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 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
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-March-2026
31-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
15-March-2026
Census date
31-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
21-April-2026
Results released date
07-July-2026
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Prepare and pitch a non-fictional film concept drawing from the traditions of documentary filmmaking
  2. Produce treatments and scripts for a non-fiction/ short documentary film
  3. Design storyboards that utilise adequate camera coverage for a short non-fiction/ documentary film
  4. Produce and direct a short non-fiction/ documentary film, drawing on documentary and non-fictional modes of representation
  5. 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.