Overview

This unit introduces students to the major principles of professional screenwriting and directing for non-fiction film and television. Students will develop independent and collaborative skills in writing and directing short documentary film projects that demonstrate an understanding of documentary/ non-fiction filmmaking principles and production processes.

Requisites

Prerequisites
FTV10004 Scriptwriting and Directing: Short Narrative Film

AND
Admission into
Bachelor of Film and Television (Honours)
OR
Bachelor of Film and Television

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Prepare and pitch a non-fictional film concept drawing from the traditions of documentary filmmaking
  • Produce treatments and scripts for a non-fiction/ short documentary film
  • Design storyboards that utilise adequate camera coverage for a short non-fiction/ documentary film
  • Produce and direct a short non-fiction/ documentary film, drawing on documentary and non-fictional modes of representation
  • Evaluate the impact of the production process on the social and natural environment

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class		3.00 12 weeks 36
Specified Activities
Various		13.33 6 weeks 80
Unspecified Activities
Various		5.67 6 weeks 34
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Documentary Major Project Individual/Group  50%  4,5 
Documentary Pitch Individual  20%  1 
Documentary Treatment Group  30%  2,3 

Content

  • The practice of film and television through key elements of writing, directing, editing, acting, cinematography, music, sound design
  • Developing a personal style and aesthetic
  • Writing intricate non-fictional screenplays that draw from accepted traditions
  • Audience engagement and empathic response
  • Understanding documentary and non-fictional modes of representation
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy
  • Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Teamwork roles and processes

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.