With a uniquely collaborative emphasis, this course offers opportunities for some of the scripts students develop over the course to be produced, through close collaboration with students from MA Producing Film and Television, MA Directing Film and Television and MA Radio Production. This equips students with the skills and attitudes required for successful script development processes in the industry. The course is busy, intensive and involves much teamwork alongside individual writing practice.

Throughout the course, students will develop their ideas from concept to industry standard final draft, with a development process that includes research, pitching, presentations, script reading and networking events, workshop groups, tutorials, script editing, and rewriting for production.

Students will be encouraged to nurture and reflect on their creative process and originality of voice, and to explore the contexts – critical, creative and industrial that inform scriptwriting today.

The course is taught by scriptwriting professionals and theorists, alongside an exciting program of industry guest speakers. The course is suitable for students who have previously developed their own creative writing projects within humanities or media production courses or with relevant professional experience. Students may have an undergraduate qualification in a related subject or may be able to show their suitability for this program of study through associated work-experience or evidence of and outputs from other related activities.

Successful participation in MA Scriptwriting will enable students to emerge from the course as a writer with a distinctive authorial voice, an industry standard portfolio of scripts, experience of writing in formats and genres, and a robust attitude to collaboration and development.

Students will have the chance to take advantage of opportunities with RedBalloon, an award winning professional production unit based in the Faculty of Media and Communication.