The following 15 credit-bearing courses from programmes offered by the Department of Performing and Screen Arts can also be taken as one-off courses. You will join current full time students in class and undertake assessment projects as applicable. Once you complete the course, you will receive a Certificate of Proficiency and at a future date, if you wish to apply for one of our formal programmes, you may be able to cross-credit the course to the programme. (Please note that not all courses can be credited in this way so you will need to check in advance).

 

Theatre Writing Techniques
Playwriting - The Full Length Play
Playwriting - Adaptation for the Stage
Scriptwriting -  Adaptation for the Screen
Scriptwriting - Feature Film Treatment
Scriptwriting for Television
Further information

 

Theatre Writing Techniques

This intermediate level course enables you to acquire the theoretical, creative and technical skills required to develop short scripts for the stage (or associated medium). You will analyse the theoretical foundations of writing for the theatre including researching a range of work by contemporary playwrights. You will also develop a short script for a theatre piece employing specialist writing processes and displaying creative visioning in writing. This course is ideal for people who have a background in writing..

Fees: $1,000.00 - (Incl Student Services fee) indicative only

2011 Dates	Duration	Days	Times	Course	Code	Class
12 Mar - 1 Jul	14 weeks	Monday	17:30 – 20:30	PASA	7251	2479

Location: Mt Albert Campus

Main programme: Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts.

Entry requirements: An approved combination of: evidence of competence in written English; an understanding of character, story and dialogue; evidence of competence in another skill relating to performance, presentation, or production; a short piece of original writing which demonstrates the required skill level.

How to apply: Please complete an Application/Enrolment Form for New Students.

 

Playwriting - The Full Length Play

This is a year-long course and designed to expose you to a broad spectrum of contemporary theatre vocabulary and technique in order to develop a full-length script for the stage (or associated medium). You will consider the structure, scale and complexity of the full length play by critically analysing a range of existing theoretical models, performance works and scripts, and then devise and write a complex, full-length, two-act play which demonstrates mastery of a selected range of contemporary theatre vocabulary and techniques.

Fees: $2,000.00 - (Incl Student Services fee) indicative only

2011 Dates	Duration	Days	Times	Course	Code	Class
12 Mar - 14 Nov	14 weeks	Monday	17:30 – 20:30	PASA	8263-SA 8263-SB	2973 6675

Location: Mt Albert Campus

Main programme: Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts (May also be eligible for our proposed Masters programme).

Entry requirements: An approved combination of: evidence of mastery of written English, and an understanding of character, story and dialogue; evidence of mastery of another skill relating to performance, presentation, or production; evidence of mastery of a skill from another art form; a 15-20 page piece of original writing which demonstrates the required skill level.

How to apply: Please complete an Application/Enrolment Form for New Students.

 

Playwriting - Adaptation for the Stage

This course introduces you to the theatre writing techniques that may be applied to adapt and shape the theatrical elements of existing literal resources or materials to the stage. You will critically examine the process of adapting works from literature and other forms of representation to theatrical (or associated) media. You will also devise and develop script proposals for an adaptation of an existing literary or real-world resource into script form for a theatrical or live performance associated medium.

Fees: $1,000.00 - (Incl Student Services fee) indicative only

2011 Dates	Duration	Days	Times	Course	Code	Class
1 Aug - 14 Nov	10 weeks	Monday	17:30 – 20:30	PASA	8261	6803

Location: Mt Albert Campus

Main programme: Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts (May also be eligible for our proposed Masters programme).

Entry requirements: An approved combination of: evidence of mastery of written English, and an understanding of character, story and dialogue; evidence of mastery of another skill relating to performance, presentation, or production; evidence of mastery of a skill from another art form; a 15-20 page piece of original writing which demonstrates the required skill level.

How to apply: Please complete an Application/Enrolment Form for New Students.

 

Scriptwriting -  Adaptation for the Screen

This course enables you to analyse and explore the process of adapting and shaping true stories and/or events into a cinematic narrative. You will critically examine the process of adapting works from literature and other forms of representation to film, and devise and develop script proposals for an adaptation of an existing literary or real-world resource into script form for cinema or television.

Fees: $1,000.00 - (Incl Student Services fee) indicative only

2011 Dates	Duration	Days	Times	Course	Code	Class
12 Mar - 1 Jul	10 weeks	Monday	17:30 – 20:30	PASA	8351	2490

Location: Mt Albert Campus

Main programme: Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts (May also be eligible for our proposed Masters programme).

Entry requirements: An approved combination of: evidence of mastery of written English, and an understanding of character, story and dialogue; evidence of mastery of another skill relating to performance, presentation, or production; evidence of mastery of a skill from another art form; a 15-20 page piece of original writing which demonstrates the required skill level.

How to apply: Please complete an Application/Enrolment Form for New Students.

 

Scriptwriting - Feature Film Treatment

This course introduces you to the creative and technical skills required to develop an idea into a treatment for a feature film or equivalent television script, with reference to existing theoretical models, films and scripts. Throughout the course you will work to develop a compelling development package for a dramatic feature appropriate to the duration and medium requirements of a full-length feature film.

Fees: $1,000.00 - (Incl Student Services fee) indicative only

2011 Dates	Duration	Days	Times	Course	Code	Class
12 Mar - 1 Jul	10 weeks	Thursday	17:30 – 20:30	PASA	8353	2491

Location: Mt Albert Campus

Main programme: Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts (May also be eligible for our proposed Masters programme).

Entry requirements: An approved combination of: evidence of mastery of written English, and an understanding of character, story and dialogue; evidence of mastery of another skill relating to performance, presentation, or production; evidence of mastery of a skill from another art form; a 15-20 page piece of original writing which demonstrates the required skill level.

How to apply: Please complete an Application/Enrolment Form for New Students.

 

Scriptwriting for Television

This course introduces participants to the theoretical, creative and technical skills required to develop series or serial based scripts for television and associated medium. Throughout the course you will analyse the structure, scripting and pacing of a range of made-for-television productions (incl. sitcom, drama, documentary, children’s) and devise and develop proposals appropriate to the duration and medium requirements of a drama, comedy, documentary and/or reality based TV series.

Fees: $1,000.00 - (Incl Student Services fee) indicative only

2011 Dates	Duration	Days	Times	Course	Code	Class
1 Aug - 14 Nov	10 weeks	Thursday	17:30 – 20:30	PASA	8356	6813

Location: Mt Albert Campus

Main programme: Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts (May also be eligible for our proposed Masters programme).

Entry requirements: An approved combination of: evidence of mastery of written English, and an understanding of character, story and dialogue; evidence of mastery of another skill relating to performance, presentation, or production; evidence of mastery of a skill from another art form; a 15-20 page piece of original writing which demonstrates the required skill level.

How to apply: Please complete an Application/Enrolment Form for New Students.

 

Further information

For more information on Unitec short courses please contact Student Central at study@unitec.ac.nz or 0800 10 95 10 or +64 9 815 2945.