content.
• Industry-facing: Learn from leading industry tutors and guest speakers with extensive professional experience as writers, directors, showrunners, and script developers in the screen industries*.
• Real-life Experience: Write for an external client, and receive real-life screenwriting experience to improve your communication, teamworking, and pitching skills.
• Portfolio: Graduate with a portfolio of content, normally including a pilot screenplay, online video scripts, outline and pitches, and a feature-length script.

What You Will Study

Over three trimesters you will gain advanced insight into the craft of the screenwriter and the implications of creating and delivering screen content to a wide variety of audiences and contexts.

Trimester One focuses on the essence of screen storytelling and the role the writer plays in developing and crafting stories for a wide variety of forms and formats. Alongside this you will deliver a script (normally an extract from a planned feature) and explore your own qualities as you build a career profile that will develop as the course – and your understanding – increases.

In Trimester Two you will enrich your understanding through engaging with television scriptwriting and engagement on collaborative, client-facing assignments. In addition, you will develop the research and analytical skills expected in both your academic and professional practice.

In Trimester Three you will draw together your practical, theoretical and industry understanding into the creation and delivery of a long form script and refine your career plan as part of your progression into real world employment.

Module Overview

The overview below is not a complete list of MA Screenwriting modules.

Screenwriting Craft and Industry

The key roles and responsibilities of the contemporary screenwriter are explored from industrial, ethical, and craft perspectives. You will develop your communication skills by pitching an idea for a short form project, and you will work with other students for your first collaborative production exercise using a smartphone to make a statement.

Writing for Film

In this module you will study the craft of feature film screenwriting, analysing key screenwriting principles including concept, character, and structure. You will receive extensive support to outline a feature film narrative and deliver a scripted first act.

Professional Profile

You will develop authentic and detailed career paperwork and supporting materials including a CV and personal profile. As part of the module you will be offered Elective Upskilling sessions – opportunities to develop screen industry skills outside of your chosen discipline or as part of your multi-skilling profile.

Writing Digital Content

Using contemporary examples from a range of digital and traditional storytelling mediums, the module will offer a greater understanding of the practice of writing for different platforms and encourage both creativity and independent critical thinking. Additionally, you will work collaboratively with students from other disciplines to produce a video artefact for an external client.

Writing for Television

You will learn the particular skills required to succeed in long-form, serial storytelling and understand how a ‘series bible’ is developed, and then maintained, through seasons, with both single writers and multiple writers in a Writer’s Room.

Practice-based Research

Building on the work of previous and concurrent modules, you will gain a deeper insight into current theories, principles, and discussions relating to issues of diversity, sustainability and ethics within the screen industries.

Final Project and Career Plan

Your project is an opportunity to deliver work that is distinctive, industry-aware, based in research and reflects awareness of a diverse and inclusive world. You will also present your career plan, including evidence of new skills to be assessed by industry employers and refine your career plan in preparation for entering or re-entering the screen industries on graduation.

Teaching, Learning & Assessment

We include a diverse range of teaching methods which include:

• Productions
• Seminar-style Group Teaching
• Tutorials
• Practical Group Work
• Formative Feedback through Critiques, Pitches, Screenings, and Reflective Sessions
• Work-integrated Learning
• Authentic Assessment

We use a wide range of assessment which include portfolios, performances, research, presentations, and reflective work. Please download the Course Specification below for more information.

Entry Requirements

Standard Entry Requirements

• Age: All applicants must be 18 years or older at the time the programme begins.
• Education: A 2:1 honours degree from a UK university or overseas equivalent.
• Applicants must also submit:
  • A personal statement of at least 500 words. The MetFilm School online application form details the information that your personal statement must include.

Students Not Meeting Academic Requirements

Students without a degree, but who can demonstrate relevant industry experience or a degree below a 2:1 equivalent are still able to apply. They will need to submit the following:

• A professional industry reference.
• A professional CV.
• A 750 word statement of why you wish to enter the screen industries, indicating the ways in which you think they are changing.

Equipment Requirements

Students receive the Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud License for the duration of their course. For more information, please check Equipment in the Study with Us section for your chosen course, and the Location sections for the range of equipment and learning resources available on each of our campuses.

Application Information

For more information on MA Screenwriting entry requirements, language requirements, funding, and the application process please visit:

• Study with Us

Dates & Prices

The prices below cover the duration of the course. Please select the course location.

London

• £21,000 – UK Students
• £21,000** – EU/EEA Students
• £23,000** – International Students

Berlin

• €18,500 – EU/EEA Students
• €20,500** – International Students

Leeds

• £16,500 – UK Students
• £16,500** – EU/EEA Students
• £18,500** – International Students

EU/EEA students with settled status. International students or EU/EEA students without settled status.