Screenwriting & Narrative Design Program (Postgraduate) (P400)
Program Description
Program Overview
The one-year Screenwriting & Narrative Design postgraduate certificate program gives you the knowledge, writing experience, and hands-on skills needed to excel as a screenwriter in the dynamic world of media. You'll also learn all about the art of narrative design, preparing you for a career in gaming and interactive storytelling.
The School of Media is ranked as one of Canada’s best film schools by both CourseCompare and Degrees & Careers.
Full Description
The Screenwriting & Narrative Design postgraduate certificate program will help you step up to the challenge of writing a well-structured story within linear and nonlinear contexts. Explore the elements of character, dialogue, scene, setting, texture, style, and tone. You'll master the subtle variances of language in structured and open-world storytelling as you create memorable stories and scripts for film, TV, games, and interactive media. You'll also get to work with fellow students (directors, actors, and designers) on student-led projects and potential research projects.
Program Requirements
You'll need 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 and exceptionally rewarding field. Though concentrated around major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and New York, the globalization of the industry means that media writers can work on projects all over the world.
As TV and film industries adapt to changing trends, they're integrating more online and interactive content. And with the internet as a gateway to traditional media, webisodes and series are flourishing, creating fresh opportunities in screenwriting.
Alumni Impact
We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 1001 | Intensive I – Writers' Room |
| WRIT 1002 | Writers' Studio I |
| WRIT 1003 | Story and Character I |
| WRIT 1005 | Feature I |
| WRIT 1006 | Video Game |
| WRIT 1010 | Episodic I |
| WRIT 1017 | Entrepreneurship |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 1004 | Story and Character II |
| WRIT 1007 | Entertainment Business |
| WRIT 1012 | Writers' Studio II |
| WRIT 1015 | Feature II |
| WRIT 1016 | Interactive |
| WRIT 1020 | Episodic II |
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 2001 | 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 estimated total of tuition, materials (non-refundable), student service and ancillary fees for the three semesters of programs starting in Fall 2023. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2024 and at later dates. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
** Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials (non-refundable), student service and ancillary fees for the first three semesters of programs starting in Fall 2024. Tuition fees are subject to board approval. Material, student service and ancillary fees are estimated based on prior years. All fees are subject to change without notice. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
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.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid webpages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
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*
OR
- demonstrated competence through related work experience (minimum 3 years of experience in the entertainment industry or performing arts)
- resumé
- writing samples*
* 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.
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 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)
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.
Alumni Impact
We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 1001 | Intensive – Writers' Room |
| WRIT 1002 | Writers' Studio I |
| WRIT 1003 | Story and Character I |
| WRIT 1005 | Feature I |
| WRIT 1006 | Video Game |
| WRIT 1010 | Episodic I |
| WRIT 1017 | Entrepreneurship |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 1004 | Story and Character II |
| WRIT 1007 | Entertainment Business |
| WRIT 1012 | Writers' Studio II |
| WRIT 1015 | Feature II |
| WRIT 1016 | Interactive |
| WRIT 1020 | Episodic II |
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 2001 | 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 2022. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2023 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 2023. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2024 and 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.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid webpages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
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 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!
