Screenwriting & Narrative Design Program (Postgraduate) (P400)
Program Description
Program Overview
The three-semester Screenwriting & Narrative Design graduate certificate program provides students with the knowledge, writing experience and hands-on skills necessary to become screenwriters for the ever-evolving media field, as well as narrative designers for game and interactive storytelling worlds.
Full Description
The Screenwriting & Narrative Design program will educate you on the challenge of writing a well-structured story within linear and nonlinear contexts. The elements of character, dialogue, scene, setting, texture, style and tone are rigorously explored. You will master the subtle variances of language employed through structured and open-world storytelling as you create memorable stories and scripts for film, TV, games and interactive media. Opportunities will be provided to work with fellow students (directors, actors and designers) on student-led projects as well as potential research projects.
Program Requirements
The Screenwriting & Narrative Design program requires students to have access to:
- a laptop capable of running Final Draft and MS Office
- a Netflix subscription
- a stable/high-bandwidth Internet connection
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Industry
Professional storytelling/writing/content development is a highly competitive yet exceptionally rewarding field. Though concentrated around major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and New York, the globalization of the industry has meant that writers for media can work on projects all over the world.
As the television and film industries shift in response to changing trends such as online access to traditionally aired content, the industry supplements its series and films with online and interactive content. As the Internet becomes a major gateway for consumers to access traditional media, the industry is becoming increasingly entrepreneurial with the advent of webisodes and web series. These new avenues have opened up a new area of development for the screenwriting field.
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT1001 | Intensive I – Writers' Room |
| WRIT1002 | Writers' Studio I |
| WRIT1003 | Storytelling |
| WRIT1005 | Feature I |
| WRIT1006 | Video Game |
| WRIT1010 | Episodic I |
| WRIT1017 | Entrepreneurship |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT1004 | Character Development |
| WRIT1007 | Entertainment Business |
| WRIT1011 | Intensive II – Acting for Writers |
| WRIT1012 | Writers' Studio II |
| WRIT1015 | Feature II |
| WRIT1016 | Interactive |
| WRIT1020 | Episodic II |
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT2001 | Thesis Project |
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate demonstrates the ability to:
- Produce linear and non-linear narrative content to industry standards using current and relevant software.
- Create content employing traditional and non‐traditional dramatic narratives with advanced application for entertainment writing within linear and non‐linear mediums.
- Articulate the differences between the varying mediums’ production processes and how the writer integrates into each process.
- Investigate the varying guilds, associations, agencies and groups and how they interact with relevance to the different industries.
- Differentiate the history of film, television, video games and interactive media from other media, as well as the intersections between them.
- Analyze the evolving landscapes for production, distribution and content creation in order to anticipate challenges and opportunities arising from technological change and consumer demand.
- Prepare for employment in the field by evaluating the present business climate of the relevant film, television, video game, online, mobile and interactive industries, and using interview and presentation skills, resumé-writing skills, proposal and pitch-development skills and portfolio preparation.
- Conduct research using a variety of relevant research methods, including online and library resources to do effective world building and character creation.
- Engage and invoke an emotional response from an audience, recognizing and using relevant style and narrative structures including plot analysis, characterization, setting, dialogue, point of view, structure, length and originality.
- Evaluate personal and recognized works of entertainment writing for traditional composition techniques including “unity of effect” as these apply to both traditional rhetorical structures and narratives with branching structures and/or multiple narratively coherent conclusions.
- Manipulate point of view to develop narratives, analyze form and structure to apply evolving techniques, and compare setting and atmosphere to adjusting narrative time within linear and non-linear narrative.
- Assess personal and recognized works of traditional and interactive narratives for techniques in character development exploring limitations presented by traditional techniques in character development for non-linear and participatory character creation.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
International Tuition
Additional Costs
† Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the three semesters of programs starting in Fall 2021. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2022 and at later dates.
†† Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the three semesters of the program starting in Fall 2022. Fees are subject to change for program semesters starting at later dates.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
- bachelor’s degree, two- or three-year diploma, or graduate certificate (postgraduate studies)
- resumé
- writing samples*
- online interview**
OR
- demonstrated competence through related work experience (minimum 3 years of experience in the entertainment industry or performing arts)
- resumé
- writing samples*
- online interview**
* Further details on the writing samples will be provided to the applicant via a letter and/or email, once the applicant meets the academic and/or work experience requirements.
** An online interview will be offered to select applicants upon review of writing samples.
Please note that domestic applicants who are submitting international transcripts require a Canadian equivalency evaluation. This can be obtained through ICAS (International Credential Assessment Service) at icascanada.ca or WES (World Education Services) at English Proficiency for more details.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit the Transfer Guide for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
School of Media & Performing Arts
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 2015
Email: media@georgebrown.ca
For more information, you may also call the George Brown College Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Visit Our Campus
The School of Media & Performing Arts is located at the St. James Campus at 230 Richmond Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Campus tours are offered on a regular basis. Sign up today!
Screenwriting & Narrative Design Program (Postgraduate) (P400)
Apply Now:
Domestic StudentsProgram Description
Program Overview
The three-semester Screenwriting & Narrative Design graduate certificate program provides students with the knowledge, writing experience and hands-on skills necessary to become screenwriters for the ever-evolving media field, as well as narrative designers for game and interactive storytelling worlds.
Full Description
The Screenwriting & Narrative Design program educates students on the challenge of writing a well-structured story within linear and nonlinear contexts. The elements of character, dialogue, scene, setting, texture, style and tone are rigorously explored. Students master the subtle variances of language employed through structured and open-world storytelling as they create memorable stories and scripts for film, TV, games and interactive media. Opportunities will be provided to work with fellow students (directors, actors and designers) on student-led projects as well as potential research projects.
Program Requirements
The Screenwriting & Narrative Design program requires students to have access to:
- A laptop capable of running Final Draft and MS Office
- Netflix subscription
- A stable/high bandwidth internet connection
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Industry
Professional storytelling/writing/content development is a highly competitive yet exceptionally rewarding field. Though concentrated around major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and New York, the globalization of the industry has meant that writers for media can work on projects all over the world.
As the television and film industries shift in response to changing trends such as online access to traditionally aired content, the industry supplements its series and films with online and interactive content. As the internet becomes a major gateway for consumers to access traditional media, the industry is becoming increasingly entrepreneurial with the advent of webisodes and web series. These new avenues have opened up a new area of development for the screenwriting field.
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT1001 | Intensive I - Writers' Room |
| WRIT1002 | Writers' Studio I |
| WRIT1003 | Storytelling |
| WRIT1005 | Feature I |
| WRIT1006 | Video Game |
| WRIT1010 | Episodic I |
| WRIT1017 | Entrepreneurship |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT1004 | Character Development |
| WRIT1007 | Entertainment Business |
| WRIT1011 | Intensive II - Acting for Writers |
| WRIT1012 | Writers' Studio II |
| WRIT1015 | Feature II |
| WRIT1016 | Interactive |
| WRIT1020 | Episodic II |
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT2001 | Thesis Project |
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Produce linear and non-linear narrative content to industry standards using current and relevant software.
- Create content employing traditional and non‐traditional dramatic narratives with advanced application for entertainment writing within linear and non‐linear mediums.
- Articulate the differences between the varying mediums’ production processes and how the writer integrates into each process.
- Investigate the varying guilds, associations, agencies and groups and how they interact with relevance to the different industries.
- Differentiate the history of film, television, video game and interactive media from other media as well as the intersections between them.
- Analyze the evolving landscapes for production, distribution and content creation in order to anticipate challenges and opportunities arising from technological change and consumer demand.
- Prepare for employment in the field by evaluating the present business climate of the relevant film, television, video game, online, mobile and interactive industries, and using interview and presentation skills, resume writing skills, proposal and pitch development skills, and portfolio preparation.
- Conduct research using a variety of relevant research methods, including online and library resources to do effective world building and character creation.
- Engage and invoke an emotional response from an audience, recognizing and using relevant style and narrative structures including plot analysis, characterization, setting, dialogue, point of view, structure, length and originality.
- Evaluate personal and recognized works of entertainment writing for traditional composition techniques including “unity of effect” as these apply to both traditional rhetorical structures and narratives with branching structures and/or multiple narratively coherent conclusions.
- Manipulate point of view to develop narratives, analyze form and structure to apply evolving techniques, and compare setting and atmosphere to adjusting narrative time within linear and non-linear narrative.
- Assess personal and recognized works of traditional and interactive narratives for techniques in character development exploring limitations presented by traditional techniques in character development for non-linear and participatory character creation.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
Additional Costs
† Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the three semesters of programs starting in Fall 2020. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2021 and at later dates.
International students: Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree, two- or three-year Diploma, or Graduate Certificate (postgraduate studies)
- Resume
- Writing samples*
- Online Interview**
OR
- Demonstrated competence through related work experience (minimum 3 years of experience in the entertainment industry or performing arts)
- Resume
- Writing samples*
- Online Interview**
* Further details on the writing samples will be provided to the applicant via a letter and/or email, once the applicant meets the academic and/or work experience requirements.
** An online interview will be offered to select applicants upon review of writing samples.
Please note that Domestic applicants who are submitting International transcripts require a Canadian equivalency evaluation. This can be obtained through ICAS (International Credential Assessment Service) at icascanada.ca or WES (World Education Services) at wes.org/ca
English Language Proficiency
Applicants with international transcripts who do not provide English language proficiency test results must test at the College level in the George Brown College English assessment to be considered for admission. Applicants who are accepted based on work experience only will be required to take the English Admissions Assessment in order to evaluate the appropriate level of English language proficiency.
Please visit English Proficiency for more details.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit the Transfer Guide for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
School of Media & Performing Arts
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 2015
Email: media@georgebrown.ca
For more information, you may also call the George Brown College Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Visit Our Campus
The School of Media & Performing Arts is located at the St. James Campus at 230 Richmond Street East, Toronto.
Campus tours are offered on a regular basis. Sign up today!
