KSB240 Screen Acting Theories and Practice

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

The screen-based industries provide actors with the opportunity to reach wide audiences and to potentially build national and global careers, as well as create sustainable, independent, entrepreneurial practice. This unit introduces analytical, technical and performance practice associated with contemporary acting for camera in both traditional and emerging screen technologies. The focus is on exploring the application of analytical skills to acting materials written for screen, the development of specific acting techniques sensitive to technical elements such as frame, eyeline and continuity; and an understanding of simple studio production technologies and their associated personnel, workflow and purpose.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Manipulate and evaluate the interaction of technical, dramaturgical and performance elements associated with screen acting.
2. Investigate, apply and evaluate a range of analytical and creative preparation procedures for screen acting.
3. Adapt acting practice and protocols to creating screen performances in a production studio work-flow environment.
4. Explain and interpret different theoretical and industry perspectives relating to screen acting.

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit you will engage in a series of individual and TV studio-based practical exercises, workshops, rehearsals and performances for camera. Your learning will be enriched by instruction, individual and group appraisal and by completing a schedule of independent practical enquiry-based assignments. You will be introduced to a range of theoretical readings and be challenged to apply and test their concepts in your work. A sequence of self-tape formative assignments will require you to engage with and solve a series of technical and artistic problems, both individually and collaboratively. You will be introduced to storytelling principles and techniques applied to the investigation and representation of human behaviour. Television studio practice, supported by technical staff, will be underpinned by experiential learning design, requiring you to take on multiple technical roles, in addition to acting roles, with the aim of enhancing your understanding of interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary practice and building future-focused entrepreneurial confidence.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Throughout the progress of workshops and rehearsals, you will be provided with feedback, which will inform all assessments items. 

Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways: 

• comments on formative assessment work, both for group work and individual endeavour 
• generic comments back to the cohort during in-class discussion 
• self and peer appraisal and feedback
• criteria sheet grading and individual comments for summative assessment items

Assessment

Overview

There are three summative assessment items for this unit, supported by a sequence of formative items across the first half of the semester.

• The first item is practical and allows you to demonstrate your initial learning in the skills and understanding needed to enable you to transition from live performance to acting for the camera.
• The second item requires you to synthesise your theoretical understanding, referencing your discoveries to a range of theoretical perspectives drawn from both scholarly and non-scholarly works. Your ability to mount and sustain a fully supported theoretical argument in the form of an academic essay continues your development as an evidence-based thinker able to relate theoretical and practical understandings.
• The final item requires you to present a fully performed short scene for television, addressing staging and dramaturgical problems, that you have edited and uploaded. 

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Presentation

Presentation of a recorded scene, shot and edited in self-tape format.

Assessment: Essay

An essay evaluating the utility of selected theoretical perspectives supported by examples drawn from formative work produced by the cohort.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Recorded/rendered Creative Work

Recording of two scenes. One, an edit of a studio-based scene shot during the timetabled studio sessions, and the second a self-test using specific industry technical standards, informed by the semester's learning and feedback. This will be accompanied by a written statement identifying the learnings embodied in the two works, and the adaptations made to peer feedback obtained in response to earlier versions.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

All students are requested to visit and review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages (CIESJ Tier 1 HSE requirement) 

This unit also requires a Tier 2 CIESJ Health and Safety Induction which is provided by the technician on site in the theatre, workshop or studio. 

Resources

Resource Materials

Safety and protective equipment

Proper clothing appropriate for active studio work is required, including closed-in shoes.

Risk Assessment Statement

For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information. For CIESJ Tiers 2 and 3 Health and Safety requirements, you will be instructed on safe procedures and the required safety gear for all studio and workshop processes that are demonstrated.

As all performance-makers understand, creating a performance potentially carries with it certain physical and/or emotional risks, both in the rehearsal room and in the theatre. Indeed, taking risks is an integral component of the art form’s processes. Some rehearsal warmups and exercises, and some performance events may include physically or emotionally strenuous activities. Managing this risk to ensure working conditions are safe, is always a high priority in the production process. It is therefore extremely important that if you are aware of personal physical or emotional vulnerabilities that make you feel unsafe or at risk in any way, you should immediately inform teaching staff or other supervisors, so that your situation can be evaluated, and appropriate rectifying action can be taken. 

Theatres and other performance spaces are also potentially dangerous places, particularly backstage during performances when low light conditions prevail. You will be warned by the stage manager, the production manager or the director of any specific risks that you will need to be aware of, when your project team first moves into the theatre. Whenever moving into a new performance space, you should always conduct your own risk assessment, and notify your team or director of any hazards you have personally identified. 

Every effort is made by QUT staff to ensure that you work in a safe environment. Conversely you are absolutely expected to follow all safety rules, procedures and directions, and to ensure that you do not put at risk the safety of others, or yourself, or of the highest artistic fulfilment of the project in any way. 

Course Learning Outcomes

CA02 Bachelor of Creative Arts (Acting)

1. Cite and discuss a broad and coherent knowledge of historical and contemporary cultural contexts for creative practice, including the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Presentation, Essay, Recorded/rendered Creative Work
2. Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, ULO4, Presentation, Essay, Recorded/rendered Creative Work
3. Demonstrate complex problem solving through iterative experimentation and the creative and critical development of ideas and outcomes.
   Relates to: ULO3, Recorded/rendered Creative Work
4. Demonstrate technical proficiency and a knowledge of contemporary digital practices and technologies in one or more disciplines and apply these in creative and critical settings.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Presentation, Essay, Recorded/rendered Creative Work
5. Discern, critically analyse, and synthesise knowledge in complex creative and critical settings.
   Relates to: ULO3, Recorded/rendered Creative Work
6. Formulate and apply an independent perspective through contextual research, reflection, and by acting on the informed critique of others.
   Relates to: ULO2, Presentation, Essay, Recorded/rendered Creative Work
7. Demonstrate respect for cultural and social differences, sustainability, and work with integrity across all practice and professional settings.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Presentation, Essay, Recorded/rendered Creative Work
8. Operate with initiative, ethical judgement and professionalism, both alone and in groups.
   Relates to: ULO2, Presentation, Essay, Recorded/rendered Creative Work