ATS2845 Screenwriting for media production
Faculty of Arts
ATS2845 Screenwriting for media production is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Caulfield. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 1 unit.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Caulfield
- Assessment
- No exam
- 3 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ATS2845
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ATS2845
1 unit list ATS2845 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
Overview
Successful screen-based media productions start with an engaging story that has been skilfully envisaged. In this unit you will draw upon practical theories of screenwriting to transform real-world research into industry standard scripts for both non-fiction and fiction productions. The unit will introduce basic strategies for concept development and demonstrate how to write supporting 'short docs' such as synopsis, outlines and treatments. You will then apply stylistic conventions and narrative theories of screenwriting to transform these into shoot-ready scripts for non-fiction and fiction media productions. You may wish to continue developing this work into finished video productions in ATS3983 Screen Project: From film theory to media production.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Caulfield | On campus |
Assessment
- Creative pieceArtefact45%
- Creative pieceArtefact44%
- Forum postsExercise11%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Recognise and use industry-standard story documents in writing for both non-fiction and fiction screen-based media;
- 2
Develop strategies for transforming real-world research into concepts for non-fiction and fiction media production;
- 3
Create a 'short doc' as a basis for writing non-fiction or fiction script;
- 4
Apply narrative strategies, concepts and devices to create compelling screen-based media production scripts (non-fiction and fiction);
- 5
Illustrate how the scripting process responds to wider production factors such as pitching, budget, distribution and marketing in different mediums.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures12 hours
- Tutorials24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
Where it fits
ATS2845 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Mr Billy Head
- Chief Examiners
- Mr Billy Head
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS2845?
ATS2845 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after ATS2845?
ATS2845 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 1 unit, including ATS3983.
When is ATS2845 offered?
In 2026, ATS2845 runs in Semester 2 at Caulfield.
How much work is ATS2845?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS2845 have an exam?
No. ATS2845 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS2845?
ATS2845 is part of Film and screen studies; and Screen.