MA/PgDip TV and Radio Scriptwriting

Part-time study available
Based at MediaCityUK

This course enables you to develop your professional scriptwriting goals by providing the opportunity for you to learn not just scriptwriting skills but an awareness of the demands of the broadcast industries served by these skills and how to address an audience through genres developed specifically for broadcast media. You will be enabled to work autonomously and in groups to solve problems of storytelling, plot and characterisation and to demonstrate an awareness of the commercial demands of the industries you will serve. The ability to advance your knowledge of scriptwriting and the industries of television and radio are provided on this course and you will also experience the opportunity to develop new skills such as pitching script and story ideas and communicating in more traditional academic formats like essays alongside your existing scriptwriting ability. Issues of employment are addressed in modules where you will develop an appreciation of the existing broadcasting landscape and also through the provision of optional modules in year two which enables you to acquire dedicated training in scriptwriting for genres or working in a collaborative creative environment.

Course Structure

This course is taught on a part-time basis, with teaching delivered on a Thursday evening. The Masters award consists of four core taught modules followed by the MA Project (60 credits). The PgDip requires the completion of four core modules. The PgCert requires completion of the first two core taught modules. All modules are delivered over a 15 week semester.

Year 1, Semester 1

The Craft and Technique of Scriptwriting

You will study narrative theory and look at a variety of case studies from contemporary television and radio across a number of different forms and genres. You will study the principles of classical dramatic story-telling and examine theme, structure and plotting. Characterisation and dialogue will be discussed in terms of personality development, intentionality and narrative progression.

Year 1, Semester 2

Process and Creativity in Scriptwriting

The political, social and cultural context of contemporary television drama production and commissioning will be explored through initial lectures. Issues such as the collapse in boundaries between cinematic genres and television forms, the internet and on-demand television, will aim to place the contemporary screenwriter in an industrial context. You will devise an original 6-part television series, write a pilot treatment and write up this pilot to second draft stage. Feedback will occur in workshop sessions.

Year 2, Semester 1

Radio Drama

A range of radio drama will be examined including one-off plays, series, serials, comedy and comedy drama in order to examine how story structure, character development, dialogue, sound effects and music all contribute to the creation of an aural environment that enhances the narrative. You will explore how variety and contrast in sound is used within a script's narrative structure to imaginatively engage with the listener to create powerful and atmospheric drama.

As well as writing an original radio script to third draft stage, you will have the opportunity to watch an excerpt of your script being performed at a radio recording studio.

Year 2, Semester 2

Options – Continuing Series, Comedy or Horror/ Fantasy

The module will begin with an examination of specific television genres and forms as a starting point for the analysis of narrative, structure, character, dialogue and the writing techniques that define the genre/form. You will engage in practical exercises designed to develop your skills in writing creative material in the appropriate genre/form. You will then develop an original story treatment in the appropriate genre/form. This is followed by a comprehensive story outline and a script to third draft stage.

Year 3

MA Project

The MA Project is a 15-month process of developing a story from concept to a third draft stage script. The script can be in any form or genre from TV comedy to radio drama, from feature film to two-part series. In script development you will move from idea to treatment to outline. The outline is used to bring on board a professional advisor who will mentor you through the three drafts of your script. Past advisors have included Paul Abbott (State of Play, Shameless, Clocking Off), Willy Russell (Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine), Carolyn Reynolds (Executive Producer Coronation Street; CEO, Lime Pictures), Tony Jordan (Life on Mars, Hustle, EastEnders), Mark Herman (Brassed Off, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), Peter Baynham (Borat), Frank Cottrell Boyce (Millions, 24 Hour Party People), Peter Bowker (Blackpool, Single), Tony Marchant (The Whistle Blowers, Great Expectations), David Nobbs (Reginald Perrin, The Two Ronnies), Henry Normal (The Mighty Boosh, The Royle Family).