Application
Writers and storyliners who work at a senior level in a range of film, television and digital media productions apply the skills and knowledge described in this unit. Writers take script development from concept to treatment, outline or storyline, while storyliners develop storylines for ongoing narrative material, and turn story outlines into structured formats, such as scene breakdowns. They work collaboratively with story editors, script producers and script editors. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Plan and prepare to write production material | 1. Define appropriate script-writing construction, style and formats for given type of production and clients 2. Define and develop ideas and concepts of the given production material, including analysis of genre, audience and purpose 3. Develop elements of narrative, including visual and aural narrative components, dialogue, and other communication techniques, such as symbols and icons, to convey information in production material |
Develop storylines or treatments | 4. Identify components of script development required by concept proposals 5. Develop concepts to synopsis stage or equivalent as required by type of production format or genre 6. Develop treatment and scene breakdown as required by type of production format or genre 7. Evaluate narrative development with relevant personnel as required and incorporate feedback 8. Develop material in appropriate format for story conferencing or pitch presentation to client |
Finalise storylines or treatments | 9. Present materials for discussion to production team responsible for story conferences or pitching to clients 10. Redraft materials incorporating feedback from production team 11. Ensure that relevant production material is ready for next stage of production and is completed within agreed timeframes and budget requirements |
Required Skills
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Required skills |
communication and literacy skills sufficient to: interpret and clarify briefs and production documentation prepare comprehensive presentations and concept proposals present proposals to team members and respond positively to constructive feedback apply correct grammar, spelling and punctuation analyse genre, audience and purpose apply redrafting skills self-management and planning skills sufficient to: prioritise work tasks meet deadlines develop clear goals, outlines and outcomes seek out and participate in professional development activities technical skills sufficient to use standard word processing applications ability to work as a member of a team in developing production materials to time and budget initiative and enterprise sufficient to: develop original, innovative and creative approaches in the script-writing process experiment with narrative styles and elements to develop a creative long-term vision extend creative boundaries for self and audience find creative solutions to problems identified during the process of story conferencing or preparing pitch presentations locate and use resources to broaden own creative experience |
Required knowledge |
industry knowledge, including: roles and responsibilities of project team members issues and challenges that arise when developing storylines and treatments well-developed understanding of storytelling techniques appropriate to a range of screen and media contexts in-depth knowledge of script-writing narrative, structure and formats appropriate to genre and production methods communication techniques, including active listening, questioning and non-verbal communication organisational and legislative OHS requirements as they relate to working for periods of time on computers |
Evidence Required
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the following is essential: ability to write narrative outlines for media productions ability to gather ideas and concepts using a range of techniques ability to apply effective narrative and structural techniques and appropriate formats to given storylines and treatments ability to prepare production material for a story conference or pitch presentation ability to apply effective interpersonal communication techniques. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: access to a computer and the internet access to a range of resources as listed in the range statement for the development of ideas and concepts access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance evaluation of storylines and treatments developed by the candidate and their quality in terms of addressing production or client requirements written or oral questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: BSBCRT501A Originate and develop concepts CUFWRT601A Write scripts CUFWRT602A Edit scripts. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
Productions may include: | advertisements/commercials animation children's television corporate and training films and videos digital media productions documentaries educational sequences feature films and videos film adaptations games live events and performances short films and videos television comedy, such as situation comedy television miniseries television series and serials. |
Clients may include: | commercial service or product provider screen and media personnel, including: commercial producer script producer script editor creative producer creative director executive producer executive director director documentary producer. |
Developing ideas and concepts may require: | gathering information from a variety of sources, including literary, film, television or digital media models generating, exploring and recording a range of ideas for the design of stories incorporating a range of narrative elements, e.g.: visual drama narrative pace appropriate disruption of narrative changes of visual narrative music and sound effects gestures non-verbal communication physicality objects and icons conveying information using resources for developing ideas and concepts, such as: inspiration imagination life experience actual events and facts existing narrative material other media travel observation different experiences using techniques for developing ideas and concepts, such as: brainstorming exercises asking questions role-playing making analogies looking at the subject from different viewpoints innovation |
Genre may include: | film, e.g.: thriller horror road movie romance science fiction action western comedy film-noir crime historical cinéma vérité documentary television, e.g.: police series prison series comedy historical series family series documentary. |
Elements of narrative may include: | character conflict elements that establish genre in the script, including: premise story narrative structure causality turning points story development story set-ups in opening sequence genre plot and story setting structure theme. |
Visual and aural narrative components may include: | convergence of image, music and text gestures and non-verbal communication metaphors, objects, icons and visual meaning music and sound effects musicality: rhythm beat accent physicality signs and meanings visual characterisation visual forms of storytelling. |
Components of script development may include: | development of client brief with negotiation development of digital concepts outline, treatment and storyline drafting process pitching the script and feedback product design product hooks scene breakdown story conferencing and feedback synopsis treatment. |
Synopsis may include: | analysis of: structure and elements opening scenes film elements - light, sound, film culture and story approach characters style theme. |
Treatment and scene breakdown may include: | analysis of appropriate approach for documentary, which may include cinéma vérité, docu-drama, direct address, interview or alternative approach best practice for television series: background and potential motivations of central characters exposure of major characters storylines around motivation, behaviour patterns and attitudes dramatic events consistent with character and structure of potential series concepts, themes, closing scenes and story hooks for series or serial dialogue and character in genre and format formats for television, such as episode capsules, pilots and soap operas map of script development narrative and structure plot and subplot outlines, opening plan, character survey and storylines for feature scene sequences and characters story hooks visual and aural narrative. |
Relevant personnel may include: | broadcasters clients digital media technical staff directors funding bodies performers producers script editors storyliners writers other technical/specialist staff. |
Story conferencing may include: | discussion of: storylines structure elements feedback from production team. |
Pitch presentation may include: | image and product design story or product hooks storylines. |
Sectors
Unit sector |
Competency Field
Communication - writing |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Not applicable.