Institution: Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (DLADT).
Course duration: one year full-time.
Entry requirements: a second-class honours degree, preferably in a related subject, and a substantial portfolio of written work, plus two script ideas. A limited number of places are available under the APEL (Accreditation of Prior and and Experiential Learning) scheme. Applicants under this scheme must have proven relevant experience and are required to submit an essay of a suitably high standard. All shortlisted applicants are interviewed.
Number admitted to course: 12 to 16
How long has the course been running?: This is its first year.
Why was it introduced?: According to course co-ordinator Paul Freaney, there's no master's degree in scriptwriting course in this State. Government reports on the film and TV industry have highlighted the shortage of quality screenwriters, he says.
Target group: People who have already developed an aptitude for writing through undergraduate studies or portfolio of work and who wish to develop high-level scriptwriting skills.
Course content: history of dramatic literature, film studies, the craft of screenwriting and project development. The main thrust of the course, Freaney says, is to enable students to produce their own screenplays. Professional writers will work as mentors to the students. Film-making involves a collaborative process between the writer and director. An understanding of this process and the financial constraints involved is vital.
Cost: £2,250
Contact: Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. Tel: (01) 214 4600. (www.iadtdl.ie
