MA/PgDip/PgCert

Film Screenwriting

3 good reasons to study Film Screenwriting at Salford:

Based at MediaCityUK in state of the art facilities. Students also have the opportunity to study one semester in Finland
Students will develop and write two separate feature film scripts
For appropriate film scripts the School has the capacity to assist in developing production contacts at the Berlin Film Festival, Cannes and the American Film Market in Los Angeles

The course aims to develop film scripts that are innovative and creative but also commercially viable. The rationale for the course is the need to shift away from the European 'Fine Art' attitude to film storytelling and towards a more trans-atlantic approach to issues of story, creativity, genre and commercial viability. This course is, we believe, unique in its desire and ability to address issues of language (you can't break into the American film market with European language features), genre, economic viability and artistic merit within the process of film script development and film script production.

Course details

Students will complete two feature film scripts during the course. The intent is to make the feature written in semester two (Storytelling and the Moving Image: The Feature Film) part of a learning process which, along with the period of reflection and retrenchment allowed by a summer break, allows for the development of a far stronger second feature length script (MA Film Project). It is this project which we wish to progress to an artistic and commercial standard that will allow it to compete in the European market. To this end we have established the mechanics and links to assist with acquiring development and production agreements for suitable scripts at the Berlin Film Festival, Cannes and, where really appropriate, the American film market in Los Angeles.

Course Structure

Semester 1 will be taught in Tampere, Finland.

Semester 2 will be taught at the University of Salford.

Semester 3 (Year 2 Semester 1) either at MediaCityUK or in Finland to complete the MA Film Project.

It was felt that it would be in the students' interest to have a period of reflection during the summer to assimilate the diverse knowledge acquired while writing their previous film script before beginning their MA Film Project.

For fee purposes semester three is still regarded as part of one year of full-time study.

Semester 1

Storytelling and the Moving Image: The Short Film

This modules gives a hands-on introduction to film screenwriting. It covers theme, dramatic elements of story, ideas and originality, story and structure, character, the narrative differences between short and feature films and the craft and technique of writing for the screen.

Forms and Genres in Film

After initially outlining the three act structure, this unit will demonstrate the importance of genre as a tool for the contemporary film screenwriter. Genre is a powerful tool that can help shape a premise and develop a story into a marketable script. We'll look at popular filmic genres, examine their universal appeal and how, at their best, they draw upon the primal hopes and fears that are found in all the great screen stories. As well as studying specific expectations within genres from historical, development and marketing contexts, students will be expected to develop their own marketable movie ideas through practical pitching sessions.

Semester 2

Storytelling and the Moving Image: The Feature Film

The goal of the module is to script develop and then write a feature length script to at least second draft stage.

Semester 3

MA Film Project

The goal of the module is to script develop and then write a feature length script to third draft stage.

Course Enquiries

For course enquiries please call us on:

T: +44 (0) 161 295 4545

Or Email us at:

Home/EU students
E: enquiries@salford.ac.uk

International students
E: international@salford.ac.uk